CFL Power Rankings: Als back on top, Argos rising
TORONTO — The Montreal Alouettes are back on top.
After moving to No. 2 in last week’s AMSOIL Power Rankings, the Alouettes have jumped ahead of Edmonton for the top spot.
Where do the rest of the teams land? Let’s find out.
1. MONTREAL ALOUETTES
LAST WEEK: 2 LAST GAME: 37-25 WIN OVER HAMILTON NEXT GAME: VS. WINNIPEG, OCTOBER 3
Worth noting: After a week away from the No. 1 spot in the AMSOIL Power Rankings, the Alouettes are back on top. Montreal defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday Night Football, improving their record to 11-3 on the season. They now head out on a Week 17 bye before hosting the Blue Bombers in Week 18.
2. EDMONTON ELKS
LAST WEEK: 1 LAST GAME: 24-19 LOSS TO TORONTO NEXT GAME: VS. HAMILTON, SEPTEMBER 26
Worth noting: Edmonton’s winning streak was snapped at BMO Field, with the Toronto Argonauts handing the Elks just their fourth loss of the season. Still four points ahead of the Riders for first in the West Division, Mark Kilam’s team will be looking to get back in the win column this week as they welcome the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Commonwealth Stadium.
3. BC LIONS
LAST WEEK: 3 LAST GAME: 48-29 WIN OVER MONTREAL NEXT GAME: VS. SASKATCHEWAN, SEPTEMBER 25
Worth noting: Winners of six of their last seven games, the BC Lions return from a Week 16 bye with momentum in their favour. Just two points separate Nathan Rourke and the Leos from the Riders for second in the West and a home playoff date. Their game against Saskatchewan this week is an important one as the battle for playoff positioning continues down The Final Stretch.
4. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
LAST WEEK: 4 LAST GAME: 19-6 WIN OVER SASKATCHEWAN NEXT GAME: VS. TORONTO, SEPTEMBER 25
Worth noting: Coming off a stellar defensive performance against the Riders in the Banjo Bowl, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers return refreshed from a Week 16 bye and head down The Final Stretch of the season. They stay at No. 4 in the AMSOIL Power Rankings this week and meet the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night. Can the Bombers defence slow down the red-hot Toronto offence?
5. TORONTO ARGONAUTS
LAST WEEK: 6 LAST GAME: 24-19 WIN OVER EDMONTON NEXT GAME: AT WINNIPEG, SEPTEMBER 25
Worth noting: It was the Toronto Argonauts defence that made the difference in their statement win over the Edmonton Elks, with the unit tallying two interceptions in the end zone, including Tarvarus McFadden sealing the deal on a late-game drive by the visitors. Adarius Pickett led the charge in disrupting Cody Fajardo, tallying a week-high eight pressures, according to PFF, along with a sack and a knockdown. With playoffs and a home date clinched, the Argos now set their sights on the top of the division and move up a spot in the Power Rankings.
6. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
LAST WEEK: 5 LAST GAME: 19-6 LOSS TO WINNIPEG NEXT GAME: AT BC, SEPTEMBER 25
Worth noting: Saskatchewan returns from their Week 16 bye ready to get back in the win column. After losing to the Bombers in the Banjo Bowl, Trevor Harris and co. look to hold off the BC Lions, who are right behind them in the West Division standings. They move down a spot in these rankings, but that is only due to the Argos moving up after their Week 16 performance.
7. CALGARY STAMPEDERS
LAST WEEK: 7 LAST GAME: 40-38 WIN OVER OTTAWA NEXT GAME: AT OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER 26
Worth noting: Rene Paredes played hero for the Stampeders on the weekend, booting a 62-yard (!) game-winning field goal. Just two points back of BC and Winnipeg for the third and fourth spots in the West, respectively, the Stampeders are still in the playoff race. They’ll need help from other teams, but as most clubs say, they’ll look to control what they can control, and that starts with getting a win this weekend against Ottawa in the nation’s capital.
8. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
LAST WEEK: 8 LAST GAME: 37-25 LOSS TO MONTREAL NEXT GAME: AT EDMONTON, SEPTEMBER 26
Worth noting: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats tried to mount a comeback in the late stages of their game against the Als, but it wasn’t enough to find a way to win. They’ve dropped four straight and the Ticats’ playoff hopes hang in the balance. With a meeting against the West-leading Elks this weekend, they’ll hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.
9. OTTAWA REDBLACKS
LAST WEEK: 9 LAST GAME: 40-38 LOSS TO CALGARY NEXT GAME: VS. CALGARY, SEPTEMBER 26
Worth noting: It looked like it was finally going be the week that the Ottawa REDBLACKS got their first win of the season, until it didn’t. The Calgary Stampeders orchestrated a game-winning drive, capped with Paredes’ 62-yard field goal to win the contest. McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw five touchdown passes in his first start for the REDBLACKS, three of which were to Keelan White. Can Ottawa get their first win in the second half of the home-and-home with the Stamps? The REDBLACKS were in contention to move up these rankings this week. Will a win on the weekend give them a case to jump out of the basement?
