The Saskatchewan Roughriders are back knocking on the door of the top spot in the latest SportsCage.com CFL Power Rankings.
Fresh off a 27-22 road victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS, the Riders climb one spot to No. 2 this week, trailing only the Montreal Alouettes.
Week 5 around the CFL featured statement performances, dramatic finishes and a major shakeup in the middle of the rankings.
Montreal remains firmly entrenched at No. 1 despite a bye week, while Saskatchewan jumps into second after improving to 3-1 with a gritty win at TD Place Stadium. Mathew Sexton's punt return touchdown proved to be the turning point as Trevor Harris threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns while moving past Tom Clements for 12th on the CFL's all-time passing list.
The Edmonton Elks slide one position to No. 3 following their first loss of the season, a 36-24 setback to the B.C. Lions in Kelowna. Edmonton's explosive rushing attack was neutralized as CFL rushing leader Justin Rankin was held to just 19 yards on seven carries.
Toronto drops two spots to No. 4 after being on the wrong side of one of the most explosive offensive performances in recent CFL history.
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. torched the Argonauts for 405 yards and six touchdown passes while adding another score on the ground in a 58-36 Stampede Bowl victory. Adams became just the fifth player in league history to throw for more than 400 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in the same game.
The Stampeders continue their climb, moving from sixth to fifth following back-to-back victories.
B.C. is also trending upward after earning its first win of the season. The Lions rise from eighth to sixth after dominating Edmonton on the ground behind running back James Butler, who rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
No team took a bigger fall this week than Hamilton.
The Tiger-Cats tumble from a tie for third all the way down to seventh after a heartbreaking 14-13 home loss to Winnipeg. Hamilton also lost quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to a lower-body injury that required an ambulance to transport him from the stadium.
Winnipeg moves up one spot to eighth after rallying from a nine-point halftime deficit behind Canadian rookie quarterback Taylor Elgersma. The former Wilfrid Laurier star threw his first CFL touchdown pass and guided the game-winning drive in just his first meaningful action in the league.
Ottawa remains ninth despite pushing Saskatchewan to the limit on home turf.
The Week 6 showdown between Calgary and Montreal now carries major implications at the top of the rankings, while the Roughriders will look to continue their climb and make an argument for the No. 1 spot in the weeks ahead.
SportsCage.com CFL Power Rankings
- Montreal Alouettes (1)
- Saskatchewan Roughriders (2)
- Edmonton Elks (3)
- Toronto Argonauts (4)
- Calgary Stampeders (5)
- B.C. Lions (6)
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7)
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8)
- Ottawa REDBLACKS (9)
