08.08.2026 | Game Preview : AT Alouettes

The CFL’s division leaders will meet on Saturday (Aug. 8), when the Edmonton Elks visit the Montreal Alouettes at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium in CFL Week 10 action.

Catch the action live at 1 PM MT on TSN, 880 CHED and CFL+

Edmonton sits atop the West Division with a record of 6-2, while East-leading Montreal owns the best record in the league, 7-2.

This is the second meeting of 2026 between the Elks and Alouettes. Edmonton defeated Montreal 32-29 in an overtime thriller on a soggy afternoon at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium in Week 3.

MACK IS BACK IN MONTREAL

Saturday marks the first game back in Montreal for Elks receiver Austin Mack, who played three seasons with the Alouettes before joining the Green and Gold as a free-agent last winter. Mack had many great moments with the Alouettes, winning a Grey Cup in 2023 while also receiving CFL All-Star honours.

The 28-year-old has proven a tremendous addition to the Elks. Through Week 9, Mack ranked fourth in the CFL in receiving yards (656) and was tied for second in receiving touchdowns (5). He’s currently riding a streak of seven games with at least four receptions.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Mack said about his return to Percival-Molson Stadium. “A lot of energy. I’ll definitely be looking forward to that game.”

ANDERSON RETURNS TO ACTION

After missing Edmonton’s last six games while recovering from injury, star Elks linebacker Nick Anderson will be in the lineup on Saturday.

Anderson hasn’t played in since Week 3, incidentally against the Alouettes. While they went 4-2 in his absence, the Elks are that much stronger with the 26-year-old in uniform.

I think he’s a tone setter, not just for the defence, but the entire team,” Edmonton running back Justin Rankin said. “From how crazy he is, getting in people’s faces on the sidelines, to just flying around the field. When you watch somebody go from coast-to-coast and lay somebody out, I think the energy goes up on the sidelines.”

SLOWING DOWN THE ALS

The timing of Anderson’s return couldn’t be better, given Edmonton is about to face the team that enters Week 10 ranked first in the CFL in yards per game (452.5) and second in the league in points per game (34.1).

Montreal possesses many potent weapons in its arsenal: entering Week 10, Davis Alexander leads the CFL in completions (197) and passing yards (2,788), Tyson Philpot ranks first in receptions (64) and receiving yards (1,023), Tyson Snead sits second in catches (50) and receiving yards (794), and Travis Theis is third in rushing yards (600).

“They’re an offence that likes to air the ball down the field,” Anderson said. “Creating big plays is something that they thrive on, and they get a little frustrated when you keep them behind the sticks and make them have to slow down a little bit. So (the key is) just playing our type of football, executing on first down and being able to get off the field on second down.”

TURNOVER BATTLE IS KEY

Entering Week 10, Edmonton leads the league in turnovers forced (23) and points off turnovers (62), while Montreal is tied for first in fewest turnovers committed and has allowed the fewest points off turnovers (6). In the category of total turnover differential, the Elks lead the CFL (+11), while the Alouettes are second (+8).

Edmonton is the only team to score points off turnovers against the Alouettes this season, with Vincent Blanchard kicking a pair of field goals following Montreal fumbles in Week 3. The Elks held the turnover edge in that game, 3-2.

“I know that defence thrives on turnovers … so we’ve got to find a way to protect the football, and that’s what we’ve done really well this entire year,” said Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo, whose only interception this season came against Montreal. “We lead the league in turnover ratio, our defence takes the ball away, our offence protects it, that’s our formula for winning games. No different going (against) a really good Montreal team and going into a hostile environment.”

SUCCESS AT MOLSON STADIUM

Edmonton is 8-2 in its last 10 games (regular season and playoffs) at Percival-Molson Stadium, including a thrilling 23-22 win last season, almost one year ago to the date, on Aug. 8, 2025.

The Elks trailed nearly the entire game, before Fajardo threw to receiver Kaion Julien-Grant for a touchdown with just 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Fajardo finished the game with 289 passing yards, outdoing the Montreal quarterback duo of McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Caleb Evans, who were playing in place of the injured Alexander.

“Montreal’s a tough place to play; I know it personally,” said Fajardo, who spent two seasons with the Alouettes in 2023 and 2024. “Last year we were able to sneak out a win at the end, but they’re on a different level this year, and obviously with Davis being healthy, you’ve got to do everything you can as an offence to keep their offence on the sideline because they’re obviously they’re pretty high-flying right now.”