Ottawa @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2017 ) Toronto 26, Ottawa 25

The Toronto Argonauts can take sole possession of first place in the East Division when they host the Ottawa Redblacks on Monday. The Argonauts have had more than a week to dissect their 33-25 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and hope to make the proper adjustments to their red zone offence by beating the Redblacks for the second time in 16 days following a thrilling 26-25 victory in the nation's capital July 13.

Toronto had to settle for six field goals against the Blue Bombers and hopes that a resurgent Ricky Ray, who leads the CFL with 382 passing yards per game, can propel the Argos past Ottawa for the seventh time in the last nine meetings. Ottawa picked up its first win of the season after holding off the Montreal Alouettes 24-19 on Wednesday. The Redblacks had dropped their previous three games by a combined seven points, but the defence came up big by stuffing the Alouettes on a 3rd-and-1 on the 8-yard line with less than two minutes to play and hope to have enough energy in the tank to make the best of a scheduling quirk that will see them play their third game in 11 nights. "I was proud of our guys and the way we stepped up and made plays at the end of the game to win it," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "It's going to be tough to go on the road but if we can find a way to pull it off and be done with the first third of the season we could end up in first place."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (1-3-1): Trevor Harris completed 29-of-41 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard scoring toss to Greg Ellingson, who finished with six receptions for 149 yards, to help lift Ottawa past Montreal. "The parity in this league is crazy," Harris told reporters. "We just have to make sure we're coming to play every week and as long as we do I feel this is a team that can win a lot of games." The Redblacks signed defensive back C.J. Roberts, who had 26 tackles and two interceptions in seven games with Winnipeg last season, and defensive lineman Mike Wakefield.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2-2): Martese Jackson, who was playing in his second career CFL game, was named one of the league's Top Performers of the Week after racking up 339 return yards, including a 78-yard punt return touchdown against Winnipeg. "I just want to build off it and also change the things I did wrong," Jackson told reporters. "I think fielding kicks and judging kicks I can do that a little better." Toronto is set to honour Hall of Fame quarterback Doug Flutie, who led the Argonauts to two straight Grey Cup victories in 1996 and 1997, in a ceremony prior to Monday's game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ray has thrown for more than 300 yards in all four games in 2017.

2. Harris leads the CFL in passing yards (1,755) and touchdowns (10).

3. Toronto WR S.J. Green caught 10 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown against Ottawa in the first meeting of the season.

PREDICTION: Argonauts 27, Redblacks 24