As the old saying goes, you learn from the past to improve the future.

For the first time in a few weeks the Riders are in the middle of a losing streak. The good news is, it's only a couple of games long, and they do have a playoff spot clinched. That's because Hamilton lost to Calgary on Saturday. So the Green and White will play at least 19 games this year, we just don't know yet where that nineteenth game will be played.

Now that the playoff spot is clinched, it's all about getting ready for that game, and making sure this team is firing on all cylinders heading into the post-season. Something they haven't exactly done the last couple of week. The good news is they don't have to look far to learn how to deal with this situation.

"It's kind of a little sombre, I wouldn't say it's the same, there is light at the end of the tunnel," said defensive back Eddie Russ. "We just got to get better and knowing we've already been through it, we know kind of what to expect, and how to bounce back."

It's that experience that will hopefully bring a quick end to this little two game blip on the radar. One thing they will have to do is stay positive.

"Guys not getting down on themselves, and being positive," said defensive lineman Keith Shologan. "If you're not positive with yourself, you're not going to do anything."

Unlike against Edmonton, there's certainly some positives the Riders can take out of the loss to Montreal. They showed a lot of fight getting back into the game, and frankly they didn't play nearly as poor all around as they did in the game against the Eskimos.

That being said, the defense, which was been praised left, right and centre before last week, needs to get back into the form we saw just a couple of weeks ago.

"We got to make sure the communication on the back end," said head coach Corey Chamblin. "Everyone knows what it is, whether they come out with new personnel we haven't seen."

Chamblin adds they have to get back to fundamental football and make sure they're making their tackles.

The Riders are off until Tuesday when they being preparing for Toronto.

jgasson@rawlco.com

Follow on Twitter: @jgasson_21