GAME NOTES: Kerry Joseph is back as the Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback for this week's game against British Columbia. New Argos head coach Don Matthews benched Joseph in favor of sophomore Cody Pickett two weeks ago. But after consecutive losses to the Calgary Stampeders, Matthews announced this week that Joseph, the CFL's outstanding player last year, would return under center. Granted, Pickett was 0-2 in his stint as the starter, but there could also be another method to Matthews' madness. The British Columbia defense is the CFL's best at pressuring the quarterback, and the unit comes into the contest as the league's runaway leader in sacks with 52 -- 18 more than second-place Montreal. What's more, B.C. boasts the top two individual pass rushers in defensive ends Cameron Wake (18 sacks) and Brent Johnson (9 sacks). Wake is just 8.5 sacks short of tying the CFL's single-season record. The league's top rookie and defensive player last year, Wake is making a very strong case to not only repeat as the league's best defensive performer but also garner attention as B.C.'s nominee for the CFL's outstanding player honor. One of Joseph's assets is his mobility. He has the ability to not only escape a pass rush but make decent gains up the field. The expectation is that given the Lions' ability to get to the quarterback, Joseph will definitely be on the run much of the contest. Toronto will be without its most potent weapon. Special teams star Dominique Dorsey, the CFL's all-purpose yardage leader, suffered knee and ankle injuries in last week's 44-16 home loss to Calgary. He'll be out three-to-four weeks. But these are two teams heading in different directions. The Argos have lost four straight games and six of their last seven. Matthews is a dismal 0-3 since replacing Rich Stubler, who was fired, with Toronto having been outscored by a whopping 117-29 margin over that span. B.C., on the other hand, has won its last four games to climb back into contention for top spot in the West Division. The Lions have finished first in the West each of the last four years. Buck Pierce will get the start at quarterback. He was 19-of-29 for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in last week's 40-10 win over Hamilton. Veteran Geroy Simon had five catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers: B.C. is 3-3 on the road this year and 5-1 against East Division teams. Toronto is 2-4 at home and 1-4 versus Western clubs. Keys to the game: There's no doubt the Lions' defense will be coming after Joseph. However, the veteran quarterback does have the foot speed to elude the rush. Trouble is, though, Toronto's offense has struggled mightily this year. The Argos are last in scoring (18.6 points per game), total offense (326 yards), rushing (84.5 yards), seventh in sacks allowed (30) and sixth in passing (268 yards. Compare that to the Lions' defense, which is ranked first in fewest yards allowed (344 yards) and interceptions (22), second in pass defense (269 yards per game) and third against the run (105 yards). Joseph's mobility should help, but there's not much to suggest the Argos offense is capable of winning the battle against a staunch B.C. defense.