The Saskatchewan Roughriders came back to earth on Saturday night. After two straight wins over rival Winnipeg, they suffered a 48–31 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The Alouettes offense had its way from the start. Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 379 yards and spread the ball all over the field. Tailback Stevie Scott III added 125 rushing yards and wore down the Riders defense. By the second half, Saskatchewan had no answers.
Rivalry Letdown
A letdown was not a surprise. Rivalry games take a toll, both physically and mentally. Coming off two straight games vs Winnipeg. Still, the manner of this loss raises concerns. The defense that had looked sharp this season was torched for nearly 500 total yards. That is not the type of performance a first-place team expects in September. Even with the loss, Saskatchewan still owns the best record in the Canadian Football League. At 10–3, they lead the Western Division by two games. Calgary sits in second at 8–4, while both Winnipeg and BC are at 6–7 and fighting for the final playoff spot.
Grey Cup Path
The Grey Cup push is on the horizon. The Riders finish with five games, three on the road and two at home. They will face Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and BC. Every one of those opponents will have something to play for, which means there are no easy weeks left. The good news is that Saskatchewan remains in control of its own destiny. Furthermore Win three of the final five, and they will lock up home-field advantage.
Win more than that, and they could enter the playoffs as the clear favorite. The key will be defense. The Riders have proven they can score points. But if they want to make a Grey Cup run, they cannot afford another breakdown like the one they suffered against Montreal. Moreover it would be shocking if they finish the season flat.
