It didn't take long for Montreal to reclaim the throne. After dropping to second last week following a blowout loss to the B.C. Lions, the Alouettes responded with a convincing 37-25 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Montreal defence forced six turnovers, the offence stayed efficient and the Alouettes took care of business. That's enough to move them back to the top.
Edmonton falls to second despite a 10-4 record and a playoff-clinching season. The Elks lost 24-19 to Toronto in a game where Chad Kelly threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns.
The Argos move up to fifth, flipping spots with Winnipeg, which was on a bye. B.C. and Saskatchewan remain third and fourth, respectively, while Calgary, Hamilton and Ottawa stay in their previous positions.
And while Montreal gets the top spot back, Toronto might be the story of the week. The Argos are 8-6, undefeated at home and have punched their ticket to the playoffs. They're not just hanging around the postseason picture anymore — they're in it.
1. Montreal Alouettes (11-3) — LW: 2
The king is back.
Montreal is back on top after a strong response to last week's loss in Vancouver.
The Alouettes defence forced six turnovers against Hamilton, and the offence did just enough to keep the Ticats at arm's length.
Davis Alexander was efficient, completing 21 of 27 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Tyson Philpot added another touchdown to his league-leading total. But the defence deserves the headlines.
After allowing 30-plus points in three straight weeks, Montreal responded with a much-needed defensive performance. That's how you get back to No. 1.
2. Edmonton Elks (10-4) — LW: 1
Still a playoff team. Still a contender. But not No. 1 this week.
Edmonton has already secured a playoff spot and sits at 10-4. But the Elks couldn't get past Toronto.
Cody Fajardo threw for 360 yards in the loss, while Justin Rankin rushed for 89 yards.
The offence moved the football, but Toronto made the big plays when it mattered most. Edmonton is still a dangerous team, but the No. 1 spot belongs to Montreal this week.
3. B.C. Lions (7-6) — LW: 3
The Lions remain in the mix.
B.C. was on a bye week, so there's no change here.
After winning six of their last seven games, the Lions have established themselves as one of the CFL's most dangerous teams.
Nathan Rourke and the offence have been clicking, and B.C. has a chance to make a serious run down the stretch.
4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) — LW: 4
The Riders get a week off.
Saskatchewan had a bye, so the rankings don't change.
After a disappointing Labour Day rematch loss to Winnipeg, the Riders have a bit more time to regroup and prepare for the final stretch.
At 8-5, Saskatchewan remains in the playoff picture. But the pressure is building.
5. Toronto Argonauts (8-6) — LW: 6
The Argos are playoff-bound.
Toronto moves up a spot after beating Edmonton 24-19 and punching its ticket to the postseason. Chad Kelly threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns, while Dymere Miller and Kevin Mital both found the end zone.
The Argos also remain undefeated at home. That matters.
Toronto is getting hot at the right time, and the rest of the East should be paying attention.
6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-6) — LW: 5
The Bombers take a step back without playing.
Winnipeg was on a bye week, but Toronto's victory means the Argos move ahead of them in the rankings.
The Bombers are still 7-6 and remain in the playoff hunt.
But with the season winding down, there isn't much room for error.
7. Calgary Stampeders (6-8) — LW: 7
Calgary finally gets one.
The Stamps earned a thrilling 40-38 victory over Ottawa on Saturday, thanks to Rene Paredes' 62-yard field goal in the final seconds.
Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns, while Jalen Philpot and Tevin Jones both surpassed 100 receiving yards.
Calgary needed this win.
The Stampeders remain in the West playoff conversation, and Paredes' big leg kept their hopes alive.
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-10) — LW: 8
The Ticats are still searching for answers.
Hamilton dropped a 37-25 decision to Montreal, and the defence had no answer for the Alouettes' early attack.
Harrison Frost threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns, but his four interceptions proved costly.
The Ticats remain eighth.
9. Ottawa Redblacks (0-13) — LW: 9
Another heartbreaking loss.
Ottawa is still looking for its first win.
The Redblacks lost 40-38 to Calgary on a 62-yard field goal in the final seconds, dropping to 0-13.
Keelan White scored three touchdowns, and McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 379 yards and five touchdowns.
But the Redblacks couldn't finish.
Ottawa remains the unanimous No. 9 choice among the SportsCage.com contributors.
SportsCage.com Week 17 CFL Power Rankings
|
Rank |
Team |
LW |
|
1 |
Montreal Alouettes |
2 |
|
2 |
Edmonton Elks |
1 |
|
3 |
B.C. Lions |
3 |
|
4 |
Saskatchewan Roughriders |
4 |
|
5 |
Toronto Argonauts |
6 |
|
6 |
Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
5 |
|
7 |
Calgary Stampeders |
7 |
|
8 |
Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
8 |
|
9 |
Ottawa Redblacks |
9 |
Montreal is back on top.
Edmonton slips to second.
Toronto is moving up.
And the playoff race is heating up.
The Alouettes get the top spot back, but with Edmonton at 10-4, B.C. making noise and Saskatchewan still in the mix, the West is far from settled.
The final weeks of the CFL season are going to be a lot of fun.
