Hoping bye week helped, winless Redblacks face East-best Alouettes

The break ends Friday night. The Ottawa Redblacks have to play another football game.

The CFL's only winless team is back in action after a bye week with a difficult assignment, hosting the East-leading Montreal Alouettes.

For three quarters on July 19, it looked like Ottawa (0-6) would take the bagel out of its win column when it led Winnipeg 26-9. And that was after it missed on two prime scoring chances in the red zone: a turnover on downs at the 1, and a Jake Maier interception in the end zone.

But the Redblacks blew that lead and the game in jaw-dropping fashion, losing 36-34 in four overtimes as their former quarterback, Dru Brown, led the charge for the Blue Bombers.

"We're not getting certain things done properly," said first-year coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie. "We're in a win-loss results business."

Maier, who was 30 of 40 for 344 yards in the bitter loss, said improved play will lead to the result he and his teammates want.

"It's more about how well we can play and (how) well can each individual play," Maier said. "We're trying to do the best we can to focus on the things we're doing well."

While Ottawa seeks one win, Montreal (6-1) tries to increase its already sizeable lead in the East. It's coming off a 31-18 victory Sunday night over Hamilton, scoring 14 points inside the last three minutes.

Davis Alexander threw for a season-low 187 yards and also tossed an interception to end his CFL-record streak of 356 passes without a pick. But running back Travis Theis picked up the slack with 156 yards and a touchdown.

"He's a stud," Alexander said of Thies. "He comes ready to work every single day. He wants the football in his hands, which is super important. He doesn't go down on first contact and he just keeps battling."

The Alouettes prevailed 37-35 in the teams' first meeting on June 28 in Montreal.

--Field Level Media