The Alouettes’ regular season ends Saturday afternoon the same way it began in early June — with a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
But how the dynamics have changed.
On June 6 in a Grey Cup rematch, the Als knew they would encounter a Bombers team seeking revenge for losing the CFL championship game. Nonetheless, Montreal won easily that night, 27-12.
And while Winnipeg will be playing for first place in the West Division on Saturday at Molson Stadium (3 p.m., CTV, RDS, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM), Montreal has its own pressing issues that require solutions before hosting the East Division final on Nov. 9.
“Everybody from the outside looking in wants to think we’re hitting the panic button,” quarterback Cody Fajardo said on Friday. “We have to get back on track. Last week, offensively, it was pitiful. We’re definitely not playing complementary football.
“The good news is we’re playing Winnipeg at their best. They’re going to give us everything they have.”
The Als are coming off a bad 27-3 loss at B.C. last Saturday. While it was Montreal’s second game in five days and it was forced to fly cross-country, the team failed to produce a touchdown despite three series inside the Lions’ five-yard line.
The Als have been wildly inconsistent since early September, with only two wins and a tie in six games. Last season, Montreal won its final eight games, playoffs and Grey Cup included.
“I’m treating this as a first-round playoff game,” said Fajardo, who passed for only 67 yards in the first half against B.C. before being replaced by Davis Alexander. Montreal was held to five first downs and 88 yards net offence with Fajardo behind centre, but he also was playing for the first time since Sept. 28 and didn’t practice during the week leading up to the game.
“To have a full week under my belt, to be back in the rhythm of things, I’ll just be more comfortable — I know that — going out there,” Fajardo added. “You’ve got find a way to win and get your rhythm.”
Als head coach Jason Maas said Fajardo will start against Winnipeg and play into the second half, at which point he’ll cede control of the offence to Alexander. And, while Maas admitted his team has been riding a roller-coaster recently, he’s keeping a stiff upper lip, knowing the organization will have two weeks to attempt to remove its warts.
The Als, like every other CFL team, had three regular-season bye weeks. Maas therefore has elected to conduct two weeks of practice before the division final and the team is expected to be on the field at least three days next week. Maas denied any desperation exists within the dressing room walls.
“I don’t know why people are panicking about us,” he said. “We found a way to win 12 games this year for a reason. People can say momentum all they want. You’re going to have two weeks before you play your next one. I don’t disagree it’s been up and down as far as wins and losses are concerned. Take a couple of plays here and there. Games come down to six plays. When you’re winning, you’re making those. When you’re losing, you have a hard time.”
Tailback Walter Fletcher and receiver Austin Mack, both rested against B.C., return to the active roster. Defensive-end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, the Als’ nominee as most outstanding Canadian, and returner James Letcher Jr., Montreal’s special teams nominee, will be healthy scratches.
Tyjon Lindsey, a backup receiver, will make his regular-season debut as a kick returner.
“If we had a first-week playoff game, maybe there’s a little bit more panic, knowing we have to right the ship,” Fajardo said. “Knowing we’re not the hottest team in the CFL right now going into the playoffs, I don’t think it bothers us much. Having a whole week off was going to slow down our momentum.
“We win one football game and we’re back in the Grey Cup.”
Winnipeg, which has qualified for the last four Cup contests, will finish first with a win or tie. The Bombers can also finish first with a loss, provided Saskatchewan loses at home to Calgary Saturday night — an unlikely scenario.