CFL Power Rankings: Bombers on the rise ahead of OK Tire Labour Day Weekend
TORONTO – It’s time for OK Tire Labour Day Weekend.
It’s a weekend full of rivalries, epic matchups and big plays. But before we can get to all of that, it’s time to see where the teams stand in this week’s AMSOIL Power Rankings.
The BC Lions extended their winning streak to five and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the league’s top team. But where do they land this week?
Let’s find out.
1. Montreal Alouettes
Last week: 1 Last game: 44-28 loss to Winnipeg Next game: vs. BC, September 4
Worth noting: For just the second time this season, the Montreal Alouettes lost a game. But despite that, Montreal still finds themselves ahead of the pack in the AMSOIL Power Rankings. They’ll want to have a short memory this week, flushing the loss, as they host the red-hot BC Lions to kick off OK Tire Labour Day Weekend on Friday night.
2. Edmonton Elks
Last week: 2 Last game: 22-19 win over Winnipeg Next game: at Calgary, September 7
Worth noting: Edmonton returns from a Week 13 bye rested ahead of its meeting with the rival Calgary Stampeders. The Elks have won two games in a row and will be looking to keep the momentum rolling into OK Tire Labour Day Weekend. Can Cody Fajardo and co. keep the Riders behind them in the standings and improve on their 8-3 record with a win?
3. BC Lions
Last week: 3 Last game: 45-24 win over Ottawa Next game: at Montreal, September 4
Worth noting: Another week, another BC Lions victory. The Lions continue to be the hottest team in the CFL, winning their fifth-straight contest. Zander Horvath was the star for BC, rushing for 164 yards and scoring four touchdowns on the ground in the win and will look to continue his success against the 9-2 Montreal Alouettes. With the Als sitting at the top of the rankings, will the Lions make it six-straight and challenge Montreal for No. 1?
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Last week: 6 Last game: 44-28 win over Montreal Next game: at Saskatchewan, September 6
Worth noting: Winnipeg made a statement in Week 13, defeating the league’s top team in the Montreal Alouettes, and moved up two spots in the rankings. Zach Collaros was efficient in leading his squad to victory, completing 81.3 per cent of his passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Now at 6-5, Collaros and his Bombers look to keep climbing the Power Rankings and the CFL standings with a meeting against the Roughriders at home for their first of the epic home-and-home series.
5. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Last week: 4 Last game: 28-24 win over Toronto Next game: vs. Winnipeg, September 6
Worth noting: The Saskatchewan Roughriders snapped a two-game losing skid by defeating the Toronto Argonauts in Week 13. Despite the win, the Riders did move down a spot in the Power Rankings, but that is more of an indication of the strength of the Bombers ahead of them, who moved up two spots because of their impressive win over the No. 1-ranked Als. Second in the West and just two points ahead of the Blue Bombers, their next back-to-back series against Winnipeg will be big for both the standings and leapfrogging them in these rankings.
6. Calgary Stampeders
Last week: 5 Last game: 28-23 win over Hamilton Next game: vs. Edmonton, September 7
Worth noting: Even without their star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., the Stampeders were able to get a win against the Tiger-Cats. Much like the Riders, the Stamps falling a spot was based on the Bombers moving up. Will the Stamps get Adams Jr. back this week as they prepare for their Labour Day matchup against the Edmonton Elks? Or will it be Josh Love at the controls once again?
7. Toronto Argonauts
Last week: 7 Last game: 28-24 loss to Saskatchewan Next game: at Hamilton, September 7
Worth noting: The Toronto Argonauts were leading for most of their Week 13 contest against the Riders, until they weren’t. Inside the three-minute warning, in classic CFL fashion, the game flipped and Toronto was handed their sixth loss of the season. Can the Argos shake the heartbreak and improve to .500 against their rivals, the Tiger-Cats, on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend?
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Last week: 8 Last game: 28-23 loss to Calgary Next game: vs. Toronto, September 7
Worth noting: The Tiger-Cats were oh-so-close to winning their Week 13 matchup, leading by a point heading inside the three-minute warning. But the Stampeders had other plans and handed Tre Ford and his Ticats their eighth loss of the season, thanks to a late Dedrick Mills touchdown. Can the team get back in the win column and try to climb the Power Rankings on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend when they host the rival Toronto Argonauts?
9. Ottawa REDBLACKS
Last week: 9 Last game: 45-24 loss to BC Next game: at Toronto, September 12
Worth noting: The Ottawa REDBLACKS defence started the game hot against the BC Lions, picking off Nathan Rourke twice in the first half and the team went into halftime tied 17-17. But they were unable to keep the momentum going, as the Lions outscored them 28-7 in the final 30 minutes. With a 0-11 record, Ryan Dinwiddie’s group heads into a Week 14 bye and will return in Week 15 to take on the Toronto Argonauts.
