LIVESTREAM CFL: Montreal Alouettes @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sept. 19, 01:30 CET (1:30 am, 7:30 pm Sept. 18 ET)
HAMILTON — The Montreal Alouettes will try to solve some of their road woes when they travel to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats on Friday Night Football.
All three of Montreal’s losses have come away from Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, including last week when they fell to the BC Lions.
Hamilton was on a bye and is looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
It’s the final meeting of the season between the division rivals after the Alouettes picked up victories in Weeks 1 and 8.
Here’s three keys to victory for both teams ahead of Friday’s 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, which can be watched on TSN and RDS in Canada, on CBSSN in the U.S., and on CFL+ internationally.
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» Depth Charts: MTL | HAM » Game Notes: Alouettes at Tiger-Cats
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
1. BANKING ON DEFENSIVE BOUNCE BACK
Great teams don’t let poor performances snowball, and after giving up a season-high 48 points to the Lions, the Alouettes are out to prove it’s not a trend. Linebacker Tyrice Beverette, who had a pair of sacks last week, and the rest of the defence will be expecting to hold down a Ticats offence that’s averaging a league-low 327.9 yards.
Watch live. Montreal Alouettes @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sept. 19, 01:30 CET (1:30 am, 7:30 pm Sept. 18 ET)
2. EXPLOSIVE DAVIS ALEXANDER
Quarterback Davis Alexander has now gone four straight games with less than 300 passing yards, an uncharacteristic statistic given he surpassed the mark in eight of the previous nine games. As the Alouettes continue without running back Travis Theis, Alexander needs to be the engine of the offence. He’ll still have Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead to lean on, with both receivers coming off touchdown catches last week.
3. REPLACING DEVONTE DEDMON
Returner Devonte Dedmon is out with an injury after being carted off the field last week. His presence will be missed, as he’s totaled 672 yards on kickoff returns and 210 on punts. In Dedmon’s absence, Mekhi Mews will take on the return responsibilities.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
1. GETTING OFF THE FIELD
The Ticats struggled defensively in second-and-long situations during the Labour Day Classic. Facing a quarterback as talented as Alexander, defensive back Stavros Katsantonis and company have to make plays when opportunities to get off the field arise.
2. GETTING INTO THE POCKET
With much of the defence’s focus centred on Alexander, putting pressure on the Als pivot up front will only help the Ticats’ downfield coverage. Defensive linemen Philip Ossai and Julian Howsare will be looked upon to lead the way, as the pair have combined for 11 sacks so far this season.
3. KURLEIGH GITTENS JR.
Hamilton’s offence has scored the second-fewest points of any team, and as questions continue around where production will come from, receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. could provide some of the answers. Gittens Jr. is coming off his best game of the season when he pulled down 94 yards and two touchdowns against his former team. If he can replicate the performance, it would lengthen the Ticats’ pass game.
NEED TO KNOW:
- Ticats quarterback Harrison Frost is set to make his third start of the season. In eight appearances this season, he has thrown for 734 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions on a 58.8 per cent clip.
- Philpot needs 565 receiving yards over the final five games to tie Allen Pitts’ franchise record of 2,036 yards, along with 10 more receptions to tie the team record for catches in a season.
- The Alouettes have allowed 30+ points and 400+ net yards in three consecutive games.
Watch live. Montreal Alouettes @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sept. 19, 01:30 CET (1:30 am, 7:30 pm Sept. 18 ET)
