The Montreal Alouettes host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East Final at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium following a scheduling layoff. The East Division championship matchup arrives after the Blue Bombers defeated the Toronto Argonauts 25-22 in the East semifinal, a game decided by a late special teams turnover that prevented a third Toronto-Montreal East final in four years.
La situation des quarts-arrières et la pression défensive
Uncertainty surrounds the visitor’s starting quarterback position. Veteran Zach Collaros suffered a rib injury during the final regular-season game, leading Dru Brown to start against Toronto. While Winnipeg secured the victory, Brown struggled with a style described as capable of both smart plays and major blunders, though questions remain about whether he can lead a 30-point performance against Montreal. If Collaros is available, the 38-year-old will get the start, having recorded a 49-41 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the last three seasons.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Alouettes must apply pressure—an area where Noel Thorpe’s defense struggled by ranking eighth and second-last in the CFL with 27 sacks this season. Montreal needs to disrupt the passer without heavily relying on the blitz, particularly if Collaros plays and executes quick reads.
La menace Brady Oliveira et l’attaque montréalaise
Winnipeg’s top offensive weapon is Canadian running back Brady Oliveira, who recently secured his third rushing yards title in four years. During the teams’ first meeting in Manitoba, won by the Blue Bombers, Oliveira rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. His usage decreased in the second matchup in Montreal after the Alouettes built an early lead, forcing Winnipeg into a pass-heavy approach.
For Montreal, a productive start on offense and early defensive stops could force offensive coordinator Tommy Condell to abandon the run and rely heavily on the pass, diminishing Winnipeg’s chances.
Le repos des Alouettes
Heading into this contest, the Alouettes made the bold decision to rest several key offensive players, keeping Davis Alexander, Tyson Philpot, and Tyler Snead out of the team’s final two regular-season games when the standings offered nothing more to play for and the team sought to avoid injuries.
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