Hamilton @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2016 ) Montreal 32, Hamilton 25

The Montreal Alouettes look to end their long losing streak when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday. The Alouettes have dropped eight straight games, including a 42-24 setback to the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 16, to ensure they will miss out on a playoff spot for the third consecutive year, and hope to salvage some pride by beating the Tiger-Cats at home for the first time since July 16, 2015.

Montreal has lost its last six contests by an average margin of 24.8 points, and aims to give the crowd at Molson Stadium something to cheer about in the final home game of the season. Hamilton is left to wonder at what could've been following a heartbreaking 28-25 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, which officially knocked the Tiger-Cats out of playoff contention. Hamilton evened the score with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seemingly force overtime before an all-advised pass interference penalty set up Calgary's game-winning field goal as time expired, and the Tiger-Cats hope to bounce back with their fourth win in five meetings with the Alouettes. "We have to get everybody to understand that this is their resume for the next three games," Hamilton coach June Jones told reporters. "We're going to play the best guys that give us the best chance to win the game."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS, ESPN2

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (4-11): Jeremiah Masoli threw for 326 yards and ran for a score while Alex Green added two rushing touchdowns against Calgary to give him three in his last two games since becoming the unquestioned starter. Kenny Allen made both of his field-goal attempts and averaged 45.9 yards on seven punts, in his CFL debut after Sergio Castillo was put on the six-game injured list with a torn ACL. Hamilton added former University of Tennessee running back Rajion Neal, who has spent the last three seasons bouncing around the NFL, and offensive lineman Casey Blaser to the practice roster.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-12): Montreal quarterback Darian Durant practiced with the first team and is likely to get the start after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. The Alouettes released wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, who has made 34 catches for 502 yards and two touchdowns in 2017, and linebacker Dominique Tovell. Slotback Nik Lewis, who leads the team with 70 receptions, will return to the lineup after sitting out the last two contests with a lower-body injury while long-snapper Martin Bedard is in the concussion protocol and will be a game-time decision.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Montreal is averaging a league-worst 19.1 points per game.

2. Hamilton WR Brandon Banks has registered 100 receiving yards or more in three straight games.

3. Alouettes LB Kyries Hebert needs four tackles to become the third player in the CFL to reach 100 this season.

PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 38, Alouettes 24