CFL vs NFL

[indoor fan]

What do you think the score would be if the best CFL team (BC Lions) played the worst NFL team (Raiders)? The game would be CFL rules and yes, the Lions could use 12 players and the Raiders only 11.

I'd say it would be kinda close:

Raiders 35
Lions 24

[Shootmaster_44]

What do you think the score would be if the best CFL team (BC Lions) played the worst NFL team (Raiders)? The game would be CFL rules and yes, the Lions could use 12 players and the Raiders only 11.

I'd say it would be kinda close:

Raiders 35
Lions 24

Unfortunately, outside of a select few in recent years, most CFL stars that head to the NFL are at best 3rd stringers. With that in mind, you'd have to assume that the Lions' top players would be about on par with the Raiders 3rd string players. So with the Raiders top guys playing, it would likely be a blow out for Oakland at a neutral stadium.

However, in an odd way you picked the two teams that play in the most hostile stadiums in each league. The Raiders' fanbase is among the hardest to play against in the NFL. While the Lions' fans are not necessarily the most notorious in the league, BC Place is one of the worst stadiums for an opponent. At BC Place, the game clock isn't controlled by the on-field official for some reason. As a result, the BC Place timekeeper is known around the league for letting a few extra seconds tick off after whistles.

As well BC Place's sound person, runs extra crowd noise through the PA system in the stadium. As a result, when there is a large crowd in the stadium, it sounds like there is double the attendance there. The Western Final last year saw this become an issue with Kerry Joseph of the Riders taking many time count violations as his silent snap count wasn't working and his vocal snap count couldn't be heard. So this extra "edge" would give the Lions a glimmer of keeping the game close.

I still figure that even if the Lions had an open receiver on every play and an extra man to blitz every play, the Raiders would be by far and away the better team. Unfortunately, these two leagues are not akin to comparing European soccer leagues. The NFL is head and shoulders above the CFL. I'd say the Raiders would likely get above 50 points against the Lions. With the extra receiver on offense for BC, they would be able to score at least 20 points. But I can't see it being much closer.

A CFL All-Star team may keep the worst NFL team closer than the Grey Cup champion would, simply because the entire roster would largely be made up of starters. The back-ups on a regular CFL team are by far and away nowhere near NFL quality and would even be hard pressed to make a practice roster.

A better comparison would be Hamburg (World Bowl Champ) against BC or an Arena Football League all-star team playing BC in a full 12 on 12 game. Those games would be much closer. However, it didn't used to be this way. In the early 1960's the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Bills in an exhibition game. I don't know which rules were used or anything, but I believe aside from being 11 man in the US and 12 man in Canada and the field size difference, the games in the 1950's and early 1960's were much closer to being the same than they are now. Many of the intricacies that make the games different weren't used then. Plus, the CFL paid more money for players so as a result the CFL was able to bring in "NFL" caliber players. The CFL then wasn't for could've beens and never wases, but rather was for the stars of the NCAA.

Since the early 1990's, there have only been a handful of CFL players to jump to the NFL and become legitimate stars in the US. The only ones I can think of are Rocket Ismail, Joe Horn, Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia and Mike Vanderjagt.

Of the starting QBs in the CFL, most have some NFL experience. In BC their starter Dave Dickinson was a 3rd string or practice roster QB with the 49ers. In Calgary their starter Henry Burris, was a 3rd stringer with the Bears and Packers. In Saskatchewan Kerry Joseph was a starting DB with the Seahawks for a couple seasons, but washed out quickly. In Edmonton their starter Ricky Ray was the 3rd stringer with the Jets for a season. Winnipeg's starter Kevin Glenn has no NFL experience at all, same with Toronto's starter (and Marcus Allen's brother) Damon Allen. In Hamilton, Jason Maas spent training camp and the preseason with the Ravens, but was cut at the end of camp. Finally, Montreal's starter Anthony Calvillo has no NFL experience. As you can see looking around the league, there are no players who are star caliber players from the NFL. Anthony Calvillo is regarded as one of the top QB's in the CFL and he has never been in the NFL, not even training camp.

The only area where the CFL seems to produce top quality personel is in the area of coaching. The best known former CFL coach is Marv Levy formerly of the Bills. In Buffalo he was the coach during their string of Super Bowl losses. He was coach of the Alouettes in the late 70's and early 80's winning two Grey Cups. As well, offensive coordinator for the Raiders, Steve Sarkesian is a former Roughrider QB. A quick glance through the NFL League Guide shows that many coaches in the NFL have either coached or played in the CFL.

[gonzo13]

If the game were played with Canadian rules, and BC was allowed 12 men and the Raiders only 11, then I'd say the Raiders win 50-ish to 10-ish.

Good pressure on the quarterback, and zone coverage would make up for the extra Canadian reciever. And the Raiders could still use a power rushing/play action short passing attack on offense if the extra defender came into play.

If the game were played with NFL rules, and both teams had 11 men, then the Raiders may just hang triple digits on the Lions.

[ChampionOfSteel]

Ummm...fellas, rethink this:

CFL rules with the BC Lions having 12 players on a field against the Raiders 11.

The CFL would beat the snot out of Oakland. Oakland would be chasing a wide open receiver every down. BC would have an extra body to shutdown the Raiders offensive attack.

The Raiders would have to play zone defense the entire time with a man short.

Let's don't forget former LA Ram Vince Ferragamo who played for Montreal after the Rams Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh flopped adapting to the CFL rules.

Get real.

BC Lions 55,
Oakland Raiders 0

If the arrangement was CFL rules with both teams having 12 players the final score would be:

BC Lions 24
Oakland Raiders 10

There is no need for slow bulky defensive lineman in the CFL.

If the arrangement was NFL rules with both teams having 11 players the final score would be:

BC Lions 0,
Oakland Raiders 71

[ChampionOfSteel]

Anthony Calvillo is regarded as one of the top QB's in the CFL and he has never been in the NFL, not even training camp.

You seem to forget that someone like Calvillo could be the next Warren Moon. Maybe Calvillo is quite happy putting up residence in Montreal even with his relatively meager pay he gets.

Let's don't short change CFL talent. Higher pay isn't the only factor in jumping to the NFL.

I'm not going to research the issue, but maybe Calvillo has a wife and kids who are quite happy in Montreal?

Don't forget no one runs the run-and-shoot offense anymore in the NFL, correct?