The Montreal Alouettes plan to keep their guard up on Saturday when they open a three-game road trip against the skidding Calgary Stampeders.

Sure, the Alouettes (10-2) are a perfect 5-0 away from home this season. And sure, the reigning Grey Cup champions have ascended to the top of the CFL standings while the Stampeders (4-8) are headed in the other direction following four straight losses.

That said, Montreal coach Jason Maas isn’t looking past Calgary.

“I think (the Stampeders have) been in 10 games that have been decided by a one-score game in the last three minutes of the game. Ten of them if I’m not mistaken there,” Maas said on TSN 690. “That means they’re a good football team, it’s just that at the end of the day, it’s sometimes hard to finish games and win them. That’s what it’s like in this league.”

Although competitive, it’s also fair to note that Calgary has been extremely generous of late. The Stampeders have allowed at least 30 points in five of their last six games, while the Alouettes are averaging a robust 27.7 points on offense for the season.

Montreal, however, saw its five-game winning streak come to a halt with a 37-23 setback to the B.C. Lions last Friday.

Cody Fajardo threw for 240 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Alouettes. Walter Fletcher had eight catches for 72 yards and Cole Spieker added six receptions for 46 yards and a score.

The Stampeders are expected to turn back to Jake Maier. After being benched for last week’s 37-16 loss to the provincial rival Edmonton Elks, he has returned to taking first-team snaps in practice.

“I went back with Jake to take all the (starting) reps (Tuesday in practice) and let all the guys have reps,” Stampeders coach Dave Dickinson said. “But I do feel like even when Jake didn’t play last game, I felt like it could be best for Jake to take a look from a different viewpoint and take a deep breath.”

–Field Level Media