The Alouettes have waited more than a decade to finish first in the East Division — and might not have to win a game to accomplish the feat.
Montreal will clinch top spot in the division, and an opening round playoff bye, with a victory against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday night at BMO Field (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). But should Ottawa lose at Saskatchewan on Saturday afternoon, the Alouettes’ game will become a formality.
The Redblacks trail Montreal by six points, have already lost the season series, and wouldn’t be able to catch the Als in the standings. Montreal last finished first in 2012.
None of this matters to head coach Jason Maas.
“We go to win each and every week and prepare to win,” Maas said. “I couldn’t care less. Will we know (the result of the Redblacks’ game)? Absolutely. But it’s not going to affect our mindset and we’ve already talked about the awareness factor.
“We told our team you could go onto that field knowing you’re in first place. Is that going to affect anybody’s mindset? No. That was the answer. We’re going out to win each and every week.”
While the Alouettes (11-2-1) already have matched their 2023 win total and secured a home playoff game, the team is not without its issues — the majority of which surround the offence and the play of starting quarterback Cody Fajardo.
“Are there things we need to get better at? Absolutely,” Maas admitted. “Right now, we’re not playing at the ability we can play. There have been opportunities for us. We haven’t met those opportunities. That’s what has caused the dip in production. At the same time, we’re not panicking, either.”
The Alouettes had a 5-0 record when Fajardo sustained a hamstring injury at the end of the first quarter on July 11 against Toronto. He missed four games before returning Aug. 25 against Edmonton. Montreal has gone 2-1-1 since. Fajardo has averaged 250 yards passing upon his return, with a modest three touchdowns. He has been intercepted twice, but hasn’t turned the ball over his last two games.
Maas admitted Fajardo was playing better before he was injured, but emphasized he hasn’t lost confidence in the 32-year-old, named the Grey Cup’s most valuable player last season.
Fajardo admitted he has struggled regaining his rhythm since returning four games ago.
“I couldn’t care less about stats,” he said. “I don’t care if I throw for 140, as long as we win the game. In this building and room all I care about is trying to clinch a home game, a bye week and then get us back to the Grey Cup.
“Of all the positions, quarterback is affected the most by an injury. You have relationships with your receivers and familiarity with the offence. You lose the feeling of pressure, getting hit and throwing. You can rep all you want in practice, but you’re not getting hit. Then, all of a sudden, the first time you get hit is in a game. It’s not an excuse.”
Fajardo sustained an upper-body injury — possibly to his ribs — against Ottawa in the first half last Saturday, but remained in the game and practised fully this week. While he refused to disclose the injury to The Gazette, he denied playing made his condition worse. Fajardo spoke to the team doctor during halftime, when his status was reassessed, and said he was comfortable with the diagnosis.
“The good news is we have some time and, hopefully, we’ll figure it out (offensively) as the weeks progress,” Fajardo said. “The thing I’m most proud of is zero turnovers. That’s what keeps us in ball games. We have a great defence and special teams. We have to protect the ball and score touchdowns when we get the opportunity.”
Safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy returns after missing two games with a head injury. It also appears newly signed cornerback Lorenzo Burns will replace Nafees Lyon on the boundary, although the latter is dressed. While defensive-linemen Mustafa Johnson and Lwal Uguak both were limited Thursday because of injuries, both are on the active roster. Roster changes can be made up to 30 minutes before the opening kickoff.
Note: Fajardo will return home next week, when the Alouettes have a bye in the schedule, for the birth of his second son. He’ll also be inducted into the Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.