The Edmonton Elks (4-12) will host the Montreal Alouettes (9-7) for their final home game of the 2023 CFL season on Saturday, October 14th, 2023.
For the Edmonton Elks, it will be a day on the 2023 calendar in which they wish they were in the same position as the Montreal Alouettes knowing that they are already heading into the postseason.
Well, unfortunately for Edmonton fans, their time will have to wait at least one more season before they can fully embrace that feeling of what it is like to taste and feel the postseason experience. And when that day comes, it will feel like a weight lifted off their shoulders.
Game Details
Date / Location: Saturday, October 14th, 2023 / Commonwealth Stadium / Edmonton, Alberta
Kickoff Time: 4:00 PM EST
Channel: TSN / TSN+
Weather Forecast
Temperature: 13 Degrees Celsius, will feel like 11 Degress Celsius. Mainly sunny.
Wind Gust: 35 Kilometers per hour.
Percentage of Precipitation: 20%
Odds
Spread: Montreal Alouettes -1.5 (-110) / Edmonton Elks +1.5 (-112)
Money line: Montreal Alouettes -120 / Edmonton Elks +100
Over / Under: Over 47.5 (-106) / Under 47.5 (-108)
Edmonton Elks Week 19 Depth Chart vs Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes Week 19 Depth Chart at Edmonton Elks
Injury Report: Edmonton Elks
For the Edmonton Elks, they enter week 19 against the Montreal Alouettes with more injuries. The one player on their roster that will be missed dearly will be none other than that of LB Nyles Morgan. He is the best all-around player on the Edmonton defence, and it will be a big blow in attempting to halt the Montreal running game.
Injury Report: Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes will be without the services of WR Kaion Julien-Grant. He is an important piece to the Montreal offence when it comes to the passing game.
Players to Watch: Edmonton Elks
Jake Ceresna: One of the cornerstones on the Elks’ defence will be an impactful player against the Montreal Alouettes. He has been consistent game-in-game-out for the Elks in 2023. He creates big plays when it matters most to help out the Elks’ offence when it comes to obtaining good field position when stalling an offence. Look for Jake Ceresna to create a lot of confusion for Alouette’s offensive line in protecting Cody Fajardo. The Alouette’s offensive line has given up 55 sacks this season. This will only give more ammunition for the Elks’ defensive line to exploit and execute Montreal’s weakness.
A.C. Leonard: We are staying on the defence again as it will most likely be up to the defence to win this game to have a chance against Montreal. With that said the presence of A.C. Leonard will only be a positive and beneficial approach to entering this game vs. the Montreal Alouettes. Both A.C. Leonard (11 sacks) and Jake Ceresna (11 sacks) have been valuable parts of the Elks’ defence for the 2023 season. Both will line up on the left side of the defensive line. They will be overloading the pressure on Montreal’s offensive line on the right side. With Montreal having protection issues this season, Edmonton could have a field day on Cody Fajardo. Expect A.C. Leonard to have a big impact in this game vs. Montreal.
Players to Watch: Montreal Alouettes
Austin Mack: Since joining the CFL and signing with the Montreal Alouettes this season, he has been nothing short of rock solid. And rock solid he is. He currently sits with 1097 receiving yards with 4 touchdowns. He will keep the Edmonton secondary on their heels in this game. His ability to elude downfield tacklers is remarkable. His route running and creating separation is something that a veteran in the CFL does daily. Look for Austin Mack to be the big target for Cody Fajardo vs. the Edmonton Elks.
Marc-Antoine Dequoy: Entering his third season in the CFL (2nd year as a starter) with the Montreal Alouettes, DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy is making a strong case for being in the conversation for the 2023 CFL Most Outstanding Player candidate for a defensive player. His football IQ is extraordinary, along with his vision to read a play. He currently sits tied in second place in the interception category with 5. Only Demario Houston of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7 interceptions) leads the CFL in this category, while both Marc-Antoine Dequoy and Stavos Katsantonis, are tied in second with 5 interceptions a piece. Tre Ford should be aware as much as possible with his internal radar on where Marc-Antoine Dequoy is on the field when it comes to the passing game, as he will be effective for the Montreal Alouettes tomorrow night.
Prediction
With more at stake for Montreal to win this game tomorrow to officially stamp their ticket to host a playoff game this season, this will be a closer game than fans would think.
On the flip side, the Edmonton Elks brand of football has been the complete opposite, post the 0-9 start of the 2023 season. With that said, Edmonton fans and Elks’ players would love nothing more than to win one more game at home to close out their respected 2023 home schedule.
Final Score
Edmonton Elks: 22
Montreal Alouettes: 19
The Edmonton Elks do a bend but don’t break approach to this game vs. the Alouettes and walk away with a win for the loyal fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Elks will overcome the running attack with William Stanbeck (Questionable), Walter Fletcher, and Jeshrun Antwi. Montreal will run the ball collectively for over 100 yards in this game. However, the Edmonton Elks X factor will be able to halt the running attack when it matters most. The Elks’ will be able to obtain the ball in the form of clock management at the most important parts of late in the 3rd quarter, and entering the 4th quarter.
QB Tre Ford and a combination of both RB Kevin Brown and RB Shannon Brooks will have an impactful game. This could be a game in which the Edmonton running game will be good enough against a stingy Montreal run defence.
In that sense, this is the first and only time the Montreal defence will face Tre Ford. As much as it is for a dual-threat quarterback to be athletic and creative on every down, the fatigue factor will resonate for the duration of the game. This will only benefit Tre Ford if he can wear down the Montreal defence with long drives and elude the attack of the Montreal front seven and use this skill set to his advantage.
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