Toronto Argos defenseman DaShaun Amos hopes to match the physical performance of the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday

TORONTO – DaShaun Amos and the Toronto Argonauts defense plan to fight fire with fire on Saturday night.

Toronto (7-7) hosts the Montreal Alouettes (11-2-1) at BMO Field. The Argos are currently just four points ahead of Hamilton in the battle for third place in the East Division, while the Alouettes can secure home field advantage for the conference finals on November 9th with a win.

Watch the match LIVE Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT on TSN1, TSN5, TSN.ca and the TSN app.

Even if Toronto wins, Montreal would still clinch the top spot if the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday night.

Montreal ranks third in offensive scoring (25.7 points per game), although it ranks eighth in net yards (346.1) and last in rushing (82.4). But quarterback Cody Fajardo has a CFL-leading completion percentage of 73.5 and is 7-2-1 as a starter this year.

Montreal doesn’t outdo itself either and has committed the fewest turnovers (19) and interceptions (eight). The Alouettes also lead the league in pass efficiency (106.4) and 30-plus yard completions (29), as well as third in touchdown passes (23).

“A very physical offense,” Amos said Friday. “They want to play more tyranny, they want to control the narrative.”

“We put a lot of emphasis on physicality, effort and toughness this week because we know they are going to play a physical game.”

The 30-year-old Amos has been active in football all season and has seven defensive takeaways at the CFL level (five interceptions, two fumble recoveries). The veteran defensive back also has a defensive TD for the second straight game.

Amos is quick to dismiss credit for his stellar campaign.

“First and foremost, it is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. “Otherwise, the guys around me make me better every day, they keep me at a certain level.”

“The team is doing a great job of putting us in a position to make plays and practice our strengths. So just go out there, play football the best way I can and make the plays that come to mind.”

Toronto lost a 33-31 home decision to Hamilton last week. The Tiger-Cats secured the victory in the three-game series – their first since 2019 – on Marc Liegghio’s game-winning 48-yard field goal.

Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell completed 31 of 40 passes for 362 yards and a touchdown. Afterward, Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie criticized his defense, saying it was “too soft” despite stopping the Ticats at the one-yard line five straight times and forcing a field goal in the contest.

Dinwiddie believes the defense responded well to his criticism.

“I trust the guys on that side of the ball, they played well for us,” Dinwiddie said. “We had moments where we didn’t play good football, but it wasn’t a good performance.”

“I thought our offense and our special teams did enough to win the game.”

Montreal gets its first start of the season from Toronto starting quarterback Chad Kelly. He missed the previous two meetings while serving a CFL-mandated suspension before being conditionally reinstated in August.

Toronto is 2-3 with Kelly at center.

Kelly last faced Montreal in the 2023 East Division final. The Alouettes forced nine turnovers – including four Kelly interceptions and two returns for touchdowns – in a 38-17 upset win at BMO Field.

“You can’t live in the past, I think you have to learn from it,” Dinwiddie said. “We can’t be careless with football and try not to do too much.”

“That’s what got us in trouble in the East final…Take care of the football, make the routine plays and get the ball into the hands of our playmakers.”

Canadian Ryan Hunter moves from left guard to tackle on Toronto’s offensive line while Isiah Cage is out (oblique/hip). Fellow Canadian Dylan Giffen will take Hunter’s place.

Canadian receiver Dejon Brissett (knee) and returner/receiver Janarion Grant (chest) both return to Toronto. Meanwhile, Canadian safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy (head) is off the injured list for Montreal.

Montreal earned a 24-12 victory over Ottawa last week. Not only did the Alouettes remain undefeated on the road (6-0-1), they also became the first team to beat the Redblacks at TD Place this season.

Toronto is 5-2 at BMO Field but just 1-5 in the East Division. The Alouettes are 5-1 in the conference.

Toronto’s only conference win, however, was a 37-18 decision in Montreal on July 11. The Alouettes won the series opener June 28 at BMO Field 30-20.

Montreal is allowing a CFL-low 19.6 offensive points per game. Linebacker Tyrice Beverette has a league-high 114 defensive tackles (including a league-best 92 tackles), while teammate Darnell Sankey is second overall with 100 (including a league-best 89 defensive tackles).

An interesting matchup will be Toronto’s second-ranked ground game (118.4 yards per game) against Montreal’s No. 8 run defense (112.1 yards). But the Alouettes boast the league’s second-best pass defense (254.8 yards per game) and have allowed just seven completions for 30 yards and 14 touchdowns, both CFL lows.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.