Ottawa @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2017 ) Ottawa 32, Montreal 4

The Montreal Alouettes hope a coaching change provides the necessary spark to knock off the East Division-leading Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday. Montreal general manager Kavis Reed fired coach Jacques Chapdelaine and defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe following a 41-18 loss to the BC Lions, and will take over coaching duties on an interim basis as he looks to lead the Alouettes - who have dropped six of their last seven games - back into the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

"Essentially it came down to the vision of where we want this franchise to move to," Reed told reporters. "We want to make certain we're in complete alignment about building a franchise that's going to be successful now and in the future." Ottawa looks to tighten its precarious grip on first place after suffering a disappointing 26-22 setback to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Redblacks missed a chance to open up a three-point lead over the second-placed Toronto Argonauts, who were on a bye, and must rely on backup quarterback Drew Tate during the stretch run after Trevor Harris suffered a shoulder injury against the Tiger-Cats that will keep him out for up to six weeks. "It's too bad about Trevor but he will be back at some point and for now we go with Drew," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "He's started in this league, he's been around and he's a guy I know we can win with."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (4-7-1): Harris completed 18-of-28 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game in the third quarter while Tate threw for 114 yards and a TD against Hamilton. Mossis Madu Jr. continues to fill in admirably for an injured William Powell as the former Oklahoma Sooners running back has accounted for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his last three games. Kick returner/wide receiver Quincy McDuffie returned to practice and is expected to play after missing last weekend's game while offensive lineman Jon Gott is questionable with a wrist injury.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-8): Defensive end John Bowman, who leads the team with six sacks in 2017, will play with a partial cast after fracturing his right hand against BC. Nik Lewis has been one of the lone bright spots on offense for the Alouettes as he hauled in six passes for 42 yards against the Lions to extend his streak of games with at least one reception to 56 in a row. Darian Durant threw for 258 yards and a touchdown pass to Ernest Jackson, but Montreal was held to fewer than 20 points for seventh time in 11 games this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ottawa has won the last two meetings with Montreal by an average of 16.5 points.

2. The Alouettes have given up 32 or more points in each of their last four games.

3. Harris leads the CFL in passing yards (3,724) and passing touchdowns (23).

PREDICTION: Alouettes 23, Redblacks 20