During the 2025 season, it looked like the Hamilton Tiger-Cats under the leadership of head coach Scott Milanovich had
Finally found the recipe to return to the Grey Cup championship game. However, the Tiger-Cats ran into a brick wall at home in the East Division Final against the Montreal Alouettes, leaving the Tiger-Cats one win away from the biggest game in the CFL. That near miss extended the Tiger-Cats' Grey Cup championship drought to 27 years, and the inspiration for the Tiger-Cats' offseason plan was overcoming the obstacles that have held them back from winning another Grey Cup.
It is now time to step up and prove that the adjustments the Tiger-Cats have made to their roster over the last several months are enough to lead Hamilton back to a Grey Cup victory. However, collecting the right mix of talented playmakers is only a small part of winning a championship in the CFL. Those other parts of the recipe are discipline, effective game planning, staying healthy, and making the right plays at the right time.
Recent history shows that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats tend to have a slow start to the season, and as the season goes on, they slowly morph into a playoff team. However, that process has not led the Tiger-Cats to championships, and, ironically, the Tiger-Cats must attempt to follow a blueprint for success that the Montreal Alouettes recently used to win a Grey Cup and return to the championship game. On the other hand, simply following a blueprint does not always guarantee success.
The ironic part of building a team resembling the Alouettes framework of success is that the first opponent the Tiger-Cats must show that they can defeat with an updated identity is the Alouettes team back on their home field.
Chemistry Between Bo Levi Mitchell and Kenny Lawler
Over the last two seasons, the bulk of the Tiger-Cats' success has been on the shoulders of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' passing game on offense. In 2026, the Tiger-Cats doubled down on their passing game, leading them to a championship, with quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell leading the way and an arsenal of offensive weapons, including wide receiver Kenny Lawler, whom Hamilton chose to extend with a big financial reward due to Lawler's success during the 2025 season. However, the key to winning games is not necessarily having outstanding talent on the offensive side of the ball, but also having the discipline and chemistry to put it all together consistently.
Consistency has been where the Tiger-Cats have come up short to start the season, the last several seasons. But with the significant investment of resources Hamilton has pumped into their offensive attack, the Tiger-Cats need to hit the ground running. If the Tiger-Cats' passing game is able to pick up where they left off at the end of the 2025 regular season, Hamilton should emerge as the top team in the East Division in 2026.
Find a Spark in the Running Game
What has been missing from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' offensive game plan that has led them to continually come up short in big games? Well, that is where the Montreal Alouettes' influence has come into play for Hamilton. What Montreal has shown is that an effective passing game, combined with a strong running game, leads to consistent success in the regular season and the postseason. That strong running game has been the missing piece for the Tiger-Cats on the offensive side of the ball.
However, the Tiger-Cats have not made a major investment in bringing in a dominant running back since adding BC Lions running back James Butler to their offensive backfield. Last season, the Tiger-Cats' offensive line did a great job of helping running back Greg Bell produce in the running game despite Bell not being a dominant back. But during the offseason, the Tiger-Cats allowed Bell to leave to sign with the Ottawa Redblacks. That leaves the Tiger-Cats wagering on American running back Larry Roundtree III and Canadian running back Johnny Augustine to provide the consistency in the running game that Hamilton has been missing.
The Defensive Front Seven Must Take the Next Step
Last season, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats excelled at defending opponents' passing games. Julian Howsare led the way for the Tiger-Cats to have a big year when it came to pressuring quarterbacks. In addition, the Tiger-Cats' defensive backfield made passing attacks across the CFL fight for every yard while also protecting the ball from a defensive unit hungry to force turnovers.
The weakness of the 'Tiger-Cats' defensive unit last season was its inability to stop opponents' running games. When the Tiger-Cats' defensive front seven faced a strong running game, they were gashed, which led to the Tiger-Cats inability to win the big games. Hamilton's response was to sign middle linebacker Wynton McManis, who has been a fixture on the Toronto Argonauts' front seven and has helped the Argonauts win several championships over the last several seasons. McManis has had a recent history of missing games due to injuries, but if he can come in ready to play his best football and stay healthy this season, it will provide the push the Tiger-Cats need to hoist the elusive Grey Cup.
Maintain Legacy of Success in the Tiger-Cats Defensive Backfield
During good and bad times, the constant for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has been the success of their defensive backfield. This season, cornerback Jamal Peters and safety Stavros Katsantonis return to once again lead the top defensive secondary in the CFL. During the 2025 season, Peters and Katsantonis were tied for the lead in interceptions, each picking off 6 passes.
For Hamilton to remain successful, it is vital that the Tiger-Cats' defensive secondary continue to play at a high level. If the Tiger-Cats defensive front seven can stop opposing running games, or at least limit those rushing attacks, then the backend of the Tiger-Cats defensive unit should have a feast. On the other hand, the Tiger-Cats secondary depends on their top defenders staying healthy and showing up ready to play their best football every week, including this week against Montreal.
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