The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have struggled mightily at home this season.

With five losses in seven games in Hamilton, the Tiger-Cats (6-8) look to give their fans a better performance on Saturday when they host the Calgary Stampeders (4-10).

Hamilton is returning home after dropping a 29-14 decision to the provincial-rival Toronto Argonauts last Saturday.

Tiger-Cats rookie Taylor Powell completed 27 of 42 passes for 334 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Kiondre Smith proved to be his most trusted target, reeling in nine balls for 156 yards.

“Every time we take the field, it’s to win the football game but we have to help ourselves,” Tiger-Cats head coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “We did some great things (against Toronto) but it was sporadic.

“We have to string it together consistently, we have to play a little better situational football. I think there is a lot of resolve, a lot of resilience. The effort is there, it’s the execution.”

Calgary knows a thing or two about struggling with its execution. The Stampeders fell for the fifth time in six games last Saturday with a 28-11 setback to the Montreal Alouettes.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Calgary running back Dedrick Mills said Thursday. “We’ve just got to take it one game at a time, focus on our job, and do what we’ve got to do and come out with a win.”

While Mills is ready to go, Ka’Deem Carey became the latest member of the running back room to be affected by an illness. Carey did not participate in Thursday’s practice and is questionable to play versus Hamilton.

Fullback William Langlais returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s session due to an illness.

As for the Tiger-Cats, defensive linemen Ted Laurent (hamstring) and Cedric Wilcots II (shoulder) and offensive lineman Chris Van Zeyl (arm) have been ruled out versus the Stampeders.

–Field Level Media

The Montreal Alouettes have a straightforward mission Saturday at Ottawa: Win and they’re in the playoffs.

The Alouettes (7-7) swept the first two dates with the Redblacks (4-10) by a combined margin of just eight points.

Montreal won 19-12 in the June 10 season opener at home and 25-24 in the nation’s capital on Aug. 19.

The East Division rivals will complete a home-and-home set and wrap up their season series in Montreal on Oct. 9.

Montreal halted a four-game skid and improved to 4-3 on the road with a 28-11 win at Calgary last Saturday.

Cody Fajardo passed for 252 yards and a touchdown and Caleb Evans ran for two TDs to lead the Alouettes.

“When you don’t (win) for four weeks in football, it weighs on you mentally and physically,” Montreal head coach Jason Maas told TSN690 on Wednesday. “It sure feels good to win after you go through something like that.”

Tyson Philpot has recorded 13 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown over his past two games. He had 19 grabs for 155 yards in his first seven contests.

“Philpot’s been making the most of his opportunities,” Maas said. “This is the Tyson that I remember watching film of all offseason. The last two weeks, he’s been spectacular for us.”

Ottawa also ended a long slide last weekend, beating Saskatchewan 36-28 on Sept. 22 to snap a seven-game losing streak that began on July 28.

The Redblacks led 36-14 with 8:28 remaining and held off a late charge by the Roughriders. Dustin Crum passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns and Devonte Williams ran for 136 yards to lead Ottawa.

“It’s a team that’s in our division,” Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said of Saturday’s game with Montreal, per TSN. “We’ve got to build off what we accomplished the other night and move forward to get the win back here on our field once again.”

Ottawa has ruled five players out for Saturday, including defensive back Sherrod Baltimore (arm) and wide receiver Nate Behar (ankle).

Montreal receiver Austin Mack (thigh) is doubtful. Defensive lineman Marcus Valdez (ankle), defensive back Kordell Rodgers (foot) and wideout Chandler Worthy (ankle) are out.

–Field Level Media