Riders vs. Alouettes: Thanksgiving

The Riders are in Montreal for a holiday meeting with the Als. At first glance this is anything but an even match-up. The Riders have lost as many games since Labour Day as the Als have all season. They have a receiver with more yards this season than our starters have combined. They have clinched a first-round bye. We still have a chance to miss the playoffs completely. If you want to catch a post-Thanksgiving meal turkey induced nap this might provide a decent opportunity. 

To be perfectly blunt this all boils down to how much Montreal cares. If they actually try for 4 quarters then there is little hope for optimism. But its tough to manufacture caring and the Als do not care about the outcome of any game until the East Final. So if they want to give holiday level effort or check out mentally at half time then there is a chance for an upset.

Its going to take both sides of the ball waking up. Because its been a hot minute since either side played well. Its been even longer since they played well in the same game. 

Offense is yet again a rotating carousel of injuries. Fresh off getting Baker back into the line-up we are back to one of the Big 3 as KeeSean is out. That means Bridges steps in. I like Bridges but he’s no Keesean. Als are #5 in points allowed but #2 in takeaways so the defense can be moved on but they will take advantage of mistakes. Some semblance of a running game is going to be needed. Harris just needs to find a way to get something going (before garbage time). I think the recipe is Wiebe underneath. Baker to push the ball downfield. And Bridges/Busby when they get forgotten about and Harris needs an outlet. 

Defensively we need to generate a pass rush. Hopefully getting Roberson backs reignites the front 4 because they we MIA last week. I’ll be curious to see when the depth chart comes out as word is Ford was taking reps at LB over Brooks. I came into this season high on Brooks but that has eroded faster than our collective confidence in Hales. Ford can’t cover the pass well but is an effective runstopper so maybe LB suits his skillset better. We also get Campbell back. He’s another guy I have been down on this season. He was mediocre at best before his injury. But he may be a spark this group needs. We can’t generate a game changing play to save our soul. Lokombo and Ford are tied for second on the team in INTs with 1. Campbell is at least a guy with the speed to turn a mis-timed pass into a big time play. Not saying he will… but he definitely can. With the top 2 WRs in the league out best hope is get some pressure on Alexander. Hit him enough that either he gets cautious or Maas gets cautious on his behalf.

Special teams do intrigue me. Lauther makes his re-debut and should be used to kicking out East. Surprisingly it looks like Sexton is back. He would bring a needed boost to our return game.

I do think we split this set with Als and win next week. But nothing about this one screams confidence to me. Montreal is never a place we do well. Maybe a holiday weekend will limit the options for extra-curriculars. The Als are also the best team in the CFL. Even if they are running at 80% effort they are a better team than we are right now.

Here’s the scenario I could see leading to a surprise win. We keep it close but trail by 7-10 points for 3 quarters vs. the Als starters. Then it starts getting chippy and the Als start shutting down their stars and Harris (ever the master at padding those garbage time yards) does just enough to sneak one out.

Better days are coming. I am far more hopeful about our remaining 2 games and even think this is a team that could make noise in a semi. But I am about as confident in this week as I am in my ability to only have one helping at Thanksgiving supper.

Als by a Maltos Diaz FG in the dying minutes.