3DownNation power rankings: All West at the top to wrap up regular season

Photo courtesy: Candice Ward/Calgary Stampeders

The 3DownNation power rankings have been tallied following the final week of the 2021 CFL regular season.

It’s no secret that the West Division has long dominated the CFL, but this year seemed to offer a balancing of the scales as Eastern powers emerged and Western ones fell to earth. Not so according to our voters, as the three West playoff teams hold podium positions in our final tally heading in to the playoffs.

Our power rankings are created by having our contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. Last week’s rankings are listed in brackets.

Enjoy the rankings and feel free to roast us on Twitter for anything you feel we’ve got wrong.

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)

Two straight losses and a fourth quarter collapse against the Stampeders have done little to dampen enthusiasm regarding the Bombers’ Grey Cup hopes. When rested starters return to the field in the West Final, watch out.

2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (2)

A 24-3 loss to Hamilton looks bad on paper, but nobody really cares what you look like with your backups in. The Riders had sewn up a home playoff date before their final game, making the last contest more pre-season than playoff preview.

T-3. Calgary Stampeders (3)

The Stampeders snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Bombers and will be happy to use another Rene Paredes walk-off game-winner as a playoff confidence boost. They may need less boost and more boosters however, as rumours around key unvaccinated players make their potential lineup past next week a mystery.

T-3. Toronto Argonauts (4)

The Argos second stringers fell to the Edmonton Elks in a rare Tuesday matchup, but that will be water of the Boatmen’s back while they relax with a first round playoff bye. Fan attendance hasn’t reflected Toronto’s status as East champs, but that could change with the East Final at BMO.

5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5)

It was as uneventful as a 21-point victory can be, but pounding the Riders backups should get the Ticats their mojo back after the dud they posted against the Argos last week. When it comes to the playoffs, head coach Orlondo Steinauer won’t let ‘lose’ be in his vocabulary.

6. Montreal Alouettes (6)

With a shot at a home playoff game, the Alouettes essentially played hooky in the fourth quarter and allowed the Redblacks a come from behind stunner. Khari Jones’ group will need a big bounce back to prevent similar disappointment in the playoffs.

7. B.C. Lions (7)

It meant nothing to the standings, but B.C.’s blowout win over Edmonton with Canadian rookie Nathan Rourke in at quarterback could be a glimpse at the Lions’ future. They’ve been stuck at seven in our rankings for weeks, but maybe not next year.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (9)

Paul LaPolice’s ballsy two-point attempt call to win the game won’t be enough to salvage a lost season, but it ensures Ottawa won’t finish in the power ranking basement this year. With a decision on a new general manager expected after Grey Cup, there is a little hope now in nation’s capital.

9. Edmonton Elks (8)

Three games in seven days left the Elks an exhausted husk in a final embarrassing loss to B.C., but the league’s most chaotic organization reaped what they sowed. The question now is what changes await in the offseason and if Nick Arbuckle will finally be allowed on the field in 2022.