MONTREAL - Ricky Ray and the Eskimos' high-powered aerial attack was the number one reason Edmonton made it to within a game of the Grey Cup.
But when it counted most, that strength became a weakness.
''Offensively we couldn't generate any momentum, and ultimately that cost us this football game,'' said Eskimos head coach and Montreal native Danny Maciocia after watching his team fall 36-26 to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division final on Saturday.
''We didn't make the plays we were supposed to make, we didn't make the catches we were supposed to make, and we couldn't capitalize when we got down there (into the red zone). Our defence held us in there for a while, then there was an exchange of majors on special teams, but offensively we couldn't get it done.''
The Eskimos and the Alouettes came into the game with the top two passing offences in the CFL, but Edmonton's passing attack stalled after jumping out to a 13-3 lead early in the second quarter, allowing Montreal to score the next 33 points.
Ray finished the game with 339 yards through the air, but most of those came late in the game when the result wasn't much in doubt.
''We didn't get any rhythm going until the fourth quarter,'' Ray said. ''We started to get some pretty good rhythm, but it was a little too late by then.''
Maciocia, who also serves as Eskimos Director of Football Operations, wouldn't commit to whether he would return as head coach next season.
''I'm not going to make a decision here on whether I will coach or not,'' he said. ''I want to see how the organization feels.''
Despite the loss, the Eskimos have a lot to look forward to. They're only a year removed from their second straight season out of the playoffs.
''This football team won 11 games and came off a 5-12-1 season, so I think there's a lot of excitement with some of the youngsters we have here,'' Maciocia said. ''There was a lot that was accomplished, but let's be crystal clear, there's a lot of work left to be done.''
Veteran slotback Kamau Peterson said once the disappointment of this loss wears off, the players will also be able to see those reasons for optimism. Especially considering this is a team where 22 of the 46 players on the roster just completed their first or second year in the league.
''Looking around the room I'm sure guys are devastated, but once it settles in what we really have in this room and the ground we've gained in the last few weeks, I think guys will start to feel a little better about it,'' said Peterson, who had a team-high nine catches for 127 yards. ''But this will leave a bitter taste in our mouths, and I want it to. I hope we feed on it in the off-season and come back that much stronger.''