The Montreal Alouettes face the BC Lions in Week 15 of the CFL season, a game with real playoff weight. This game, as a late-season test, is important for both teams. Both teams are looking for a positive result, with the pressure building. The Alouettes have a poor track record in Vancouver, a familiar problem. The team has often struggled in that building, in front of a tough crowd. The Montreal Gazette cites 11 years of misery there, a stretch of bad results. Montreal has not found success in that stadium for more than a decade, creating a nagging road issue. That drought has been talked about often, around the league.

Quarterback Davis Alexander said he does not believe in curses. He expects Montreal to win despite the history, without a trace of doubt. In his view, the losing streak is just a set of old results. He believes the current group is different, with a stronger attack. He brushed off the past, refusing to dwell on old results. The CFL published three keys to victory for both teams before the matchup. Those keys, released before the game, cover the main factors. The list includes what each side must do. Those keys cover what Montreal and BC need to do to come out ahead, to limiting costly mistakes. The team that executes better will likely leave with the win, according to the game preview.