The Canadian Football League playoff picture is complete after last weekend. Of the nine CFL teams, six are in the running, including the Montreal Alouettes.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the latest team to fall after a 29-26 loss to the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson was also fired on Monday. The Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks also miss the playoffs.
With a record of 10-7 before the regular season ended Saturday in Montreal with a straight game, the Alouettes are not the heavy favorites to win the Gray Cup. Nevertheless, President Mark Weightman is optimistic.
• Chronicle of Marc Calixte: A big advantage thanks to the Alouettes fans
“We have to take it one step at a time,” he said, excited that the Alouettes will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at home in the Eastern semifinals on Nov. 4 as first-place finishers. It is good for the organization to be able to play important games at home and we will have one soon. We want to win this game and continue our path towards the championship.
“It’s super important to have home field advantage, especially during the playoffs,” Mr. Weightman added. There is less travel, everyone maintains their routine by sleeping at home […]. Audience support is crucial. We know that the spectators at Percival Molson Stadium can be very, very loud. And there it is: it takes our 13th player to disrupt the opposing team.”
Dangerous Argonauts
If they beat the Tiger-Cats on Nov. 4, the Alouettes would face a tough challenge in the Eastern final against the Argonauts in Toronto. The Argos, defending Gray Cup champions, are undefeated in nine home games this season and could finish the season with a 16-2 record with a win in Ottawa next weekend.
In the west, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have to wait for the winners of the semi-final between the British Columbia Lions and the Calgary Stampeders.
