Montreal @ Winnipeg preview
Princess Auto Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2019 ) Winnipeg 37, Montreal 38
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to stay in contention for the West Division title when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday. The Blue Bombers seemed poised to capture their first division championship since 2011 after spending the last two months at the top of the standings, but dropped four of their last five, including a 21-16 setback at Saskatchewan in Week 17, to fall into third place and hope to stop their late-season swoon by avenging a 38-37 loss to the Alouettes on Sept. 21.
"We can still come together and go on a run here and do some good things," Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris told reporters. "I still have full confidence in this team and the coaching staff so we'll get through this." Montreal came from behind to knock off the Calgary Stampeders 21-17 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2014 last week. The Alouettes welcomed back Vernon Adams Jr. from a one-game suspension for swinging his helmet at an opposing player and the former Oregon Ducks star continued where he left off in what has been a career year, and he hopes to lead the team to their first season sweep of the Blue Bombers since 2010 after erasing a 24-point deficit en route to their biggest comeback win in franchise history three weeks ago. "I'm really proud of the guys for believing," Montreal coach Khari Jones told reporters. "There were a whole lot of reasons not to believe in the beginning of the season but nobody worried about those things and we just went out and played."
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (8-6): Adams threw for 206 yards and added a rushing touchdown as Montreal overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Calgary and assure itself of hosting a postseason home game. Left tackle Tony Washington, who was part of the deal that sent Johnny Manziel to Montreal last season, is out for the season with a broken leg while defensive back Ryan Carter (hamstring) and linebacker Tevin Floyd (lower body) are both questionable after suffering injuries against the Stampeders. Running back William Stanback rushed for 59 yards on 13 carries to creep within 46 of registering his first 1,000-yard rushing season.
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (9-6): Chris Streveler threw for 254 yards, but was picked off twice deep in Saskatchewan territory as Winnipeg's offence was held without a touchdown en route to its third consecutive loss. Andrew Harris accounted for 78 total yards against the Blue Bombers and needs 20 to pass Nik Lewis (13,837) for seventh place on the CFL's all-time yards from scrimmage list. Linebacker Adam Bighill, wide receiver Darvin Adams and offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick were absent from practice due to a maintenance day, but are expected to suit up Saturday.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Winnipeg has dropped its last four games against East Division opponents.
2. Harris leads the league in rushing yards (1,095), but has been held to one touchdown on the ground in his last six games.
3. Adams tops the CFL in total touchdowns (27).
PREDICTION: Alouettes 23, Blue Bombers 21