Football fans are turning their attention to TD Place Stadium as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa REDBLACKS kick off Week 18 on Friday Night Football. While the Calgary Stampeders recently secured a 45-31 victory over Ottawa, both Hamilton and Ottawa enter this matchup looking to turn their respective seasons around.
Here is what you need to know about the crucial keys to victory for both teams.
## What Happened Last Week
Hamilton enters this game following a heartbreaking 37-35 overtime loss to the Edmonton Elks in Week 17, extending their losing streak to five games. Meanwhile, Ottawa is aiming to reset after a tough loss against the Calgary Stampeders pushed their record to 0-14. Despite difficult standings, both squads have plenty to prove with only a handful of games remaining in the regular season.
## Keys for the Tiger-Cats
For Hamilton, quarterback Harrison Frost is stepping up for his first career start against Ottawa, riding a momentum of seven touchdown passes over his past three games. Head coach Scott Milanovich will look to lean on running back Larry Rountree III—who tallied 91 yards on 13 carries last week—to ease pressure on the passing game. Defensively, Hamilton's secondary will need to contain Ottawa’s high-powered passing attack, building on a stretch where they limited opposing quarterbacks to an average of 278.3 passing yards over their last three outings.
## What to Watch from Ottawa
Ottawa continues to showcase explosive talent through the air. Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson has averaged an impressive 398.5 passing yards in his two recent starts, connecting frequently with star wide receiver Justin Hardy, who has surpassed the 1,000 receiving yard mark for the fourth consecutive year.
However, Ottawa's defensive unit—led by defensive backs Alonzo Addae, King Ambers, and Kahzir Brown—must tighten up after surrendering heavy yardage in recent weeks. Containing Hamilton targets like Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Kenny Lawler, and Kiondré Smith will be vital if the REDBLACKS want to secure their first win of the season.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with broadcasts available on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally.
