Alouettes host Tiger-Cats in East Division clash
The Montreal Alouettes are set to host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in an important East Division matchup on Sunday night, concluding Week 8. The Alouettes, with a 5-1 record, currently hold first place in the division, four points ahead of Hamilton, who enter the game with a 3-3 record. For the second time this season, the Alouettes will play a home game on Sunday night.
Montreal is coming off a 38-32 victory against Calgary last week and aims to extend their division lead. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on TSN/RDS in Canada, CBSSN in the U.S., and CFL+ internationally.
Key factors for Hamilton
For Hamilton, quarterback Tre Ford will be a central figure. In Week 7, Ford led the Tiger-Cats to a win over the Toronto Argonauts, throwing for 218 yards and rushing for 109 yards. He will need to utilize both his passing and rushing abilities against an Alouettes defence that allows 395.7 yards of net offence.
The Tiger-Cats‘ defensive front will focus on containing Alouettes‘ running back Travis Theis, who has been playing with confidence. While Hamilton‘s defence allows 89.5 rushing yards per game, they will need to prevent Theis from gaining extra yards after contact. Offensively, Ford will rely on his receivers, including Kenny Lawler and Kiondré Smith. Head coach Scott Milanovich will also look for strong performances from Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and Keric Wheatfall, who combined for 109 yards in the previous week.
Montreal’s approach to the game
The Alouettes‘ defence will prioritize containing Tre Ford‘s running game. Defensive linemen Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund and Kylan Guidry will be crucial in keeping Ford within the pocket and forcing him to pass. On offence, Montreal‘s top receivers, Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead, lead the team in targets. However, with the Tiger-Cats‘ secondary likely focusing on them, other receivers like Alexander Hollins may need to step up.
Patience will be important for Montreal‘s offence. Hamilton ranks second in allowing the fewest big plays, defined as completions over 30 yards and runs over 20 yards. This suggests the Alouettes may need to construct lengthy drives to score. Quarterback Davis Alexander has demonstrated his capability in this regard, having thrown 336 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, a Canadian Football League record. He has consistently moved his team down the field.
Alexander has been a standout performer, leading the CFL in passing with 2,181 yards and 11 touchdowns through seven weeks, completing 71.3 per cent of his throws. In the recent win against Calgary, he passed for 402 yards and surpassed Saskatchewan‘s Darian Durant for the consecutive pass attempts without an interception record. He has also passed for over 300 yards in every game this season.
Attendance and team dynamics
The upcoming game is a home fixture for the Alouettes, and attendance has been a topic of discussion. The team’s last home game against Calgary on July 11 drew 18,046 spectators, despite a 37-30 Montreal victory and favourable weather. The average attendance for the Alouettes through three home games is 18,763. This contrasts with an average attendance in a previous season.
Owner Pierre Karl Péladeau, who acquired the team in 2023, has expressed his long-standing interest in the CFL. Head coach Jason Maas recently addressed a decision to attempt a third-down gamble from the Montreal 15-yard line late in the fourth quarter against Calgary. Despite the play not resulting in a first down, Maas emphasized the team’s aggressive approach and mental strength in overcoming such moments, which contributed to their victory.
Special teams have also seen changes for Montreal. Following struggles with punt returns against Calgary, Mario Alford was released. Veteran returner DeVonte Dedmon, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, is expected to make his season debut against the Tiger-Cats after practicing throughout the week.
Source: cfl.ca
