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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nMontreal Alouettes’ Tyson Philpot, left, makes the catch as Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval defends during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was bad,\u201d left tackle Stanley Bryant told the Free Press postgame. \u201cThey basically had their way all around. They whooped our ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montreal improved to 12-3 and clinched the East Division crown. The Bombers now trail the Calgary Stampeders (8-8) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-7) for the final two playoff spots out of the West.<\/p>\n
The Blue and Gold are in danger of missing the post-season for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, guys should be frustrated. We\u2019re better than this, and we\u2019re not necessarily showing it,\u201d said quarterback Dru Brown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe show little tiny glimpses, but that\u2019s not what a good football team does \u2014 they do it all the time. We\u2019ll figure it out. I don\u2019t doubt that the guys here will look in the mirror and figure it out at every position group, including quarterbacks. We\u2019ll find solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The numbers from this one are jarring.<\/p>\n The Als outgained the Bombers 440-161, dominated them in first downs (36-6), and converted on second down with ease at 70 per cent.<\/p>\n The Bombers struggled mightily to move the chains, succeeding on second down just 16.7 per cent of the time which allowed Montreal to have 40 more plays (70-30).<\/p>\n It\u2019s the most lopsided loss the Bombers have experienced since 2015 when Calgary got the best of them 36-8 in Week 10.<\/p>\n \u201c(This game) felt like s\u2014-, honestly,\u201d said receiver Tim White. \u201cI just feel like we have to compete better. We can\u2019t come in with excuses, we\u2019ve got to execute early, and we\u2019ve got to show up. If they\u2019re scoring 100 points, we\u2019ve got to be willing to score 101 points.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t At times, it felt like Montreal\u2019s dynamic duo of Davis Alexander and Tyson Philpot were capable of putting triple digits on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n On just their fourth play, Alexander connected with Philpot for a 52-yard bomb. Philpot also hauled in a 46-yard toss late in the second to finish the half with five grabs for 151 yards which paved the way to Montreal jumping out to a 24-10 lead.<\/p>\n Heading into the night, Philpot, a 26-year old from Calgary, needed 135 receiving yards to set a new single-season record by a Canadian. He also needed five catches to take over the record for most receptions in a season by an Alouette.<\/p>\n Philpot checked off both of those milestones as his night ended up with 11 catches for 207 yards. Tyler Snead was also brilliant with eight for 117. Alexander completed 30 of 40 passes for 440 yards and one touchdown.<\/p>\n The Als got a trio of scores on the ground, including one from running back Stevie Scott III who had 14 carries for 83 yards.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The Bombers also helped Montreal\u2019s cause with 11 penalties for 104 yards. The Als had three for 25.<\/p>\n Montreal is a perfect 8-0 at home this season.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were hot and we didn\u2019t stop the fire,\u201d said halfback Deatrick Nichols. \u201cWe were there, I don\u2019t feel like no one was there with all the catches and plays they made, we just didn\u2019t win the one-on-one battles when it was time.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the early onslaught, the Bombers had their opportunities to keep things tight. Linebacker Tanner Cadwallader stuffed backup quarterback Dustin Crum on a third-and-two to give the Bombers, trailing 17-10, the ball near midfield with 10 minutes left in the second.<\/p>\n The offence followed Cadwallader\u2019s heroics with three straight punts which ended up being a sign of things to come.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The Bombers managed just 45 yards and two first downs in the final two quarters.<\/p>\n Brown hit receiver Ontaria Wilson \u2014 who was making his return after missing two games with a hand injury \u2014 for a 52-yard touchdown on their second drive but there would be no more explosion plays after that.<\/p>\n Brown completed 11 of 16 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. Running back Brady Oliveira was a non-factor with nine carries for 44 yards. Wilson led the team in receiving with five catches and 109 yards.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have enough plays. Thirty plays, that\u2019s just not winning football,\u201d said Oliveira. \u201cUs offensively, we have to find a way to be better. We just weren\u2019t good enough tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Saskatchewan, who lost 37-31 at home to Calgary on Friday, will now go back-to-back against an Als side that now has nothing to play for until the post-season begins.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Meanwhile, the Bombers and Stampeders meet in Winnipeg on Saturday in a game that will determine the season series\/tiebreaker between the two foes.<\/p>\n Whoever loses will see their playoff odds take a major nosedive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to find a way to win against Calgary. It\u2019s going to be a playoff atmosphere and it\u2019s on us,\u201d said Bryant.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what we gotta do, we know what\u2019s at stake, and we just gotta do it.\u201d<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nWinnipeg Blue Bombers’ Ontaria Wilson celebrates his touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nMontreal Alouettes’ Stevie Scott (8) charges forward through the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nMontreal Alouettes’ Don Callis, left, grabs Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Tim White during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nMontreal Alouettes’ Mehki Mews evades Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Jake Kelly, right, during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nWinnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown throws the ball prior to CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nWinnipeg Blue Bombers’ Cameron Lawson, back right, tackles Montreal Alouettes’ Shomari Lawrence during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER McCABE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
\nMontreal Alouettes’ Shomari Lawrence rushes forward around Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Tony Jones during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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