3DownNation power rankings: Lions stumble off the podium

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

Week 20 of the regular season is in the books and the playoff race is officially over. The Calgary Stampeders stole the sixth and final postseason berth away from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, doing some serious damage to one of the league’s top teams in the process.

3DownNation’s power rankings are created by having eleven contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. The previous week’s rankings are in brackets.

Enjoy the rankings and feel free to roast us on Twitter (yes, we still call it “Twitter”) for anything you think we got wrong.

1) Toronto Argonauts (1)

At this point, the Argos are just padding the stats. When rookie Cameron Dukes led a game-winning drive in Saskatchewan, it tied the franchise record for wins in a season and pushed this year’s team into the same category as Doug Flutie’s legendary 1996 and 1997 teams. Toronto took care of some business in the process, getting both running back A.J. Ouellette and receiver Davaris Daniels their first 1,000-yard seasons, but also suffered an injury scare to Chad Kelly. The star QB isn’t expected to need to miss any time but will likely sit out next week as a precaution.

2) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2)

The Bombers didn’t need injured receiver Dalton Schoen to obliterate Edmonton in this week’s matchup between the haves and have-nots of the West Division. Rasheed Bailey and Brady Oliveira both had a pair of touchdowns, while Nic Demski squeaked over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in a solid team outing. Of course, the win didn’t mean much given that Winnipeg had already clinched a berth in the West Final the day prior.

3) Montreal Alouettes (4)

It’s always a good bye week when you move up in the rankings. Almost written off this offseason, the Alouettes have done their jobs and already secured a home playoff game. All that’s left is a meaningless contest against the same team they’ll host in the East Semi-Final, where a victory would mean the team’s best record since Anthony Calvillo was the quarterback.

4) B.C. Lions (3)

You could not have conceived of a worse regular-season finale than the one put forth by the B.C. Lions on Friday, as quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. floundered for a half before being mercy-pulled and the defence rolled over against the Stampeders’ running game. The result was an embarrassing blowout loss on home turf against a sub-.500 opponent. The good news? They’ll have a chance to redeem themselves in the playoffs against the very same team in two weeks’ time.

5) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5)

The Ticats are likely still chomping at the bit to avenge their Week 19 loss to the Lions, but a bye week meant they needed to wait. That hasn’t cooled their status as one of the league’s most dangerous teams heading into the postseason. All that’s left is another tune-up for Bo Levi Mitchell against the same team that awaits him in the East Semi-Final.

6) Calgary Stampeders (7)

It only took them 20 weeks but the Calgary Stampeders finally figured out that they are a running football team. The two-headed backfield of Ka’Deem Carey and Peyton Logan ran all over the Lions for one of the upsets of the season and powered their team into the playoffs in the process. Now they only need to repeat the feat in the West Semi-Final and avenge last year’s postseason performance.

7) Edmonton Elks (6)

The Elks closed the book on their disappointing 2023 season with a loss to Winnipeg that never seemed close, though the team successfully broke their eight-year return touchdown drought thanks to Deontez Alexander. That’s another promising sign for a franchise that turned competitive down the stretch but still has much to determine about its future. On to free agency, where several key veterans will need new contracts.

8) Ottawa Redblacks (8)

There’s nothing like a bye right before a meaningless season-ending game to really sap the life out of a basement-dweller, but Ottawa’s players will need to keep their focus to keep their jobs for next year. The only man in town whose employment isn’t in any jeopardy seems to be general manager Shawn Burke, who got a hearty endorsement from president Adrian Sciarra this week.

9) Saskatchewan Roughriders (9)

Seven straight losses to end the season for a second year in a row. That’s all that needs to be said about the Riders right now, as another late-game collapse eliminated them from playoff contention before Trevor Harris even had the chance to make a comeback. Major changes will soon be coming down the pipe, with head coach Craig Dickenson already taking the blame for his team’s failures.