Ottawa Redblacks face Alouettes amid challenging season start

By Liam Tremblay — 20 August 2026 — 3 min read

The Ottawa Redblacks are set to face the Montreal Alouettes, with Ottawa looking to improve their season record. The Redblacks currently hold an 0-9 record under head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie, which has significantly impacted their playoff prospects for the season.

Dinwiddie, who previously spent five seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, including two Grey Cup titles as head coach, acknowledged the difficulties of his new role in Ottawa. Despite the team’s struggles, he emphasized the importance of playing for the love of the game and maintaining team cohesion.

Redblacks’ challenging season continues

The Redblacks have made unwanted history this season, becoming the 13th CFL team to lose their first nine games. They also set a modern-day league record with their 15th consecutive loss last week in Winnipeg, surpassing the previous mark of 14 straight losses set by the Shreveport Pirates in 1994.

The upcoming game against the league-leading Alouettes presents another challenge for Ottawa. The Alouettes are returning from a bye week with a shorter injury list, while the Redblacks are playing on less rest. If Ottawa loses this week, they would become the ninth team to lose their first ten games in a season.

Ottawa also has 17 players on the six-game injured list and is on a 13-game losing streak against the Alouettes, dating back to October 10, 2022. This includes two defeats this season.

Canadian linebacker Lucas Cormier stated that the Redblacks are focused on achieving a win this week, despite the odds. He joined the Redblacks in 2023 and noted the competitive nature of the CFL.

Changes have occurred within the Redblacks organization, including the firing of defensive co-ordinator Will Fields, who was replaced by Jeff Reinebold. Additionally, Adrian Sciarra stepped down as president. The team also released veterans Eugene Lewis and Demerio Houston, and traded former starting quarterback Dru Brown to Winnipeg after Dinwiddie named Jake Maier the starting quarterback.

The Redblacks rank last or second-last in most statistical categories heading into Week 12, averaging 23 points per game while allowing 35.8. In contrast, the Alouettes are on track for several offensive records, led by quarterback Davis Alexander and wide receiver Tyson Philpot.

Alexander, who has a 19-1 regular-season record as a starter, is on pace for 6,280 passing yards. This figure would exceed Anthony Calvillo’s single-season team record of 6,041 yards and place him second all-time in CFL history behind Doug Flutie’s 6,619-yard campaign with the B.C. Lions in 1991.

On defense, the Alouettes are welcoming back four starters after their bye week: defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson, middle linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, linebacker Najee Murray, and defensive back Wesley Sutton. Cantin-Arku expressed that the team should not underestimate Ottawa, even with their current record.

Week 12 predictions include potential overtime

In other Week 12 matchups, there are predictions of trick plays and significant rushing performances. One prediction suggests that Tommy Stevens of the Roughriders could throw a touchdown pass, potentially from midfield. Another bold prediction involves Zander Horvath also throwing a touchdown pass, which would be a surprise given he is not a quarterback.

Justin Rankin of the Elks is expected to have a strong performance against the Blue Bombers. He previously ran for over 100 yards in their first meeting this season. The matchup is anticipated to allow Rankin to reboot his season, which started with strong performances in the first five games.

Travis Theis of the Alouettes is 100 yards away from reaching 800 rushing yards for the season. With Dedrick Mills on a bye week and Brady Oliveira 32 yards ahead of him, Theis could potentially lead in rushing after Week 12. He previously achieved a season and career-high of 156 yards in Week 8 against Hamilton.

The game between Hamilton and Toronto is predicted to go into overtime. Their previous encounter saw the Tiger-Cats secure a one-point win after a missed field goal by Toronto as time expired.

The Alouettes are welcoming back four defensive starters for their game against the Redblacks.

Source: cfl.ca