It appeared to be promising for the Edmonton Elks when they hosted Hamilton last week. It was a game that was very winnable to add to the win column. Moreover, it was the best game that they played all season. As the game entered the 4th quarter, Edmonton was building confidence and playing inspiring football against one of the superior teams in the CFL. But it all came down to the play of Bo Levi Mitchell and his experience in how to win a game when it matters most. Edmonton would fall to a 28-24 loss to Hamilton. This one hurt amongst Edmonton fans. What Edmonton displayed in that game was a lot of character, along with executing plays in all three phases of the game. Edmonton will have to shake this one off and now focus on their week 10 game against the Montreal Alouettes at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
Game Details
Date: Friday, August 8th, 2025
Location: Percival Molson Memorial Stadium / Montreal, Quebec
Kickoff time: 7:30 PM EST
Channel: TSN / RDS
Stream: CFL +
Weather forecast at kickoff: 20 Degrees Celsius, it will feel like 22 degrees Celsius.
Wind gust: 24 kilometres per hour in a south direction.
Odds
Spread: Montreal Alouettes (-2.5) -115 / Edmonton Elks (+2.5) -105
Moneyline: Montreal Alouettes – 150 / Edmonton Elks + 125
Over / Under: Over 50.5 (-115) / Under 50.5 (-105)
Via FanDuel Sportsbook
Edmonton Elks Depth Chart
Montreal Alouettes Depth Chart
Edmonton Elks Injury Report
Edmonton does not have a lengthy list of injuries for week 10. Edmonton will be without the possibility of the following list of players against Montreal: LB Eteva Mauga-Clements (Knee) listed as limited, and DB Royce Metchie (Ankle) listed as doubtful.
Montreal Alouettes Injury Report
Montreal enters week 10 limping. They with be without the following list of players who are listed as out for this game: DB Kablon Ento (Calf), WR James Letcher Jr. (hand), WR Austin Mack (Ankle), DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy (Shoulder), OL Justin Lawrence (Knee), DB Dionte Ruffin (Adductor), and OL KD Davis (Shoulder).
Players to watch: Edmonton Elks
QB – Cody Fajardo
He’s playing this game with a chip on his shoulder. What is more important is that he has the Edmonton offence being more dynamic over the last couple of weeks. At the moment, he does not want to give up his starting role at quarterback. Because after all, it was the reason why Edmonton added him to the 2025 roster to add depth and experience at quarterback for moments like this.
RB – Justin Rankin and RB / KR – Javon Leake
The running back duo will have to be a big part of the Edmonton offence when they play Montreal to have any success. The running game essentially controls the clock. It was something that Edmonton was unable to do late in the 4th quarter last week, leaving too much time on the clock for a counter score the opposite way. If they can sustain long drives for the majority of the game, especially in the 4th quarter, Edmonton should be in a healthy spot for a victory on the road. On that note, if Javon Leake can work his magic on special teams, it will add another layer to the key to success in this game.
Players to watch: Montreal Alouettes
WR – Tyler Snead
He is experiencing a great season with 528 receiving yards and averaging 13.9 yards per catch. Tyler Snead is a player who thrives on short passes, only to become effective with yards after the catch. If he gets into a rhythm, Edmonton has to find a cure as soon as possible. He is also capable of changing the tempo of a game.
Sean Thomas-Erlington
The former Tiger-Cat has been a great addition since joining Montreal in 2024. As a local Montrealer, he is also a fan favourite. He is a bruising runner and makes great blocks when needed. He currently has 328 rushing yards with a 4.6 yards per carry. Do sleep on him if he has hardly received any touches late in the game. He has made many teams pay the price for neglecting his presence on the field and has broken out to close out many games.
Keys to an Edmonton Victory:
Keep the momentum.
Last week was a huge learning curve for the Green and Gold. Anytime you build confidence, it only becomes an asset to the starting lineup, along with the coaching staff, in expanding their playbook. Do not come out flat in Montreal.
Stay with a balanced playbook.
The running game was very effective in pounding hard-earned yards against Hamilton last week. Justin Rankin was a luxury to have in the backfield as he shredded Hamilton’s defence when they were flatfooted. Javon Leake was also effective when he would come into relief for Justin Rankin during various plays for a breather. Cody Fajardo did not throw the ball a lot last week. With that said, he looked very comfortable spreading the ball.
Have faith that you can win this game.
It is no disrespect to McLeod Bethel-Thompson. But he has struggled at times engineering the Montreal offence this season. It is not to say that he cannot come out and prove everyone wrong, as he has done many times in his football career. If this comes down to a quarterback showdown, do not let the game get out of hand. Play every quarter that you can win the quarter.
Be aggressive and dictate the pace of the game.
Edmonton is entering week 10 in a great spot when it comes to their depth chart. It does suck that LB Nick Anderson will be out for a long time, as he is out on the current 6-game injury list. It is where veterans have to come up in big moments. Be aggressive in attacking the line of scrimmage. Be aggressive on kickoffs. Be aggressive on the defensive side of the ball. Be aggressive in the running game. Just be aggressive.
Prediction
Expect a heavy-hitting game, with a ground attack in a bruising style of football. Both teams need this win pre Labour Day, entering the 2nd half of the season on a positive note. Montreal needs it to keep the first seed in the east within reach, while Edmonton is looking to see if they can enter Labour Day close to the 3-win mark to possibly make a push in the 2nd half of the season for a playoff spot.
Edmonton Elks: 33
Montreal Alouettes: 24
Revenge is bittersweet for Cody Fajardo. He enters Percival Molson Memorial Stadium and puts up a great game to let the Montreal front office know that he felt disrespected with the handling during the off-season, which led him to Edmonton.
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