The CFL playoff race cooled down in week 18 as all 3 teams currently sitting outside the playoffs lost widening the gap as they pushed for the playoffs. Saskatchewan, BC, and Ottawa joined Montreal and Winnipeg as teams to yet clinch a playoff spot. Edmonton and Calgary were eliminated from playoff contention as a result of last weekβs losses. Hamilton is not yet eliminated despite losing last week and will make the playoffs only if they win their remaining 2 games and Toronto loses their final 3 games.
The Crown Holder and the Court Jester
Crown Holder π β The Winnipeg Blue Bombers took the Crown from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a 31-10 win on the road in Hamilton. Winnipeg will look to defend the Crown Friday night when they host the Toronto Argonauts.
Court Jester π β The Calgary Stampeders were unable to force the title of Court Jester onto the BC Lions as they lost to them 15-32 on the road. They will have a chance to force the title onto the Edmonton Elks when they host them on Saturday.
If a team d
efeats the Crown Holder they steal the Crown and become the new Crown Holder.
If a team loses to the Court Jester they become the new Court Jester thus freeing the previous team from being the Court Jester.
#1 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-6)π
Previous Rank: 1
Wee
k 13: Defeated Saskatchewan 35-33 on the road.
Week 14: Defeated Saskatchewan 26-21 at home.
Week 15: Bye week.
Wee
k 16: Defeated Edmonton 27-14 on the road.
Week 17: Defeated Edmonton 55-27 at home.
Week 18: Defeated Hamilton 31-10 on the road.
Wee
k 19: Hosting Toronto Friday night.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers extended their win streak to 8 games with a dominant 31-10 win at home. Zach Collaros completed 13 of his 19 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown pass to Kevens Clercius. Kenny Lawler led the team in receiving as he caught 3 passes for 78 yards. Brady Oliveira had another big game as he rushed 24 times for 147 yards and a touchdown, 6.1 yards per carry. Quarterback Terry Wilson added 2 touchdowns in short yardage.
On defense, both Tyrell Ford and Deatrick Nichols recorded an interception. 3 players had a sack which came from TyJuan Garbutt, Jake Thomas, and Celestin Haba.
Winnipeg wi
ll host Toronto on Friday night and will secure first in the West with a win or a tie.
Last week saw Trevor Harris complete 22 of his 28 passes for 358 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. 2 receivers broke 100 yards as Samuel Emilus had 4 catches for 126 yards with a touchdown and KeeSean Johnson caught 5 for 103 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Frankie Hickson rushed 15 times for 46 yards, 3.1 yards per carry.
C.J. Reavis led the team in tackles with 9. Both Rolan Milligan Jr. and Adam Auclair recorded an interception in the win.
The Riders
will host BC on Saturday night in what is likely to be a preview of the West Division Semi-Final.
#4 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-10)
Previous Rank: 3
Week 13: Defeated Toronto 31-28 at home.
Wee
k 14: Bye week.
Week 15: Defeated Ottawa 37-21 at home.
Week 16: Defeated Toronto 33-31 on the road.
Wee
k 17: Defeated BC 32-29 on the road in overtime.
Week 18: Lost to Winnipeg 10-31 at home.
Week 19: Bye week.
The Hamilto
n Tiger-Cats saw their 4-game win streak come to an end in a humbling fashion as they lost to Winnipeg 10-31 last week. Bo Levi Mitchell completed 15 of his 28 passes for 217 yards and 2 interceptions. Brendan OβLeary-Orange led the team in receiving as he caught both of his targets for 86 yards against his former club. James Butler rushed 7 times for 24 yards and a touchdown, 3.4 yards per carry.
On defense Ray Wilborn, Ryan Baker, and Will Sunderland all finished tied for a team lead in tackles at 6. Brandon Barlow recorded the lone sack for Hamilton in the game.
Hamilton will go on the bye this week and will need Toronto to lose in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
block-heading">#5 Toronto Argonauts (8-7)
Previous Rank: 4
Week 13: Lost to Hamilton 28-31 on the road.
Week 14: Lost to Ottawa 27-41 on the road.
Wee
k 15: Defeated BC 33-17 on the road.
Week 16: Lost to Hamilton 31-33 at home.
Week 17: Defeated Montreal 37-31 at home.
Wee
k 18: Bye week.
Week 19: Visiting Winnipeg Friday night.
The Toronto Argonauts were on the bye this past week. They will have a chance to clinch the playoffs with a win in Winnipeg on Friday.
block-heading">#6 B.C. Lions (8-8)
Previous Rank: 7
Week 13: Defeated Ottawa 38-12 at home.
Week 14: Defeated Montreal 37-23 on the road.
Wee
k 15: Lost to Toronto 17-33 at home.
Week 16: Bye Week.
Week 17: Lost to Hamilton 29-32 at home in overtime.
Wee
k 18: Defeated Calgary 32-15 at home.
Week 19: Visiting Saskatchewan Saturday night.
The BC Lions entered the 4th quarter against Calgary with a 9-8 lead and put up 23 points to win 32-15 and clinch the playoffs. Nathan Rourke completed 20 of his 24 passes for 218 yards. Keon Hatcher led the team in receiving as he caught 4 passes for 97 yards. William Stanback rushed 15 times for 50 yards, 3.3 yards per carry.
Ayinde Eley
led the team in tackles with 8. TJ Lee was close behind him with 7 including a sack on a blitz. Mathieu Betts had a pick 6 in the 4th quarter and Adrian Greene had an interception as well in the win. TJ Lee blocked a backward pass generating a fumble on the drive following Bettsβ pick 6 and he returned the ball 50 yards for a touchdown.
BC will travel to Saskatchewan on Saturday night in a game that will carry a lot of weight determining where the Western Semi-Final will be played and who will keep pace behind Winnipeg for 1st.
#7 Ottawa RedBlacks (8-6-1)
Previous Rank: 6
Wee
k 13: Lost to BC 12-38 on the road.
Week 14: Defeated Toronto 41-27 at home.
Week 15: Lost to Hamilton 21-37 on the road.
Wee
k 16: Lost to Montreal 12-24 at home.
Week 17: Lost to Saskatchewan on the road 29-16.
Week 18: Bye week.
Wee
k 19: Visiting Montreal Monday afternoon.
The Ottawa RedBlacks were on the bye this past week. They will face Montreal on the road on Monday.
#8 Edmonton Elks (5-11)
Previous Rank: 8
Wee
k 13: Defeated Calgary 35-20 on the road.
Week 14: Defeated Calgary 37-16 at home.
Week 15: Bye week.
Wee
k 16: Lost to Winnipeg 14-27 at home.
Week 17: Lost to Winnipeg 27-55 on the road.
Week 18: Lost to Saskatchewan 24-28 at home.
Wee
k 19: Visiting Calgary on Saturday afternoon.
The Elks were a great story after they turned their season around after starting 0-7 to win 5 of the next 6 games. Sadly they are now on a 3-game losing streak and eliminated from the playoffs.
Last week saw McLeod Bethel-Thompson complete 33 of his 41 passes for 379 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. Kurleigh Gittens Jr. led the team in receiving with 10 catches for 122 yards. Eugene Lewis caught 5 for 87 yards and a touchdown. Canadian rookie Zach Mathis had his best game yet as he caught 6 passes for 74 yards. Edmonton was not able to get the run game going as Javon Leake and Justin Rankin combined for 28 yards on 13 carries.
Linebacker
Nick Anderson led the team in tackles with 7 including a sack. Elliott Brown and Demarcus Christmas also had a sack. Loucheiz Purifoy and Kordell Jackson both had an interception.
Edmonton will play for pride this weekend as they travel to face their provincial rivals in Calgary on Saturday.
#9 Calgary Stampeders (4-10-1)π
Previous Rank: 9
Wee
k 13: Lost to Edmonton 20-35 at home.
Week 14: Lost to Edmonton 16-37 on the road.
Week 15: Tied Montreal 19-19 at home.
Wee
k 16: Lost to Saskatchewan 29-37 at home.
Week 17: Bye week.
Week 18: Lost to BC 15-32 on the road.
Wee
k 19: Hosting Edmonton Saturday night.
Itβs been a disappointing season for Stampeders fans as the team is now officially eliminated from the playoffs amidst what is now a 7-game winless streak. Last week saw them lose 15-32 on the road.
Last week Jake Maier completed 19 of his 27 passes for 164 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Reggie Begelton led the team in receiving as he caught 4 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Logan rushed 15 times for 89 yards, 5.9 yards per carry. While Logan had a strong performance it was surprising to see Dedrick Mills rush only 1 time which was for 16 yards.
Micah Awe a
nd Julian Howsare finished the game leading the team in tackles with 6 each. Howsare had 2 sacks and Mike Rose had one as well.
Calgary will host Edmonton on Saturday night in their final home game of the season.
Jonathan Clink joined CFL News Hub in early April of 2023. His primary responsibilities are covering the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes.
He self awarded himself the CFL Rookie Journalist of the Year in 2023 following the 2023 CFL season. He also proclaims himself to be a "really cool guy". He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived a large portion of his childhood in Northwest Ontario. He currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan and misses being being able to have 4 months of skating every winter.
Clink has written over 240 articles for CFL News Hub. He was the publication's boots on the ground at the 2023 Grey Cup in Hamilton.
Clink has always had an obsession for sport and has a background in other sports as well having played hockey all his life and soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in high school. As a young child he used to log his hockey statistics after every game which is either an indication that he was destined for the role or perhaps and indication that he is rather strange.
