After thirteen weeks of action in the CFL, the Calgary Stampeders continue to lead the way, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Redblacks continue to free fall.
1. Calgary Stampeders
After a narrow Labour Day victory against the Edmonton Eskimos, the Calgary Stampeders fell apart at Commonwealth. The scoreboard may make the game seem closer than it was but Calgary never had any business winning this game. The Stampeders gave up 31 points off turnovers with Bo Levi Mitchell throwing three interceptions. Calgary will travel to Tim Hortons Field this Saturday looking to return to winning ways against the red-hot Tiger-Cats.
Last week: 1
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Defence wins championships. If that stands to be true then Saskatchewan may as well be handed the Grey Cup now as their defence carried them to a fourth consecutive victory and a Banjo Bowl win. The defence generated five interceptions with two going back for touchdowns. This game could have been a lot easier for Saskatchewan as they had multiple interceptions called back on penalties. As a team, they took 12 penalties resulting in 132 yards of punishment. They will need to be more disciplined this weekend when they host the struggling Ottawa Redblacks.
Last week: 2
3. Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos and Mike Reilly bounced back in impressive fashion against the Calgary Stampeders last weekend. Mike Reilly threw for nearly 400 yards with three touchdowns through the air and added three along the ground with just a single interception as the only blemish on his line. The Edmonton defence surrendered nearly 600 yards of total offence to the Calgary Stampeders making this game much closer than it needed to be at the end. The Eskimos get a week off as they hope to stay tied for second in the West with the Roughriders before facing the Ottawa Redblacks.
Last week: 3
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Week 13 went about as well as could have been expected for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They have drawn level with the Ottawa Redblacks for first place in the East. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had a near perfect game completing 72% of his passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. The Hamilton offence seems to be firing on all cylinders right now and they will need to continue doing so if they want to beat the Calgary Stampeders at home this weekend.
Last week: 4
5. B.C Lions
After losing Emmanuel Arceneaux for the season and then Travis Lulay to a hit to the head things were looking bleak for the Lions. But Jonathan Jennings managed to come in and connect on 10 of his 12 pass attempts including one touchdown. Jeremiah Johnson put the game on ice for the Lions late when it mattered with a long run capped off by a score. It looks as though Lulay will be starting for the Lions this week. The Lions also managed to acquire DeVier Posey as they look to continue their playoff push in Montreal on Friday.
Last week: 7
6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Question marks continue to swirl regarding the starting quarterback position in Winnipeg after Matt Nichols threw two first-half pick sixes. Chris Streveler managed to fair slightly better against the dominant Saskatchewan defence but it was to no avail as the Blue Bombers dropped their fourth consecutive game. The Blue Bombers have a week off to regroup and make a definitive decision regarding who is the starting quarterback going forward before hosting the Montreal Alouettes.
Last week: 6
7. Ottawa Redblacks
What was once a healthy stranglehold on the East has dwindled down to no lead at all for Trevor Harris and the Ottawa Redblacks after a loss in B.C. Trevor Harris completed just 58% of his passes for a touchdown and threw a pair of interceptions. Harris continues to resemble a deer in headlights every time he faces a pass rush and when he isn’t throwing well, there isn’t much his receivers can do. Things don’t get any easier for the Redblacks as they head to Regina this Saturday to face the league’s top defence.
Last week: 5
8. Montreal Alouettes
After a week of rest the Montreal Alouettes will look to win their third consecutive game this weekend with Antonio Pipkin at the helm as they host the B.C Lions. Despite being 3-8 the Alouettes are still competing for a playoff spot and will be hoping to jump a full two points ahead of the struggling Argonauts.
Last week: 8
9. Toronto Argonauts
Another loss in the books for the Argonauts at the hands of their rivals, the Tiger-Cats. Mcleod Bethel-Thompson was serviceable, throwing for almost 300 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and just one interception. The defence however surrendered 400-plus yards of total offence including three 25-plus yard touchdown passes. The Argonauts have a week off before hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Last week: 9
Main image credit: Embed from Getty Images
