Alouettes can wrap up division with win over Argonauts

Field Level Media|published: Fri 27th September, 17:37 2024

CFL: Canadian Football League-Montreal Alouettes at Edmonton Elks

Jun 14, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) throws a pass during the first half against the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The Montreal Alouettes will try to clinch their first East Division title since 2012 on Saturday night when they visit the Toronto Argonauts.

The Alouettes (11-2-1) would secure a first-round bye in the playoffs and earn home-field advantage for the Nov. 9 division final with a win.

The defending Grey Cup champions can also clinch the East if the second-place Ottawa Redblacks lose on Saturday at Saskatchewan.

The Argonauts (7-7) are 5-2 at home this season, including a 30-20 loss against the Alouettes on June 28. Toronto evened the season series with a 37-18 victory at Montreal on July 11.

Montreal is 1-1-1 in September and coming off last weekend's 24-12 win at Ottawa. Toronto is 1-3 this month following a 33-31 home loss last weekend to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Despite having the CFL's best record, many Alouettes fans have called for the team to replace starting quarterback Cody Fajardo with Davis Alexander, who went 4-0 when Fajardo was sidelined this summer with a hamstring injury.

Fajardo, the 2023 Grey Cup MVP, has completed a league-best 73.5 percent of his passes, but criticism is part of the job description, said Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia.

"The reality is the two worst positions you can play in pro sports in Montreal (are) to be the starting quarterback for the Alouettes and the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens," Maciocia told the Montreal Gazette this week.

"... Grey Cup or no Grey Cup, MVP or no MVP, he's going to go through it again this year. He'll go through it as long as he's the starting quarterback in Montreal."

On the other side, Argos quarterback Chad Kelly makes his first appearance against the Als this season after being suspended for the first two meetings. Kelly has more interceptions (seven) than TD passes (six) in five games since his return, although he has also rushed for four TDs.

Toronto coach Ryan Dinwiddie is more concerned about his defense after it allowed 431 yards in last week's loss to Hamilton.

"(The) defense was too soft," he said. "It looked like seven on seven out there. Shoot, I think anybody could've went out and completed 80 percent of their passes. ... We've got to get that fixed."

--Field Level Media