Week 17 is officially in the books and we have a new king at the top of the rankings.
3DownNation’s power rankings are created by having twelve contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. The previous week’s rankings are in brackets. As always, please be sure to check back every Monday morning for our updated power rankings following each week of action in the CFL.
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) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2)
After they were left for dead following a 2-6 start, the Bombers have now won seven straight games and became the second team in the CFL to clinch a playoff berth with a complete dismantling of the Edmonton Elks. Scarier still, their dormant passing attack appears to have finally awoken, as Zach Collaros let loose for 432 yards and six majors — finally producing a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio. The prolific outing was aided by a couple of sensational catches from Kenny Lawler, who went over the century mark for the first time since returning from his fractured arm.
2) Montreal Alouettes (1)
The reigning Grey Cup champs are no longer in the number-one spot after an increasingly anemic offence and a porous run defence proved fatal against Toronto. Not even a 100-yard return touchdown from James Letcher Jr. could make up for allowing over 200 yards on the ground. The Alouettes still clinched first place in the East by virtue of an Ottawa loss and have three games left to prepare for a home East Final, though linebacker Darnell Sankey will apparently be making no promises of a clean sweep like last year.
3) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3)
The Tabbies are making the old adage about wounded animals trapped in corners feel pretty apt right now, securing their fourth straight victory and drawing dangerously close to crossover territory. After an atrocious start in B.C., Bo Levi Mitchell completed 29 of his final 30 passes and racked up 18 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. If you need further proof that this team has been getting divine assistance, Vancouverite Ante Milanovic-Litre punched in the winner against his childhood team just hours after learning his wife was expecting their first child.
4) Toronto Argonauts (4)
Ka’Deem Carey couldn’t seem to keep his helmet on on Saturday night but he could get the Argos back in the win column, as the backfield trio of Carey, Deonta McMahon, and Daniel Adeboboye helped Toronto amass 234 yards on the ground. The team totalled 517 yards of net offence as Chad Kelly avenged his East Final embarrassment but the real star was on special teams. Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu set a franchise record for North America’s oldest professional sports organization, nailing all eight of his field goal attempts.
5) Saskatchewan Roughriders (7)
After his 200-yard debut, Ryquell Armstead was a non-factor in the grudge match against his old team but Canadian utility back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon picked up the slack, rushing for 70 yards and the deciding touchdown against Ottawa. The Riders have now won two post-Labour Day games and leap-frogged into second in the West, but they haven’t been able to shake the two other trends of the last few years: injuries and dirty play. Halfback Deontai Williams can expect a call from the commissioner about his WWE pile-driver tackle that sparked a brawl at the end of the game, while Shawn Bane Jr. could be out long-term following an ugly hit to the knee.
6) Ottawa Redblacks (5)
We knew injuries would hurt the Redblacks in Regina but few expected the absence of Dru Brown to be the most significant. Jeremiah Masoli struggled badly in his first game back in Mosaic Stadium since the Garrett Marino incident, tossing three bad interceptions and generally looking panicked in the pocket. Ottawa has now lost in three straight opportunities to clinch a playoff spot and have yet to punch their postseason ticket.
7) B.C. Lions (8)
Nathan Rourke may have lasted the whole game this time around, rushing for a pair of touchdowns, but his team certainly didn’t play a complete one. The offence was painful to watch through its fits and starts, while the defence couldn’t seem to generate a stop to save their lives in the second half, squandering a 16-0 lead. Fans may fixate on a controversial command centre call in overtime, but the loss was assured long before the challenge flag was ever thrown.
8) Edmonton Elks (6)
Switching quarterbacks did nothing to improve the Elks’ chances this week, as the team was battered, blown out, and embarrassed with McLeod Bethel-Thompson at the helm. Justin Rankin still rushed for over a hundred in the rematch but that was the only bright spot, with three garbage-time passing touchdowns doing nothing to distract from a defence that allowed 55 against. The new coach boost has finally worn off and Jarious Jackson will continue to face tough decisions under centre, with his future in the role hanging in the balance.
9) Calgary Stampeders (9)
A bye week definitely wasn’t going to drag Calgary out of the CFL basement and the organization remains in dire straits entering the stretch run. A playoff spot seems far-fetched and the final four games could be a referendum on the future of head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, with the end of a 20-year postseason streak certain to raise eyebrows with ownership.
