SportsCage CFL Power Rankings: Surprising Week 10 drop in the rankings

The Montreal Alouettes remain the unanimous No. 1 team in the SportsCage.com CFL Power Rankings, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders continue to hold down the second spot.

Montreal and Ottawa were the only two teams to receive consensus rankings from SportsCage contributors this week.

The biggest movement comes in the middle of the rankings, where the B.C. Lions move up one spot to sixth, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers slide to seventh despite having the week off. Did B.C.'s Week 9 upset of Winnipeg influence the voters, or is it simply the Lions' current two-game winning streak? The return of Zach Collaros to Winnipeg practice didn't appear to sway the voters.

Here are the latest SportsCage.com CFL Power Rankings following Week 10.

1. Montreal Alouettes (8-1)

Last week: 1

Last game: 48-30 win over Edmonton

Worth noting: The Alouettes continue to look like the CFL's most complete team.

Montreal improved to 8-1 with its sixth straight victory, defeating the Edmonton Elks 48-30 while avenging its only loss of the season.

Quarterback Davis Alexander continued his outstanding season, throwing for 352 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing major.

Tyson Philpot was the difference-maker, catching 10 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

Montreal continues to set the pace at the top of the SportsCage.com rankings.

2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-2)

Last week: 2

Last game: 42-20 win over Ottawa

Worth noting: The Roughriders continue to find ways to win, and this time they did it by putting the game away in a hurry.

Saskatchewan improved to 6-2 with its second straight victory, pulling away from Ottawa with four second-half touchdowns.

Trevor Harris was outstanding, throwing for 401 yards and two touchdowns while completing 30 of 38 passes.

The veteran quarterback also surpassed 40,000 career passing yards, becoming just the 12th quarterback in CFL history to reach the milestone.

Tommy Stevens continued his remarkable touchdown run, scoring three times for the second straight week.

The Riders were also without Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker, but KeeSean Johnson and Johnny Johnson III both topped 100 receiving yards.

For the second straight week, Saskatchewan remains the unanimous No. 2 team in the SportsCage.com rankings.

3. Edmonton Elks (6-3)

Last week: 3

Last game: 48-30 loss to Montreal

Worth noting: The Elks remain third despite suffering their second consecutive loss.

Edmonton entered the matchup with Montreal at 6-2 but couldn't keep pace with the Alouettes' explosive offence.

The Elks did show some offensive firepower, with Austin Mack finishing with nine receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Still, Montreal's ability to create turnovers and consistently find the end zone proved too much.

Edmonton remains one of the CFL's better teams, but the margin for error is getting smaller with Montreal continuing to pull away at the top.

4. Calgary Stampeders (4-5)

Last week: 4

Last game: 33-30 loss to Toronto

Worth noting: Calgary's defence forced five turnovers, but the Stampeders couldn't turn those opportunities into a road victory.

Toronto overcame four interceptions from Chad Kelly and five turnovers overall to escape with the win.

Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 159 yards and two interceptions, while Dedrick Mills led Calgary's ground game with 79 yards.

The Stampeders fall to 4-5 but remain fourth in the SportsCage.com rankings.

5. Toronto Argonauts (4-4)

Last week: 5

Last game: 33-30 win over Calgary

Worth noting: It wasn't pretty, but Toronto found a way to win.

The Argonauts committed five turnovers, including three in the first quarter, but still defeated Calgary and improved to 4-4.

Kelly threw for 349 yards and a touchdown despite the four interceptions.

Sam Hicks was a major factor, scoring twice while rushing for 54 yards and adding a receiving touchdown.

Damonte Coxie also came through with eight catches for a season-high 161 yards.

Toronto stays fifth.

6. B.C. Lions (3-5)

Last week: 7

Last game: 27-24 win over Hamilton

Worth noting: The Lions are moving in the right direction.

B.C. has now won two straight games after Sean Whyte's 24-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining lifted the Lions past Hamilton.

Nathan Rourke returned from a three-game injury absence and threw for 370 yards and two touchdowns.

Justin McInnis was a major factor with 159 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Zander Horvath scored twice.

The Lions move up one spot to sixth.

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4)

Last week: 6

Last game: Bye

Worth noting: Winnipeg's week off wasn't enough to keep the Blue Bombers from sliding in the rankings.

Winnipeg drops one spot to seventh, with B.C.'s two-game winning streak appearing to be enough to push the Lions ahead of the Bombers.

The return of Zach Collaros to practice didn't appear to sway SportsCage voters.

The Week 9 upset loss to B.C. may also have played a role as the Lions continue to climb.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-6)

Last week: 8

Last game: 27-24 loss to B.C.

Worth noting: Hamilton was in position to steal one from the Lions but couldn't finish the job.

The Tiger-Cats got a strong effort from quarterback Harrison Frost in his first CFL start.

Frost completed 20 of 33 passes for 239 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Hamilton took a late shot at tying the game, but Marc Liegghio's 57-yard field-goal attempt came up short as B.C. escaped with the victory.

The Tiger-Cats remain eighth.

9. Ottawa Redblacks (0-8)

Last week: 9

Last game: 42-20 loss to Saskatchewan

Worth noting: The Redblacks remain winless after falling to 0-8 in Saskatchewan.

Ottawa stayed within striking distance through three quarters before the Roughriders pulled away with four touchdowns in the second half.

Jake Maier had a solid night statistically, completing 31 of 43 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns.

Ayden Eberhardt led Ottawa's receivers with eight catches for 99 yards.

But once again, the Redblacks couldn't turn a competitive performance into a victory.

Ottawa remains ninth in the SportsCage.com CFL Power Rankings.

SportsCage.com CFL Power Rankings — Week 11