Week 2 is now in the books for the 2025 CFL season, and we saw a lot of ups and downs, as was in every scheduled week of seasons past. 

Some surprises with Calgary opening with a 2-0 record, followed by three winless teams in the East division, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Toronto Argonauts, and the Ottawa Redblacks.

Last but not least, congratulations to the D.C. Defenders, who were crowned the 2025 UFL Champions with their 58-34 victory over the Michigan Panthers.  To say the game was a shootout does not do justice.  The D.C. Defenders were a video game stat in the 2nd quarter with 31 points alone.

Here are your power rankings after week 2.

1:  Montreal Alouettes

Previous ranking: 1

The Montreal Alouettes are a team that appears poised to be a real threat to opposing teams during the duration of the 2025 CFL season.  They are a team that approaches every game thus far with the same mentality.  Win every play or series.  In football, there are clichés that a team has not had their mid-season form, especially entering week 3.  In the case of Montreal, they are playing like a team possessed.  Davis Alexander threw for a career-high 344 passing yards.  On the defence, they showed up again by only allowing 18 points against Ottawa.    

Next Game:  Thursday, June 19th at Edmonton  

2.  Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Previous ranking:  2

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the lone team in week 1 to begin their CFL season on a bye week.  When week 2 arrived, they had a date with the BC Lions.  The Bombers played vintage Bombers’ football, racking up 201 yards on the ground.  Chris Steveler contributed with 246 passing yards, 3 touchdown passes.

Next Game:  Saturday, June 21st at BC

3.  Saskatchewan Roughriders

Previous ranking:  3

Sometimes victories are not pretty.  This was the case with the Saskatchewan Roughriders when they entered Hamilton in week 2.  To say kicker Brett Lauther struggled in week 2 in Hamilton is an understatement, by missing 3 field goals and an extra point.  But good teams find a way to win.  The play of KeeSean Johnson with 124 receiving yards and a touchdown, followed by A.J. Ouellette with 96 yards on the ground and a touchdown, the Hamilton defence was not able to halt the big threats from Saskatchewan.  

Next Game:  Friday, June 20th at Toronto

4.  Calgary Stampeders

Previous ranking:  5

It’s rare for a team to open up their respective 2025 and begin 2-0, and be ranked number 4 on this list.  It’s what happens when it’s early in the season, and the influence of last year’s records still plays a role early in this season.  With that said, the Stampeders look good on what they have done entering week 3.  The Stamps were able to take advantage of Toronto’s secondary.  Vernon Adams Jr. did not throw a touchdown pass, but he was still able to stretch the Toronto defence.       

Next Game:  Saturday, June 21st vs. Ottawa

5.  BC Lions

Pre

The BC Lions were only able to be productive vs. Winnipeg in the passing game.  If you cannot run the ball, you don’t have a chance of controlling the clock and having a balanced offence.  When you have a total of 85 yards by the running attack, and 58 of those yards are by Nathan Rourke, it is too much to ask when James Butler was a non-factor due to a stingy Winnipeg defence.  Aside from having a net offence of 410 yards, the Lions were not able to find their groove against Winnipeg.   

Next Game:  Saturday, June 21st vs. Winnipeg

6.&

Previous ranking:  7

This is where things begin to fall apart for the remainder of this list, for that matter.  The Ottawa Redblacks are now 0-2, and without the services of Dru Brown as their signal caller.  Then again, no matter who will play the Montreal Alouettes this year, it will be a difficult task to snag a victory.  The Montreal defence was too much to handle for the Ottawa offence.  With a total yard count of 250 yards and 14 first downs, no team will come out on top against any team.  Let alone Montreal.

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7.  Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Previous ranking:  9

Starting th

Next Game:  Bye in week 3.  The next game for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be on Friday, June 27th, vs. the Montreal Alouettes

8.  Edmonton Elks

Pre

With a bye week in week 2, the Edmonton Elks now focus on the most complete team in the CFL, the Montreal Alouettes.  It will be a difficult task to overcome.  When the Elks take the field vs. the Alouettes, it will be a game to eliminate as many turnovers or missed opportunities to put points on the board.  The opening line has Montreal at (– 5.5).  It is a pretty generous spread at the moment.

Next Game:  Thursday, June 19th, vs. Montreal

9.&

Previous ranking:  6

It was a beautiful feeling for Argo fans as week 2 was their home opener, followed by the unveiling of their 2024 Grey Cup banner.  As a token of fan appreciation, the first 10,000 fans received a replica ring to commemorate the 2024 Toronto Argonauts championship.  However, they sure did not play like Grey Cup champions.  It’s not like Calgary appeared to control the tempo of the game from the drop of a hat.  The issue with Toronto was not able to create consistency on both sides of the ball to change the momentum.  It was better in the 2nd half, but Nick Arbuckle needs to make better passes until Chad Kelly is back.

Next Game:&

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