The CFL West Division race just got more interesting.
Edmonton remains on top at 10-4. However, the Elks lost 24-19 to Toronto last week. That opened the door a little wider for the teams behind them. Saskatchewan sits second at 8-5. BC and Winnipeg are both 7-6. Calgary is still alive at 6-8. Now, five weeks remain. And several huge games are still ahead.
Saskatchewan and BC Take Center Stage
The biggest West matchup this week comes Friday night. Saskatchewan travels to BC with second place on the line. The Roughriders are coming off a bye. Before that, they lost 19-6 to Winnipeg. BC also had last week off. However, the Lions entered the bye after a huge 48-29 win over Montreal.
BC has battled through injuries this season. Now, the Lions are healthy and playing their best football at the right time. A win Friday would pull BC even with Saskatchewan at 8-6. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan can create some space with a road win. The Riders could also clinch a playoff spot this week with a win, plus losses by Winnipeg and Calgary.
Winnipeg Can't Afford to Relax
Winnipeg is also 7-6. The Bombers host Toronto on Friday before Saskatchewan and BC play later that night. Winnipeg beat Saskatchewan in its last game. However, quarterback Zach Collaros left that game with an injury.
Every win matters now. The Bombers still have games against Edmonton and BC before the season ends. That final game at BC on October 23 could have major playoff implications.
Calgary Is Still Alive
Calgary looked close to falling out of the race last week. Then Rene Paredes changed everything. His 62-yard field goal gave Calgary a 40-38 win over Ottawa. The Stampeders are now only two points behind BC and Winnipeg. They also still play Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and BC. That gives Calgary a chance to gain ground directly against the teams it is chasing.
The West Is Far From Settled
Edmonton has already secured a playoff spot. After that, very little is settled.
Only four points separate second-place Saskatchewan from fifth-place Calgary. And those teams still have several games against each other. The West playoff race was already tight. This week, it could get even tighter.