Week 4: MTL @ TOR
There are only three unbeaten teams remaining in the CFL heading into Week 4, and two of them will go head-to-head at BMO Field on Friday night. The Montreal Alouettes (3-0) will travel to Toronto to take on the Argonauts (2-0).
The last time these two teams played was in the East Final in Toronto last year, when the Als walloped the Argos, 38-17.
Here’s what you need to know about this matchup:
Offensive powers:
Heading into this matchup, the Alouettes have scored a league-leading 97 offensive points in 2024. The Argonauts, who have played one fewer game, have put up 74. The Als’ 11 touchdowns are tied for first with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Argos lead the CFL in rushing yards with 306, which gives them an impressive 153-yard average. Quarterback Cameron Dukes and running back Ka’Deem Carey have combined for 223 of those yards on the ground.
Dukes will continue to be the Argos starting quarterback for the foreseeable future while Chad Kelly continues serving his suspension.
“(Dukes) seems very poised and he’s making plays,” Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said. “He does it in the pocket or out of the pocket. He has a ton of energy and a lot of passion for the game. He’s making really good decisions and throwing the ball accordingly.”
The Als find themselves second in rushing with 285 yards on the ground. Walter Fletcher has 163 yards rushing through three starts while Cody Fajardo has added 89.
Speaking of Fajardo, the Alouettes starting quarterback is currently tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with seven. He has also thrown just one interception on 93 passing attempts, which is impressive.
Receiver Tyson Philpot has come out of the gates flying in 2024. The 23-year-old has put up 340 yards receiving in three games, including performances of 141 yards (in Winnipeg) and 150 yards (against Ottawa). He’s also caught three touchdown passes. B.C. Lions receiver Alexander Hollins is the only player in the league with more receiving yards than Philpot heading into Week 4 (he has 402).
Defensive dominance:
Linebacker Tyrice Beverette is coming off his best performance of this young season, as he finished last week’s game with an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble against the Redblacks. The 29-year-old is currently fifth in the CFL in tackles with 20. He and teammate Darnell Sankey are the only two players in the league to have already forced two fumbles.
Through three games, the defence has allowed just five touchdowns, which is tied for first with the Calgary Stampeders, but the Stamps have played just two games this season. Noel Thorpe’s unit has allowed a miniscule 45 offensive points, which puts them at 15 points allowed per game.
The Alouettes are the only defence in the league that allows fewer than 6 yards per play on average to opposing offences (5.51).
Oh, by the way, they are tied for first in quarterback sacks (eight – with Edmonton) and they’re first in turnovers forced (10).
Player to keep an eye on:
Receiver Kaion Julien-Grant was well on his way to becoming a CFL star last season, but he suffered a pair of injuries that kept him out of the lineup for an extended period.
After a quiet game in the season opener in Winnipeg (three catches for 30 yards), Julien-Grant has exploded for 205 yards in his last two outings. He’s also proven to be a reliable deep threat for Fajardo, as he’s hauled in receptions of 53 and 49 yards the last two weeks.
This game will be a homecoming for the 27-year-old, as he’s from Toronto.
Injury update:
The Alouettes came out of last week’s game relatively healthy, but they did lose tight end Regis Cibasu. He’s been placed on the six-game injured list.
For Alouettes fans who want to experience the action live BMO Field, Redtag is offering discounts on flights to Toronto. Check out their offers here.
