The visiting Toronto Argonauts will try to defeat the Montreal Alouettes for the second week in a row Friday night and clinch first place in the East Division.
The Argonauts (10-1) defeated the Alouettes 39-10 last Saturday in Toronto to clinch a playoff spot and extend their winning streak to four games.
The Alouettes (6-6) will attempt to end a three-game losing streak.
“I know we’re a better team than what we (showed) last week,” Alouettes coach Jason Maas said. “We need to be better and we will be.”
The Alouettes committed five turnovers against the Argonauts, including three fumbles.
According to Maas, the Alouettes are minus-13 in turnovers in their losses and plus-11 in their wins.
“That’s a big deal,” he said. “When you’re minus-five in the turnover margin, it’s very difficult to win any game, let alone against a top team on the road. It comes back to us doing our job and making plays. The last two weeks we’ve not created any turnovers, but have been turning over the ball. Toronto punched three balls out. We weren’t able to punch one out.”
With the return from injury of middle linebacker Avery Williams, defensive back Wesley Sutton and receiver Kaion Julien-Grant and the signing of linebacker Darnell Sankey this week, the Alouettes figure to be stronger on Friday.
“We’ve played with a lot of players already,” Maas said. “We’re a very experienced team now. I’d just like to see some continuity so we can pick the right guys down the stretch.”
The Alouettes played most of the game last week without Austin Mack — the CFL’s leading receiver with 971 yards on 60 catches and four TDs — after he was ejected in the first quarter for punching an opponent.
Argonauts starting quarterback Chad Kelly was 21-for-28 passing for 278 yards on Saturday.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo was 21-for-24 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown.
“Everybody’s hungry each and every day they come in to work,” Kelly said. “I just think it was a good team effort (Saturday). At the end of the day we’re physical each and every snap and that’s what it takes.”
Toronto defensive back Robertson Daniel (ankle) and wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (hip) will not play Friday.
Montreal receiver Reggie White Jr. (knee) and offensive lineman Sean Jamieson (knee) were ruled out.
–Field Level Media
