With a week to go until the end of the CFL season, the playoff table is set in stone, but our power rankings are another story.
3DownNationPower Rankings are created by asking eleven of our contributors to rank each team from #1 to #9 independently, then averaging the scores. Rankings from the previous week are in parentheses.
Take advantage of the leaderboards and feel free to roast us on Twitter for everything you think we were wrong.
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have controlled the top spot in our power rankings all year and a Week 20 bye with the top spot in the West already stitched together wasn’t going to change that. They could be back at the top next year after using their free time to sign quarterback Zach Collaros to a three-year extension.
2. Calgary Stampeders (3)
It looks like the only thing that will stop the turnaround between the West rivals on our ranking podium will be the West semi-final, as the Stampeders are once again in second place after jostling the Riders. . Calgary is one spot lower in the actual league standings, but our voters are apparently fans of toting the rock.
3. BC Lions (2)
The Lions slapped the lowly Elks with their last “L” of 2022, secured a playoff game at home and could have generational quarterback Nathan Rourke back next week, but they still fell in our rankings. I guess our snowy constituents must be a little jealous of the weather in Vancouver.
4. Toronto Argonauts (4)
It took a red on a missed field goal to accomplish the feat, but the Toronto Argonauts clinched first place in the East Division for the second straight season. Recent wins haven’t been great, but this team could be dangerous this winter with running back AJ Ouellette at his pace.
5. Montreal Alouettes (6)
Despite star receiver Eugene Lewis’ best efforts late in the game, the Alouettes were unable to keep their hopes of a playoff bye alive and now have a game under .500. Danny Maciocia has his team in the playoffs, as has Khari Jones, but the desired consistency from game to game is still not there.
6. Hamilton Tiger Cats (5)
A field goal after a game-winning strike from their backup quarterback is what it took for Hamilton to beat Ottawa in front of a sold-out crowd this week, but the team earned a playoff berth nonetheless. With five wins in their last six games, no one is hotter than the Ticats right now, although Dane Evans’ condition clearly has some of our contributors worried.
7. Ottawa Redblacks (7)
The Rouge et Noir showed a lot more fighting this week but still couldn’t escape from the East Division basement, being officially knocked out of the playoff chase by the Ticats. Attention now turns to which youngsters can ace their audition for next year in the season finale and whether Bob Dyce is the man to lead the team in the future.
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders (8)
Replacement quarterback Mason Fine failed to provide the spark Craig Dickenson had hoped for and the Riders fell miserably to Calgary. Any dreams of a home Gray Cup have been officially dashed in front of a half-empty Mosaic Stadium, raising the question of where the team goes from here.
9. Edmonton Elks (9)
Tre Ford couldn’t catch lightning in a bottle a second time and the Edmonton Elks officially ended their second straight season without a win at Commonwealth Stadium. Positives are rare in the place once called the City of Champions, but at least they’ve found a few decent recruits.
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