The Calgary Stampeders lost 37-30 to the host Montreal Alouettes on Saturday at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, failing to secure a third straight victory in the Canadian Football League season. The defeat drops the Stampeders to 2-3 on the schedule.
Stampeders Struggle to Find Footing
"We just never seemed to find our footing," Stampeders general manager and head coach Dave Dickenson told Stamps TV. "I do like our fight, but we kind of lacked details and lacked poise, and we try to be a process-driven team, meaning we wanted to play the right way. Even though we had a lot of heart and we had a lot of effort, we just weren't able to get it done."
The last time the Stampeders won in Montreal was back in the 2018 CFL campaign. Saturday's loss extends their losing streak in Quebec.
Defensive Struggles Continue
The Alouettes rolled up 411 yards of net offence against the Calgary defence, resulting in four touchdowns and three field goals. The Stampeders had allowed 139 points and 1,758 yards of net offence heading into the game, with only the Toronto Argonauts allowing more in each category (153 points and 1,766 yards). The totals in Montreal further inflated those numbers.
"I mean … they're a good offence," Stampeders all-CFL star defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings told Stamps TV. "But I feel like, ultimately, we knew what they were going to do. There's certain mistakes that we made that, ultimately, ended up costing us. So if we correct those, we'll be in much better position (moving forward)."
Adams Jr. Solid Despite Loss
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 20 of 36 passes for 272 yards, throwing two touchdown passes to receiver Dejon Brissett (in the first and third quarters) and one to Clark Barnes late in the game to give the visitors hope. He threw no interceptions on the night. Rookie kicker Jude McAtamney was perfect on three field-goal attempts for the Stampeders.
Game in Doubt Until Final Minute
The game remained in doubt until Adams Jr. threw his last pass of the night into a lineman in a bid to tie the game in the final minute. But the Alouettes' defence held, securing the victory.
"You just want to make sure if a team beats you, they earned it — and they did," Dickenson said. "But I also felt like discipline and our details just weren't there."
Looking Ahead
The Stampeders will look to bounce back from the loss as they continue their season. The defence, which was dominant in 2025, has been a shell of its former self, and correcting mistakes will be key to future success.
