The Montreal Alouettes can clinch first place in the East Division as soon as this weekend. The Als may do that before they even take the field, as an Ottawa Redblacks loss in Saskatchewan would result in Montreal hosting the East Final.
The Alouettes haven’t hosted the East Final since 2012 when Anthony Calvillo was still the starting quarterback and Marc Trestman was the head coach.
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“I love the mindset we have now,” veteran defensive end Avery Ellis said. “Our next game is always our biggest. We weren’t thinking about this week, last week. Our most important task was beating Ottawa. It’s the same thing for this week. Our most important task is beating Toronto. The way we do that is that we make this the biggest game…I feel like that is the proper recipe.”
Here’s what you need to know about this week’s game:
Defence continues to stand tall:
Over the last two weeks, the Alouettes defence has allowed just 13 and 12 points in regulation. Noel Thorpe’s unit only scored their first touchdown of the season when Dionte Ruffin picked off Dru Brown in the first quarter last Saturday.
The defence is tied for first in touchdowns allowed to opposing offences, with 24 (Winnipeg has also given up the same amount). They’re the only two squads in the CFL that have given up less than 30 majors in 2024.
“We just want to get 1 percent better every day,” Ellis, who played in his 100th game last week, mentioned. “We’re getting better game-by-game. I think we’re on a positive trajectory. We’re paying attention to our details. We’re seeing what we can improve on and capitalizing on it in practice so we can do it in the game. That’s what’s next for us on defence.”
Marc-Antoine Dequoy returns:
Safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy is back in the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a head injury. The 30-year-old has 22 tackles and two interceptions in 11 games this season.
“It’s really tough,” Dequoy said of having to watch from the sidelines. “It’s part of sports. The most difficult thing is watching the team play and not being able to help. We’re all competitors and we all want to help our team win.”
Charleston Rambo stretches the field:
The Alouettes offence did just enough to come away with a victory on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa, but they’ve still managed to produce several explosive plays. Many of those big gains have come thanks to receiver Charleston Rambo.
The Alouettes wideout has made catches of 50 yards or more in back-to-back games, in three of his last four and in four of his last six.
“Early on in the year, we didn’t hit as many deep balls,” Fajardo said. “Over the course of the season, it seems like the one constant in our receiving room has been Rambo. It all takes repetition and a relationship. You build that through repetition, repetition, repetition. The fact that he’s been able to stay healthy for all the games, Davis (Alexander) and I have been able to throw to him every week. That’s why you see the relationship grow. Our offence is built on explosives.”
Rambo has 51 receptions for 758 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games this season. That’s put him on pace for 975 yards.
Lorenzo Burns’ first CFL start:
Lorenzo Burns will make his first career CFL start on Saturday in Toronto. The 26-year-old played in his first game last weekend in Ottawa, but he didn’t start. This week, he’ll come into the lineup at boundary cornerback for Nafees Lyon.
Burns joined the Alouettes’ practice squad earlier this month, and he’s now made the transition to the starting lineup quickly. He had previously played for Thorpe in the USFL with the Burmingham Stallions in 2022.
He has won the USFL and UFL championships in each of the last three years.