The Ottawa Redblacks travel to Montreal on Thursday, August 20, for a Week 12 meeting that carries very different meaning for each side. The Alouettes are trying to strengthen their grip on the East, while Ottawa is looking for a breakthrough that could change the tone of its season.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. Montreal enters as the stronger team on paper, but divisional matchups often create their own pressure and their own surprises.
Why Montreal Enters as the Clear Favorite
Montreal has been one of the CFL’s most complete teams through the first half of the season, winning eight of its first nine games and backing up that record with consistent offensive production. The Alouettes looked especially sharp in their 48-30 win over Edmonton, a result that reinforced their place near the top of the league conversation.
Quarterback Davis Alexander has been central to that success. His ability to deliver accurate throws and extend plays has helped Montreal maintain rhythm and keep defenses from settling in.
One of the biggest reasons for the Alouettes’ efficiency has been the connection between Alexander and Tyson Philpot. The Canadian receiver had already cleared 1,100 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns by Week 11, which makes him one of the most difficult matchups Ottawa will face all year.
Montreal is also not dependent on one style of attack. Its rushing game gives the offense balance, and that makes it harder for opponents to sell out against the pass. In practical terms, the Alouettes can challenge a defense in multiple ways and keep that defense under stress for four quarters.
What Ottawa Must Fix to Stay Competitive
Ottawa’s season has been defined by frustration, and the Redblacks have spent too much time chasing games instead of controlling them. Slow starts, defensive lapses, and an inconsistent run game have repeatedly put the offense in difficult situations.
Quarterback Jake Maier has been asked to carry a heavy load. The passing game has produced far more than the ground game, which has often forced Ottawa into obvious passing situations and limited the offense’s margin for error.
Justin Hardy remains one of the few reliable options the Redblacks can lean on. If Ottawa wants to stay on schedule, Hardy needs to be involved early so the team can build longer drives and avoid becoming one-dimensional too quickly.
Protecting the football is just as important. Against a disciplined Montreal team, every giveaway can turn into points the other way, and Ottawa cannot afford to give the league leader extra possessions.
The First Meeting Offers a Useful Blueprint
Montreal already beat Ottawa 27-12 earlier this season, and that result still matters because it showed how easily the Alouettes can take control when they establish the early edge. Ottawa never found enough offensive rhythm in that game, and Montreal was able to manage the pace from start to finish.
For the rematch, the Redblacks need a much more assertive opening. They have to apply pressure to Alexander, close down explosive passing lanes, and force Montreal into longer third-down situations rather than allowing the Alouettes to stay comfortable.
On offense, balance would help Ottawa in a major way. Even modest production on the ground could make the playbook more flexible and reduce the number of obvious passing downs Maier faces.
How the Upset Could Happen
To win, Ottawa would need to combine discipline, urgency, and efficiency in a way it has not consistently shown this season. That does not mean the Redblacks need a perfect performance, but it does mean they need to avoid the mistakes that have repeatedly put them in catch-up mode.
- Start fast and avoid an early deficit that lets Montreal dictate tempo.
- Limit big plays from Alexander to Philpot and force the Alouettes to work longer drives.
- Find enough balance on offense to keep the pass rush honest.
- Win the turnover battle, because extra chances could decide the game.
Montreal still has the stronger record, the better offense, and home-field advantage, which explains why it enters this matchup as the favorite. But Ottawa will arrive with urgency, and that kind of desperation can sometimes sharpen execution.
If the Redblacks can make the game uncomfortable early, they could at least force Montreal into a tighter contest than expected. For Ottawa, that would be a meaningful step even before the final score is decided. For Montreal, the task is simpler: defend home field, avoid complacency, and keep setting the pace in the East.
Ottawa does not have much room left for wasted chances, and this trip to Montreal may tell the clearest story yet about whether the Redblacks can turn effort into results before the season slips away.
