Montreal getting treated by some like a massive out-of-nowhere underdog here, simply not the case. As stupid as he was 15 years ago, Danny Maciocia has actually put together a solid roster the last couple years. Good O-line and D-line, Stanback is a truck when healthy, Mack is a stud receiver, and those linebackers and guys in the secondary are solid as well. Reasonable doubt over Fajardo's ability get it done at the QB position was really the big question mark and he had a great game yesterday, simple as that.
Winnipeg is not the team they were in 2019 or 2021, really not even close. Willie Jefferson running wild for three years was a big reason for the success of Richie Hall's conservative defensive package, and Willie isn't the player he once was. Schoen getting hurt late in the year was a big blow as well. Collaros threw a ridiculous number of INT's this year, and that was with Schoen hauling in circus catches on the regular. Remove him from the equation and you're mainly left with the INT's.
Winnipeg is a good team, just not dynasty-quality anymore. They lost to Toronto last year, and would have lost to Hamilton too in 2021 if that dinglenuts returner didn't concede a single point late in the game. Four straight GC appearances out of the strong division with two wins is still a once-in-a-generation accomplishment though, and really as good as it gets in the highly random CFL. The history books are full of Montreal-level teams that got hot at the right time and won the Cup, they are not an atypical champion. 2000 BC, 2007 Sask, 2012 Toronto, 2016 Ottawa, and 2022 Toronto are comparable.