The Ottawa Redblacks clinched their first CFL playoff berth in six years while on a bye last week.

With a ticket to the postseason secure, the Redblacks (8-6-1) will look to snap a three-game losing skid on Monday when they visit the Montreal Alouettes (11-3-1). Ottawa finds itself trailing the provincial rival Toronto Argonauts (9-7) in the race to host the East semifinal.

“It was a little weird,” Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli said of earning a playoff berth without being on the field, per the Ottawa Citizen. “But we were expecting it. We’ve been working hard to earn that record, to get that playoff spot. Obviously we wanted to have it a different way, but, still, you know, we were able to earn that place in there.”

Masoli once again will be under center with fellow quarterback Dru Brown ruled out of Monday’s game due to an ankle injury. Brown aggravated the injury during the Redblacks’ 24-12 loss to Montreal on Sept. 21.

Masoli will look for a better performance after throwing three interceptions in Ottawa’s 29-16 setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sept. 28.

The Alouettes have secured first place in the East Division and an opening-round bye. Montreal, however, is just 1-2-1 in its past four games, much to the dismay of head coach Jason Maas.

“Are we hitting on all cylinders the last four games? No. Absolutely not,” Maas said, per the Montreal Gazette. “There have been games where we haven’t played to our best. Or when the game is on the line we haven’t come through. There have been critical moments in those games where we could have made a play. We just haven’t. But it’s never because of effort or attitude. We know we need to be better.”

The Alouettes could see a quarterback change after Cody Fajardo returned home to be with his wife after she gave birth to the couple’s second child. Davis Alexander would draw the nod should Fajardo remain away from the team.

–Field Level Media