Red-Blacks and Ticats both attempt to put an end to losing skids during a meeting in the country’s capital

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats will both be looking to break some ugly streaks when they face off Sunday night at TD Place.

Ottawa has had a tough time against division rivals lately. The last win against an Eastern opponent was a 24-18 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in 2022.

More concerning, however, is Ottawa’s home record against the East. The Redblacks (1-1) have not defeated an East Division opponent at TD Place since a 24-9 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Nov. 2, 2018.

“It’s extremely important (to beat a team from the East),” said Bob Dyce, head coach of the Redblacks.

“We plan on being a play-off team, so we want to make sure that every time we get a chance to get those two points, whether you call it four-point games or whatever, Hamilton happens to be the team this week. They’re an Eastern team.”

Oddly enough, the Redblacks don’t face another East Division opponent until September.

“You want to dig in a little bit more because you know the seeding and all that stuff matters later,” linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox said. “So, you know, it’s a little weird not playing an Eastern opponent until September, but it’s also something we want to embrace and leave the East on the right note.”

The Ticats have started the season 0-3 and now want to prove that they are better than their results suggest.

A meeting with the Redblacks could be just what they need.

Hamilton struggled the past two seasons, going 0-4 in 2022 and 0-3 in 2023. However, the series of defeats was always broken by victories over Ottawa.

The Redblacks will look to bounce back after a disappointing 47-21 loss to Montreal last week. The Redblacks trailed 30-1 at halftime.

Quarterback Dru Brown is looking to do the same after going 21 of 35 and passing for 292 yards with one touchdown and one interception in that loss.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the super-experienced vet, but I’ve been around long enough to know how long the season is,” Brown said. “It’s important for us to stick together.

“Teams often go through at least one game like this, even the good ones, so we obviously looked at it and improved it and then we threw it away because it doesn’t matter anymore. Going forward we’re confident that we’re doing what we need to do.”

The Redblacks know they have to contain Ticats QB Bo Levi Mitchell. The veteran threw three interceptions in a 36-20 loss to Saskatchewan last week, but he remains one of the league’s best.

“I think he’s back to his old form,” Santos-Knox said of Mitchell. “He looks very mobile and he can escape things that he couldn’t really escape last year… we know we’re going to get the best of him.

“He can read every defense and has seen every defense, so with him we just have to play the assignment well and know that he’s still a great player.”

Sherrod Baltimore will be part of that effort after winning the battle for the starting cornerback position. The opening arose after Ottawa placed Money Hunter on the one-game injured list.

Tarvarus McFadden and Baltimore had both vied for the opportunity, but ultimately Dyce said Baltimore showed a “great comfort level” there and performed at a high level.

Greg Bell will take over Hamilton’s running back position, replacing James Butler.

TIGER CATS (0-3) WITH RED BLACKS (1-1)

HISTORY ON OUR SIDE: The Ticats have the longest winning streak in the CFL against a single team, having won the last 10 meetings with the Redblacks.

DYNAMITE DEVONTE: DeVonte Dedmon is the CFL’s all-time leader in kick return TD rate. In 26 career games, he has six kick return touchdowns, including the only one recorded in 2024 — a 101-yard kickoff return last week.

KEEP IT GOING: Hamilton’s Kiondre Smith has a three-game touchdown streak coming into Sunday. He had just one TD in 36 career games before this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2024.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press