The Lions defeated the Blue Bombers 34–23 and became the first team in CFL history to win the Grey Cup after starting the season with five straight losses.

[10] On the Friday preceding the championship game, the CFL Alumni Association organized a fan meet-and-greet hosted by stand-up comedian Ron James to benefit the research against concussions in football.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers entered the 2011 season with almost a completely unchanged roster than the team that went 4–14 and finished in last place in the East Division the year before.

On November 20, 2011, the Blue Bombers faced the 8–10 Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division Final at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Blue Bombers came out on top in a tough defensive battle, defeating the Ti-Cats 19–3 on a cold day in Winnipeg, advancing to the Grey Cup game for the first time since 2007.

Unlike the Bombers, the Lions got off to a slow start in 2011, losing their first five games before finally getting their first win of the season over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in week 6.

After suffering one more defeat to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the next week, the Lions went on a remarkable 8-game winning streak which jolted them all the way to the top of CFL West Division standings.

This time, the Lions would have that chance as they easily handled the Eskimos 40–23, advancing to the Grey Cup game on their home turf.

The first game was a 25–20 win by the Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg on July 28, 2011, which was the first game played after former Lion defensive line coach and then Bomber defensive line and assistant head coach Richard Harris suddenly died on July 26, 2011.

Date and time: Sunday, November 13, 1 PM Eastern Standard TimeVenue: Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec Date and time: Sunday, November 13, 3 PM Mountain Standard TimeVenue: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta Date and time: Sunday, November 20, 12 PM Central Standard TimeVenue: Canad Inns Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba Date and time: Sunday, November 20, 1:30 PM Pacific Standard TimeVenue: BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, BC