The Alouettes had a great game against the Blue Bombers — for 15 minutes

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The eternal optimist will suggest that the Alouettes were able to play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the best team in the CFL, at home for 41 minutes on Thursday night.

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But realists will look at the bottom line (35-20 to the undefeated (9-0) two-time defending Gray Cup champions) and admit the Als just aren’t good enough. The Bombers know how to win, while the Als are still looking for answers.

Montreal has struggled in the third quarter this season, but outscored Winnipeg 11-7 during that 15-minute stretch. That meant the teams were tied 14-14 heading into the pivotal final frame, when Als imploded, finding another way to lose as they were outscored, 21-6.

That included giving up a 57-yard punt return touchdown, smack in the middle of the Als’ coverage team, by Janarion Grant while Montreal was still in the game, trailing by a touchdown. Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris threw two interceptions in the period and was on the bench, perhaps fortunately, when backup Dominique Davis hit Reggie White Jr. for a touchdown in the final minute.

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With a 2-6 record heading into Thursday’s second leg at Winnipeg, this team is in big trouble, even though it plays in the weak Eastern Division. There was a funereal feel to this when it was over.

And the Als haven’t even bottomed out yet. Things can still get worse, and probably will.

General manager and interim head coach Danny Maciocia should realize it, but he won’t admit it. The same for the players. Montreal’s 1-3 since Maciocia replaced the fired Khari Jones last month. The change of coach did not have the desired effect.

“When we came back and tied it, it didn’t faze (Winnipeg) one bit,” Maciocia said. “We’re just not that team right now.”

If the Als aren’t in a rebuilding phase, the lost season, that day seems fast approaching. Harris will remain the starting quarterback, Maciocia said, but what alternatives are there? Vernon Adams Jr. is on the six-game disabled list. That leaves Dominique Davis, a better running back than pure passer, and rookie Davis Alexander.

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Harris completed 16 of 26 passes but generated just 127 yards and a touchdown. While Harris used seven different receivers, only Eugene Lewis was effective, with nine receptions for 123 yards, including one for 37. The remaining receivers aren’t doing his part. White caught two for 33 yards while Jake Wieneke, non-existent this season, had three receptions for 17 yards. The Als had only two pass plays of 20 yards or more.

Harris is a pure pocket passer but, at 36, he just doesn’t have the wheels to run from danger. Winnipeg fired him three times. And aside from Lewis, receivers don’t seem to open up, forcing Harris to be near-perfect with his pitches.

“It’s identifying who you feel like you can build that foundation and core to go forward and make sure as you go forward that you have the right pieces to connect to and give yourself a chance to win games,” Maciocia said. “Those are the things that we must solve in the next time.”

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The Als continues to shoot itself in the foot, charging crazy penalties. It was midway through the third quarter, trailing just 7-6, that Montreal could have limited Winnipeg to a field goal. But first, Tyrice Beverette was pinned for roughness. Then it was Mike Moore, called upon to hoard above all else. The Bombers finally capitalized, scoring a touchdown.

Maciocia addressed the penalty with Beverette when she returned to the bench: “It was truly unacceptable.”

“We are not playing like a good team, for sure,” said Maciocia, the architect of this team and now, after the firing of Jones, the man in the crosshairs. “That’s a fact. I’m not going to trick you into thinking this is a good team. To be a good team you have to play like one. There’s something there… we have to unlock it. We have to find out what it is.

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“I still think they are good soccer players,” he added. “But I’m sitting here and we’re 2-6. It’s kind of hard to argue with the fact that we’re 2-6. That is exactly where we are. This is something we’re going to have to go back and reevaluate. Everything (at the receiver) goes through (Lewis) now. We just need everyone else to step up. We have to get our running game going. It’s the same offensive line as last year. The defensive line is as good as it was last year, but for some strange reason, we sometimes have a hard time getting to the quarterback. We’re making plays, but also giving up a lot of the yards.”

The Bombers were up for grabs, playing their second away game since last Saturday. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw three interceptions and fumbled once. Four turnovers, but the Als only managed to generate three points from them. The Als squandered a glorious opportunity to topple the kings of the CFL.

“There is nothing more to add,” Maciocia said.

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