Redblacks Fall Short in Season Debut
Ottawa's Redblacks couldn't pull off the win they were hoping for in their 2026 CFL season opener, dropping the game to the Edmonton Elks despite a solid if unspectacular debut from new quarterback Jake Maier.
Maier — already being dubbed "Alfie" by some optimistic fans drawing comparisons to the beloved Senators legend — finished the night completing 22 of 37 pass attempts for 203 yards. The numbers weren't enough to get Ottawa into the win column, though, as the Elks proved too much to handle on opening night.
A Tough Night at the Office
Season openers are always a mixed bag. New rosters, new schemes, rust from the off-season — it's a lot to shake off in one game. For the Redblacks, who came into 2026 with cautious optimism, the loss stings but it's far from a death sentence.
Maier showed flashes of what Ottawa fans are hoping to see from him long-term. His arm looked live, his decision-making was mostly sound, and he showed poise for a quarterback taking the reins of a new team in his first regular-season start in the capital. Twenty-two completions in a debut on the road — emotionally, at least — is something to build on.
Still, Ottawa couldn't find the end zone consistently enough when it mattered, and the Elks capitalized on the opportunities the Redblacks left on the field.
What This Means for the Season
One game does not a season make. Ottawa Redblacks fans know this better than most — this franchise has seen its share of slow starts followed by strong runs, and vice versa. The CFL regular season is a grind, and there's plenty of football left to be played at TD Place.
The bigger question heading into Week 2 is how quickly Maier can get comfortable with his receivers and build the kind of chemistry that wins close games. Ottawa's offence has the pieces to be dangerous; it's just a matter of timing and trust.
Defensively, the Redblacks will want to tighten things up after what Edmonton was able to do moving the ball. Special teams and field position will also be areas to watch as the coaching staff reviews the film this week.
Ottawa Fans Still Believe
Despite the loss, the mood in Ottawa isn't panic — it's patience. The Redblacks have a fan base that's been through the ups and downs of rebuilds, and most know that a season opener loss to a Western Conference club isn't the end of anything.
Expect the team to come out hungry in their next outing, with Maier looking to prove that the "Alfie" comparisons, however premature, aren't entirely without merit.
Source: Ottawa Citizen. Original story at ottawacitizen.com.
