CFL Power Rankings: Lions, Argos on the rise down the final stretch
TORONTO — With just four weeks left in the regular season, it’s time for teams to make a push for the playoffs down The Final Stretch.
Who is rising and who is falling in the CFL Power Rankings ahead of Week 18?
Let’s find out.
1. MONTREAL ALOUETTES
LAST WEEK: 1 LAST GAME: 37-25 WIN OVER HAMILTON NEXT GAME: VS. WINNIPEG, OCTOBER 3
Worth noting: Montreal was on a Week 17 bye and returns from their week of rest still on top of the AMSOIL Power Rankings. With just four weeks left on the schedule, the Als hope to keep distance between them and the Argonauts for first place in the East. A battle against Winnipeg awaits them in Week 18 as The Final Stretch of the season continues.
2. BC LIONS
LAST WEEK: 3 LAST GAME: 31-24 WIN OVER SASKATCHEWAN NEXT GAME: AT TORONTO, OCTOBER 3
Worth noting: BC has now won seven of its last eight games and pulled ahead of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for second place in the West. With their convincing win in Week 17, Nathan Rourke and his Leos have also moved up in the AMSOIL Power Rankings. The Lions now head to Toronto where their stout defence will be tested against the high-powered Argos offence. Can they climb atop these rankings down The Final Stretch?
3. EDMONTON ELKS
LAST WEEK: 2 LAST GAME: 37-35 OT WIN OVER HAMILTON NEXT GAME: AT HAMILTON, OCTOBER 9
Worth noting: It took overtime to get it done, but the Edmonton Elks won their 11th game of the season in Week 17. Now Edmonton heads out on a bye week before returning in Week 18 to take on the same team they beat on Saturday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
4. TORONTO ARGONAUTS
LAST WEEK: 5 LAST GAME: 30-28 WIN OVER WINNIPEG NEXT GAME: VS. BC, OCTOBER 3
Worth noting: The Toronto Argonauts have won five of their last six games and move up a spot in the AMSOIL Power Rankings. Toronto’s offence has been high-flying this season, but it’s their defence that has improved week after week. The unit allowed just 15 passing yards by the Bombers in the second half of last week’s game and tallied two interceptions and three sacks in the final two frames. They say defence wins championships and Toronto’s is playing at a championship level. Will it continue down The Final Stretch and into the playoffs?
5. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
LAST WEEK: 4 LAST GAME: 30-28 LOSS TO TORONTO NEXT GAME: AT MONTREAL, OCTOBER 3
Worth noting: The Bombers were without Zach Collaros in Week 17, as the Winnipeg pivot was placed on the six-game injured list. It’s Dru Brown’s team for the foreseeable future and in the tight West Division, he and his Bombers will need wins, starting with a meeting against the East-leading Alouettes on Saturday night.
6. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
LAST WEEK: 6 LAST GAME: 31-24 LOSS TO BC NEXT GAME: VS. CALGARY, OCTOBER 2
Worth noting: The Roughriders will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak when they head to Calgary this weekend. Saskatchewan is getting healthier, with A.J. Ouellette returning to the lineup and scoring a touchdown in his return against the Lions, and Kian Schaffer-Baker also returning. With just four games remaining on their schedule, the Riders will be looking for as many wins as possible to move back into second in the West after being overtaken by BC on the weekend.
7. CALGARY STAMPEDERS
LAST WEEK: 7 LAST GAME: 45-31 WIN OVER OTTAWA NEXT GAME: AT SASKATCHEWAN, OCTOBER 2
Worth noting: The Stampeders defeated the Ottawa REDBLACKS for the second week in a row and still remain in contention for the playoffs, despite sitting in last in the West Division. Vernon Adams Jr. had an efficient outing, completing 80 per cent of his passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, looking much like he did when he was in the MOP conversation earlier this year.
8. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
LAST WEEK: 8 LAST GAME: 37-35 OT LOSS TO EDMONTON NEXT GAME: AT OTTAWA, OCTOBER 2
Worth noting: It took overtime to decide the winner against the Elks, with Hamilton losing in a two-point convert shootout. The Elks kicked nine field goals in the game, as Cody Fajardo did not throw a touchdown pass. While there are no points handed out for effort, the Ticats will hope the positives they can take from that game will follow them to the nation’s capital this week as they take on Ottawa.
9. OTTAWA REDBLACKS
LAST WEEK: 9 LAST GAME: 45-31 LOSS TO CALGARY NEXT GAME: VS. HAMILTON, OCTOBER 2
Worth noting: The Ottawa REDBLACKS lost their 14th game of the season as the team continues to hunt for their first win of 2026. McLeod Bethel-Thompson and the REDBLACKS scored 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback. They now host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night. Is this the week that Ottawa can get in the win column?
