3 keys to victory for Hamilton, Montreal in Week 8
The Montreal Alouettes are set to host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night, concluding Week 8 of the season. This East Division game will be broadcast in Canada on TSN/RDS, in the U.S. on CBSSN, and internationally on CFL+.
Montreal currently holds the top spot in the division with a 5-1 record, four points ahead of second-place Hamilton, who are 3-3. The Alouettes are coming off a 38-32 victory against Calgary last week and aim to extend their division lead.
Alouettes’ keys to victory
The Alouettes’ defence will need to contain Tiger-Cats quarterback Tre Ford, who demonstrated his rushing ability in Week 7. Defensive linemen Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund and Kylan Guidry will be crucial in keeping Ford within the pocket and forcing him to pass.
Another key for Montreal involves their receiving corps. While Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead are primary targets, the Tiger-Cats‘ secondary may focus on shutting them down. Quarterback Davis Alexander may need to look to other options, such as Alexander Hollins, to step up.
Patience will also be important for Montreal’s offence. Hamilton’s defence is known for limiting big plays, defined as completions over 30 yards and runs over 20 yards. This means the Alouettes may need to construct longer drives to score, a task Alexander is capable of managing.
Alexander has established a Canadian Football League record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception, currently standing at 336. He surpassed Saskatchewan‘s Darian Durant, who previously held the record. Alexander has also passed for over 300 yards in every game this season, including 402 yards in the recent win against Calgary.
Tiger-Cats’ strategic approach
For the Tiger-Cats, the performance of quarterback Tre Ford will be central. In Week 7, Ford threw for 218 yards and rushed for 109 yards, leading Hamilton to a victory over the Toronto Argonauts. He will need to utilize both his arm and legs against an Alouettes defence that allows 395.7 yards of net offence per game.
The Tiger-Cats‘ defensive front will focus on stopping Alouettes running back Travis Theis. While Hamilton’s defence allows an average of 89.5 rushing yards per game, they will need to prevent Theis from gaining extra yards after initial contact, matching his confident play.
Hamilton’s receiving options will also be key. Beyond Kenny Lawler and Kiondré Smith, head coach Scott Milanovich will look for Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and Keric Wheatfall to replicate their Week 7 performance, where they combined for 109 yards.
Attendance and league trends
This upcoming game marks the second Sunday night home game for the Alouettes this season. Attendance figures for Sunday night games in Montreal, particularly during the summer, have presented challenges. The Alouettes’ recent home game against Ottawa on June 28 saw a season-low crowd of 17,138 at Molson Stadium, which has a capacity of 23,035.
The Alouettes’ last home game on July 11 against Calgary attracted 18,046 spectators. Through three home games, Montreal is averaging 18,763 attendees, a decrease from their 2025 average of 21,132. This trend is not isolated to Montreal, as other CFL teams like Edmonton, with an average of 16,860, and Ottawa, averaging 14,711, also show lower attendance figures.
The league is undergoing changes, including modifications to its rules over the next two seasons and a shortened field to 100 yards in 2027. A new six-year broadcast agreement with Bell Media, DAZN, and YouTube is set to begin next season.
Alouettes head coach Jason Maas made a notable decision in the recent game against Calgary, opting to gamble on third down from the Montreal 15-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Despite the play not resulting in a first down, and a subsequent challenge being unsuccessful, the Alouettes ultimately secured the 38-32 victory.
Special teams have also been a point of focus for the Alouettes, particularly after two late-game punt muffs against Calgary. Following these events, Mario Alford was released, and veteran returner DeVonte Dedmon is scheduled to make his season debut against the Tiger-Cats after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Source: cfl.ca
