The Ottawa Redblacks head into Thursday’s meeting with the Montreal Alouettes carrying very different expectations than their hosts. Montreal has spent most of the 2026 CFL season looking like the league’s standard-setter, while Ottawa is trying to find a result that can change the mood around its campaign.
The Week 12 matchup is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. It pits an Eastern Division contender against a team still fighting to turn close moments into a meaningful breakthrough.
Why Montreal Enters With the Edge
Montreal has been one of the CFL’s most complete teams through the opening stretch of the season. With eight wins in its first nine games, the Alouettes have created real separation from most of the league and have backed that record with strong, balanced play on both sides of the ball.
That form was reinforced in a 48-30 win over the Edmonton Elks, a result that showed how difficult Montreal can be to contain when its offense is clicking. The Alouettes have the kind of rhythm that forces opponents to defend every part of the field.
Quarterback Davis Alexander has been a major reason for that consistency. His quick decision-making, accuracy, and ability to extend plays have helped Montreal produce one of the CFL’s most efficient attacks.
- Davis Alexander has driven the passing game with poise and timing.
- Tyson Philpot has emerged as a major downfield threat.
- Montreal’s run game adds balance and prevents defenses from selling out against the pass.
Philpot’s production has been especially important. By Week 11, the Canadian receiver had already topped 1,100 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns, making him one of the most dangerous players Ottawa will have to track all night.
What Ottawa Must Fix Fast
Ottawa’s season has been far more difficult. The Redblacks entered Week 11 still searching for their first victory, and each loss has increased the pressure to find a response before the schedule slips further away.
The larger issue has been the way Ottawa has lost games. The Redblacks have shown stretches of competitiveness, but slow starts, defensive lapses, and a weak rushing attack have repeatedly put them behind and left them chasing outcomes instead of controlling them.
Quarterback Jake Maier has carried a heavy workload because Ottawa has leaned much more on the passing game than the ground attack. That can keep the offense moving, but it also creates predictability when the team falls behind early.
- Get Justin Hardy involved early to help stabilize the passing game.
- Find any rushing success to reduce pressure on Maier.
- Protect the football to avoid giving Montreal extra possessions.
Hardy remains one of Ottawa’s most reliable targets, and his early touches could help the Redblacks sustain drives. If Ottawa can keep the ball away from Montreal’s offense and avoid careless mistakes, the game could stay competitive longer than expected.
The First Meeting Offers a Clear Warning
These teams already met earlier in the season, and Montreal came away with a 27-12 victory. That game followed a familiar pattern: the Alouettes built an early lead, then controlled the pace while Ottawa struggled to establish any real offensive flow.
The rematch gives Ottawa a clear blueprint for improvement. The Redblacks cannot afford another sluggish opening quarter, especially against a team that has shown how quickly it can punish mistakes.
Defensively, Ottawa has to create more disruption around Alexander. That means applying pressure, closing passing lanes, and forcing Montreal into longer third-down situations rather than allowing the Alouettes to stay ahead of schedule.
Offensively, the Redblacks need more balance than they showed in the first meeting. Even modest success on the ground would help settle the attack and make Maier’s job more manageable.
Can Ottawa Turn Pressure Into an Upset?
On paper, Montreal has the better record, the stronger offense, and home-field advantage, which makes the Alouettes the obvious favorite. The broader trend across the season also points in their direction.
Still, divisional games often create unexpected scripts. Montreal is coming off a break, while Ottawa arrives with the urgency of a team that knows it needs a defining moment.
For the Redblacks, the challenge is as much mental as tactical. A win over the CFL’s top team would not erase the early-season damage, but it could restore confidence and give the group something tangible to build on in the final stretch.
For Montreal, the task is simpler: stay sharp, avoid complacency, and keep control of the East. Thursday night gives the Alouettes a chance to reinforce that status, while Ottawa gets one more shot at changing the narrative around its season.
