The Ottawa Redblacks visit the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, August 20, in a Week 12 CFL meeting that looks heavily tilted toward the home side. Montreal enters as the East Division leader, while Ottawa is still searching for a breakthrough result.
The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. It pairs a confident contender with a team trying to stop a difficult season from slipping further away.
Why Montreal Has Controlled the League
Montreal has been the most complete team in the CFL for most of the season, winning eight of its first nine games and backing that record with strong offensive production.
The Alouettes strengthened their standing with a 48-30 win over Edmonton, a result that showed how dangerous their attack can be when it finds rhythm.
- Quarterback Davis Alexander has led the offense with efficient passing and steady playmaking.
- Receiver Tyson Philpot has become a major problem for defenses, entering Week 11 with more than 1,100 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
- Montreal also brings a balanced rushing attack, which keeps opponents from focusing only on the pass.
That mix of precision, speed, and balance makes the Alouettes difficult to defend for four quarters.
Ottawa Needs a Clean Performance
The Redblacks come in under pressure after a winless start to the season. They have had stretches of competitiveness, but those moments have not translated into enough scoring or consistency.
Ottawa’s biggest issues have been slow openings, defensive lapses, and a ground game that has not taken enough strain off the passing attack.
- Quarterback Jake Maier has carried most of the offensive load.
- Wideout Justin Hardy remains Ottawa’s most reliable target.
- Ball security will matter, because extra turnovers would feed Montreal’s rhythm.
If Ottawa wants any chance at an upset, it has to sustain drives, avoid mistakes, and give its defense a chance to settle in early.
What the First Meeting Revealed
Montreal already beat Ottawa 27-12 earlier this season, and that game offered a simple blueprint for the rematch. The Alouettes jumped ahead, forced Ottawa into catch-up mode, and never allowed the Redblacks to build momentum.
For Ottawa, the lesson is straightforward: start faster, pressure Alexander more consistently, and create some balance on offense. Even modest gains on the ground could make the Redblacks less predictable and reduce the burden on Maier.
Montreal, meanwhile, only needs to keep doing what it has done all season. Home field, superior form, and offensive depth all point in the same direction.
Ottawa is the clear underdog, but that can still make the matchup interesting. A road win over the league’s top team would not fix everything, but it would give the Redblacks something they have lacked for most of the year: belief.