The CFL regular season is over making this the final Power Rankings of the year. We nearly saw all 3 teams that were eliminated from the playoffs win in week 21 if not for a goal-line stand from the Ottawa RedBlacks at the 1-yard line to secure a victory over Hamilton. Winnipeg had a movie-like victory over Montreal that saw the North Wind arrive with significant strength in the final minute to aid them in their comeback in what was one of the most unique endings to a football game.
The Crown Holder and the Court Jester
Crown Holder 👑 – The Edmonton Elks took the Crown from Toronto by defeating them 31-30 at home to close out their season. The Commonwealth Curse is broken!
Court Jester 🃏 – The Calgary Stampeders forced the title of Court Jester onto the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-12 on the road. Saskatchewan had many backups in their lineup but it was good for Calgary to finish the year on a positive note.
If a team defeats 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 (11-7)
Previous Rank: 1
Week 13: Defeated Saskatchewan 35-33 on the road.
Week 14: Defeated Saskatchewan 26-21 at home.
Week 15: Bye week.
Week 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.
Week 19: Lost to Toronto 11-14 at home.
Week 20: Bye week.
Week 21: Defeated Montreal 28-27 on the road.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won in an unlikely fashion to close out their season and secure first in the West. With 36 seconds to go, Montreal was about to punt from their own 23 when suddenly the north wind arrived strongly and kept Montreal’s punt to 21 yards. 2 plays later Winnipeg won on a 51-yard walk-off field goal from Sergio Castillo.
Zach Collaros had a strong game in his final game of the regular season against a tough pass defense as he completed 24 of his 32 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown. Kenny Lawler led the team in receiving with 4 catches for 105 yards. Nic Demski had 4 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Ontaira Wilson was the most targetted receiver as he caught 8 of his 10 targets for 83 yards. It was also a positive day in pass protection as Winnipeg’s offensive line rarely lost their pass protection reps. Brady Oliveira rushed 11 times for 35 yards.
On defense, Tony Jones led the team in tackles with 8 and was in on 5 shared run stops. Tyrell Ford had a strong game in coverage allowing only 2 completions on 5 targets his way for a total of 13 yards and had 2 breakups.
Winnipeg will go on the bye for the first week of the playoffs before hosting either the BC Lions or the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Winnipeg started the season on a 4-game losing streak and later a 2-6 record. Since then they have 1 loss over the last 10 games.
#2 Montreal Alouettes (12-5-1)
Previous Rank: 3
Week 13: Bye week.
Week 14: Lost to BC 23-37 at home.
Week 15: Tied Calgary 19-19 on the road.
Week 16: Defeated Ottawa 24-12 on the road.
Week 17: Lost to Toronto 37-31 on the road.
Week 18: Bye week.
Week 19: Defeated Ottawa 19-12 at home.
Week 20: Lost to BC 3-27 on the road.
Week 21: Lost to Winnipeg 28-27 at home.
As mentioned earlier Montreal lost last week in a surprising fashion when the wind suddenly became a major factor in the final minute of play against Winnipeg. Cody Fajardo completed 16 of his 20 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown before Davis Alexander came into the game to complete 7 of his 9 passes for 100 yards. Cole Spieker led the team in receiving as he caught 3 passes for 71 yards. Tyler Snead was the most targetted receiver as he caught 8 of his 10 targets for 60 yards. On the ground, Walter Fletcher rushed 12 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. It was a strong performance by Montreal’s offensive line as it was very rare for anyone on the offensive line to lose a rep in pass protection.
On defense Montreal’s run stopping had a strong game as they held Brady Oliveira to 35 yards on 11 carries. Defensive end Jordan Domineck had 2 solo run stops and 5 pressures in pass rush. Cornerback Lorenzo Burns led the team in tackles with 7. Linebacker Tryrice Beverette had 5 tackles including a sack.
Montreal will be on the bye this week as they prepare to host either Toronto or Ottawa in the Eastern Final.
#3 Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-8-1)🃏
Previous Rank: 2
Week 13: Lost to Winnipeg 35-33 at home.
Week 14: Lost to Winnipeg 21-26 on the road.
Week 15: Bye week.
Week 16: Defeated Calgary 37-29 on the road.
Week 17: Defeated Ottawa 29-16 at home.
Week 18: Defeated Edmonton 28-24 on the road.
Week 19: Defeated BC 39-8 at home.
Week 20: Bye week.
Week 21: Lost to Calgary 12-27 at home.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders had a 12-27 loss to Calgary at home to close out their regular season. The Riders rested many starters with Winnipeg securing first in the West before the game.
Shea Patterson completed 5 of his 12 passes for 56 yards. Jack Coan completed 10 of his 21 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Jerreth Sterns caught 4 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Frankie Hickson rushed 12 times for 54 yards, 4.5 yards per carry.
On defense, C.J. Avery led the team in tackles with 6. Both Jayden Dalke and Benoit Marion had a sack.
Saskatchewan will now prepare to host the BC Lions on Saturday in the West Semi-Final.
#4 Toronto Argonauts (10-8)
Previous Rank: 4
Week 13: Lost to Hamilton 28-31 on the road.
Week 14: Lost to Ottawa 27-41 on the road.
Week 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.
Week 18: Bye week.
Week 19: Defeated Winnipeg 14-11 on the road.
Week 20: Defeated Ottawa 38-31.
Week 21: Lost to Edmonton 30-31 on the road.
The Toronto Argonauts closed out their regular season with a 30-31 overtime loss on the road to Edmonton thanks to Edmonton punting the ball through the end zone for a rouge. Cameron Dukes completed 5 of his 7 passes for 40 yards before checking out of the game early. Nick Arbuckle completed 23 of his 32 passes for 378 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. Makai Polk caught all 6 of his targets for 122 yards. Deonta McMahon rushed 10 times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Isaac Darkangelo led the team in tackles with 7 and Derek Parish had a sack.
#5 B.C. Lions (9-9)
Previous Rank: 6
Week 13: Defeated Ottawa 38-12 at home.
Week 14: Defeated Montreal 37-23 on the road.
Week 15: Lost to Toronto 17-33 at home.
Week 16: Bye Week.
Week 17: Lost to Hamilton 29-32 at home in overtime.
Week 18: Defeated Calgary 32-15 at home.
Week 19: Lost to Saskatchewan 8-39 at home.
Week 20: Defeated Montreal 27-3 at home.
Week 21: Bye week.
The BC Lions were on the bye last week as they prepare to be the visiting team in the Western Semi-Final.
#6 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-11)
Previous Rank: 5
Week 13: Defeated Toronto 31-28 at home.
Week 14: Bye week.
Week 15: Defeated Ottawa 37-21 at home.
Week 16: Defeated Toronto 33-31 on the road.
Week 17: Defeated BC 32-29 on the road in overtime.
Week 18: Lost to Winnipeg 10-31 at home.
Week 19: Bye week.
Week 20: Defeated Calgary 42-20 at home.
Week 21: Lost to Ottawa 31-37 on the road.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished their season with a 31-37 loss on the road against Ottawa in a game that came down to the final play. Hamilton started their final drive with a minute and a half left to play from their 52 thanks to a 36-yard kick return from Isaiah Wooden. 3 passing plays later and Hamilton was lined up for first and goal from the 1-yard line to take the lead and Bo Levi Mitchell came off the field. 3 run stops later and the game was over with Ottawa coming out on top.
Bo Levi Mitchell completed 25 of his 36 passes for 425 yards and a touchdown with 1 interception. Steven Dunbar Jr. led the team in receiving as he caught 9 passes for 180 yards. Greg Bell rushed 11 times for 91 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Stavros Katsantonis led the team in tackles with 5. Casey Sayles had a sack, and Destin Talbert had an interception.
Hamilton had an impressive turnaround this season to take a 2-9 record and finish 7-11. However it was not quite enough to make the playoffs.
#7 Ottawa RedBlacks (9-8-1)
Previous Rank: 7
Week 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.
Week 16: Lost to Montreal 12-24 at home.
Week 17: Lost to Saskatchewan on the road 29-16.
Week 18: Bye week.
Week 19: Lost to Montreal 12-19 on the road.
Week 20: Lost to Toronto 31-38 on the road.
Week 21: Defeated Hamilton 37-31 at home.
The Ottawa RedBlacks ended a 5-game losing streak with a 37-31 win at home over Hamilton. While the game did not improve their position in the standings it was key to close out the regular season with a win.
Dru Brown completed 26 of his 38 passes for 445 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Kalil Pimpleton caught 6 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. Dominique Rhymes caught 6 passes for 116 yards. Both Jaelon Acklin and Bralon Addison had a receiving touchdown. On the ground, Bralon Addison rushed 8 times for 38 yards, 4.8 yards per carry.
On defense, Deandre Lamont led the team in tackles with 8. Lorenzo Mauldin had a sack and Damon Webb recorded an interception.
Ottawa will face Toronto on the road in the Eastern Semi-Final on Saturday.
#8 Edmonton Elks (7-11)👑
Previous Rank: 8
Week 13: Defeated Calgary 35-20 on the road.
Week 14: Defeated Calgary 37-16 at home.
Week 15: Bye week.
Week 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.
Week 19: Defeated Calgary 23-18 on the road.
Week 20: Bye week.
Week 21: Defeated Toronto 31-30 at home.
The Edmonton Elks closed out their season with a win at home breaking the Commonwealth Curse with a walk-off rouge in their 31-30 win over Toronto. Tre Ford completed 16 of his 25 passes for 325 yards and 3 touchdowns and added 81 rushing yards. Jerminic Smith caught 4 passes for 98 yards in his first start of the season. Eugene Lewis caught 5 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. Javon Leake had a huge game as he rushed 8 times for 128 yards and caught 2 passes for 80 yards.
Nick Anderson led the team in tackles with 10 with Nyles Morgan close behind with 9. Elliott Brown had a sack while Darius Bratton recorded an interception. Kordell Jackson forced a fumble in the 2nd quarter which he recovered himself.
The Elks’ year is over but they can feel good about the fact that they won 7 of their last 11 games after an 0-7 start.
#9 Calgary Stampeders (5-12-1)
Previous Rank: 9
Week 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.
Week 16: Lost to Saskatchewan 29-37 at home.
Week 17: Bye week.
Week 18: Lost to BC 15-32 on the road.
Week 19: Lost to Edmonton 18-23 at home.
Week 20: Lost to Hamilton 20-42 on the road.
Week 21: Defeated Saskatchewan 27-12 on the road.
The Calgary Stampeders got a much-needed win on the road 27-12 over Saskatchewan ending a 9-game winless streak. Jake Maier completed 19 of his 26 passes for 293 yards and 3 touchdowns. Clark Barnes led the team in receiving as he caught 3 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. Marken Michel caught 2 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Dedrick Mills finished his year strong as he rushed 20 times for 128 yards, 6.4 yards per carry.
Demerio Houston led the team in tackles with 5 including a sack. Julian Howsare and Justin Sambu also had a sack.
Calgary did not have a season to feel proud about but at least finished on a positive note. Dave Dickenson will return as head coach next year. Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach Mark Kilam, Defensive Coordinator Brent Monson, and Defensive Line Coach Juwan Simpson will not be brought back as the team feels they need to make changes.
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