2026 CFL Grey Cup: Five key matchups to watch between Edmonton Elks and Montreal Alouettes

Sunday’s 113th Grey Cup in Calgary pits the two best teams in the league all season against each other as the Edmonton Elks face the Montreal Alouettes.

Not much separates these juggernauts, so we’re taking a look at five key battles that could determine the game.

Let’s get into it.

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Alouettes passing offence

Montreal easily boasted the best passing attack in the CFL this season, leading the league in both passing TDs (39) and completion percentage (72.9 per cent).

It all starts with 2026 Most Outstanding Player Davis Alexander, who finished second in passing yards (5,257) and passing TDs (39) while throwing just four interceptions.

Alexander clicked with the top two receivers in the league, Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead. Philpot led in receiving yards (1,809), followed by Snead (1,474) and both players tied with a league-high 13 receiving TDs each.

Edmonton will be the toughest test yet. The Elks finished second in passing yards allowed per game (272.7) and passing TDs allowed (26) during the regular season. The team also recorded a CFL-best 27 interceptions, including Tyrell Ford’s league-leading seven picks.

Montreal’s offensive line

Part of the credit for Montreal’s elite passing attack has to go to the impressive protection from the offensive line. Nick Callender and Pier-Olivier Lestage were both finalists for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the Als allowed a league-low 19 sacks, 10 fewer than the next closest team.

This should be a great matchup against an Elks defence that finished the regular season with 40 sacks, the third-highest mark in the league. Keep particular attention on Malik Carney and Noah Taylor, who finished second and third in sacks this season with 12 and 11, respectively.

Kicking matchup

Special teams will play a big factor in this game.

Edmonton’s Vincent Blanchard led the CFL in field goals made (55), field goal accuracy (93.2 per cent) and points scored (211). Blanchard has been just as good in the playoffs, nailing all five field goal attempts in last week’s West Final win over the BC Lions.

Montreal will counter with Jose Maltos Diaz, who was second in field goal accuracy (93 per cent) during the regular season and already ranks as one of the most accurate kickers in CFL history. Maltos Diaz was also perfect on field goal attempts in the East Final, going four-for-four.

Elks rushing attack

The Elks had the best rushing attack during the regular season, averaging 127.6 rushing yards per game, nearly 10 yards more than the next closest team.

Justin Rankin is clearly a big reason for the unit’s success, finishing with the second-most rushing yards in the league (1,170). However, Cody Fajardo was the X-factor. Fajardo led all quarterbacks with 517 rushing yards and eight rushing TDs.

Montreal’s rushing defence has a tall task, but they should be up to it. The Alouettes had the fourth-best rushing defence in the CFL, allowing just 90.9 yards per game. Tyrice Beverette and Geoffrey Cantin-Arku lead the unit that will be tasked with shutting down Rankin and Fajardo.

Coaching

It’s no surprise that good coaching matters and this game is no different.

It’s only Mark Kilam’s second year as a CFL head coach and he’s already led Edmonton to the Grey Cup.

Montreal’s Jason Maas is a different story. Maas is in the Grey Cup for the third time in the last four years with the Als, winning with current Elks QB Cody Fajardo in 2023. Maas is also a three-time Grey Cup champ as a player, so the stage won’t be too big for him.

One ironic wrinkle to Maas’ story is, he actually won his first two Grey Cups as a player against Montreal as Edmonton’s quarterback.