The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to clash with the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup for the Canadian Football League title this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in Winnipeg. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming championship game:
Saskatchewan is expected to break their Grey Cup dry spell. The Roughriders have not claimed a championship since 2013, which was also their last Grey Cup appearance. Despite a seemingly short span of 12 years, this hiatus is significant in a league comprising nine teams. Only the B.C. Lions have not reached the title game since the Roughriders’ last shot at the Grey Cup.
During the intervening years, the Roughriders faced challenges with an overall regular-season record of 83-92 and just three playoff victories from 2014 to 2024 (excluding the canceled 2020 season due to Covid).
However, this season has seen Saskatchewan dominate the CFL, starting with a strong 4-0 record and continuing to lead with an 8-1 start before finishing at 12-6, the best in the league, despite two inconsequential losses after clinching the West Division title.
Following a first-round playoff bye, Saskatchewan staged a remarkable comeback against the B.C. Lions in a thrilling West final last Saturday. Trailing 21-17 with only 63 seconds left in the fourth quarter, quarterback Trevor Harris orchestrated a game-winning drive, culminating in a three-yard touchdown pass to Canadian receiver Tommy Nield with just 11 seconds remaining.
Now, the pressure is on Harris and the team to secure a rare championship for the fervent watermelon-hatted fans of Saskatchewan. The Roughriders have only won four out of the 111 Grey Cup games played so far, with a disappointing .211 winning percentage. Despite this history, the Roughriders enter Sunday’s game as favorites with a four-point advantage, indicating a favorable chance of victory.
Montreal’s prospects hinge on a significant factor. Alouettes supporters can empathize with the Roughriders’ journey, having endured a 13-year hiatus from Grey Cup appearances before their triumphant 2023 win against the favored Winnipeg team.
This season, Montreal finished second in the East with a 10-8 record. They further dashed the Blue Bombers’ hopes in the playoffs, outscoring them 42-33, thereby preventing Winnipeg from achieving a record-tying sixth consecutive Grey Cup appearance. In the East final last weekend, the Alouettes upset the first-place Tiger-Cats with a walk-off 45-yard field goal by Jose Maltos Diaz.
Montreal’s quarterback, Davis Alexander, boasts an impressive 13-0 record as a CFL starter. Despite his success, a nagging left hamstring injury sidelined him for 11 games, during which the team struggled with a 3-8 record under backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
Heading into the Grey Cup, head coach Jason Maas acknowledges that Alexander may not be in optimal health due to the lingering hamstring issue. Despite assurances from Maas and Alexander regarding his starting position, the quarterback’s participation remains uncertain, with the team listing him as a limited participant in the initial practice session.
In the realm of football, defense often makes the difference, and this Grey Cup showdown may come down to defensive prowess. While both teams possess strong offensive talent, Saskatchewan and Montreal rank in the middle of the pack when it comes to offensive performance metrics.
Saskatchewan’s defense has excelled this season, ranking third in average points allowed per game and second in interceptions. In the West final, they held the Lions to 21 points, significantly below their regular-season scoring average.
Montreal’s defense has been equally formidable, conceding slightly more points on average than Saskatchewan but demonstrating exceptional efficiency in terms of yards allowed per play. Anchored by standout players like Darnell Sankey, Tyrice Beverette, and Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, the Alouettes boast a defense capable of disrupting any offense.
Recent history shows that strong defensive performances have propelled underdog teams to Grey Cup victories, as witnessed in Montreal’s own unlikely triumph in 2023. Defense may once again play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the Grey Cup showdown this Sunday in Winnipeg.