Argos, Alouettes take lessons from last year into East final rematch
The Toronto Argonauts have a chance at redemption in their East Division final rematch with the host Montreal Alouettes on Saturday afternoon.
Toronto coasted to a 16-2 regular-season record in 2023 only to be upset by Montreal in the East final 38-17 after committing nine turnovers.
The roles are reversed for Saturday. The Alouettes (12-5-1) finished first in the East and earned a bye into the final.
Toronto (10-8) won the division semifinal last Saturday, 58-38 at home over the Ottawa Redblacks.
Toronto won two of the three meetings in the season series from Montreal.
Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly threw four interceptions in the 2023 East final.
"It's done and over with," Kelly said. "I definitely looked at it throughout this year but it's about managing. Take what they give you and if it's not there, don't force it."
"I don't want to relive the past too much." Toronto coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. "It's a new year, a new team and he'll learn from his performance last year."
The Alouettes, however, use it as motivation.
"I'm very motivated," Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette said. "We've seen it can happen, we know what can happen. As long as we play our game, play physical, get him rattled, get him off his spot, make him play left-handed, we know that the outcome can be what it was last year."
Toronto was second in the CFL in regular-season rushing with 121.3 yards per game. Montreal was second in scoring defense but seventh against the run (115.9 yards per game). Montreal was second in pass defense (267.1 ypg).
A key for Toronto is Ka'Deem Carey, who ran for 1,060 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
"That's a great challenge for us, I think every time you play a team that's capable of that, you'd like to stop the run," Montreal coach Jason Maas said. "Stop the run first and then go from there. Obviously, I know we'll play team defense, gap sound, alignment technique and play fast and physical football."
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo passed for 3,105 yards and 16 TDs with seven interceptions in 14 games this season. Kelly passed for 2,451 yards and 10 TDs with eight interceptions in nine games.
The Alouettes ended the regular season with two straight losses. They were 6-3 at home and the Argonauts were 3-6 on the road.
