Alouettes host Roughriders with West playoff race affecting Stampeders
Saskatchewan's Thanksgiving Day game in Montreal carries extra weight for Calgary, since the Roughriders remain in a tight West Division scramble that includes the Stampeders.
Why it matters
The outcome affects the tight West Division standings, which include the Calgary Stampeders' playoff positioning.
The Montreal Alouettes (12-3), who have already clinched first place in the East Division, host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-7) on Thanksgiving Day with a chance to finish 9-0 at home, a feat Montreal has achieved only twice before, in 1954 and 2009. The Alouettes will host the Eastern Final on Nov. 7 and clinched top spot last week with a 37-10 win over Winnipeg.
For Saskatchewan, the game matters more for playoff positioning. The Roughriders are tied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders at 16 points in the West Division, though Saskatchewan has a game in hand on Winnipeg and two on Calgary. Both Winnipeg and Calgary currently hold tiebreakers over Saskatchewan through their season series, meaning the Roughriders' result against Montreal could shift the pressure on Calgary's own remaining schedule.
Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace said the team controls its own path with three games left, while quarterback Davis Alexander and receiver Tyson Philpot lead Montreal's offence into the matchup. Alexander needs 146 yards to reach 5,000 passing yards this season, and Philpot leads the CFL with 1,735 receiving yards. Saskatchewan will be missing top receiver KeeSean Johnson due to an ankle injury but gets cornerback Tevaughn Campbell back after an eight-game absence.
The game is the first meeting between the two sides since Saskatchewan beat Montreal 25-17 in last November's Grey Cup.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.