With another week in the books, it is time for the CFL Week 18 power rankings. Teams competed in an excellent week of Canadian football this past weekend with some interesting outcomes. So interesting in fact, that all but one team moved around in the power rankings. Only the Hamilton Tiger-Cats held onto the same position as last week.
1) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (12-3)
Last Week Ranking: 1
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats had a bye in Week 18, which could prove to be nice timing for them. However, the Ti-Cats have wrapped up first place in the CFL East and won’t play another meaningful game for five weeks. The Tiger-Cats are the best team in the CFL right now but will their schedule work against them for the rest of the season? Only time will tell.
2) Calgary Stampeders (10-5)
Last Week Ranking: 4
The Stampeders jump up two spots in this week’s rankings thanks to a hard-fought 30-28 win over the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders. With the win, the Stamps have won the season series against the second-place Riders. With a home-and-home upcoming against the Bombers, the Stamps have full control over their destiny in the CFL’s West Division.
3) Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-5)
Last Week Ranking: 2
As mentioned, the Saskatchewan Roughriders fall one spot this week due to a tough loss in Calgary last week. While the Riders certainly played a much better game against Calgary than their one a few months ago, it is clear that the Riders are the second-best team in the CFL West. At least for now.
4) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-6)
Last Week Ranking: 5
A statement win over the league’s most surprising team in the Montreal Alouettes on the weekend and the Bombers have to be feeling pretty good about themselves. Winnipeg’s struggled to find their identity lately, but this latest win could go a long way in helping them rediscover it. Riding the back of the CFL’s leading rusher in Andrew Harris would be an excellent start. Harris finished the game with 24 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown.
5) Montreal Alouettes (8-7)
Last Week Ranking: 3
While the Alouettes may be the CFL’s most exciting team, their record the past few weeks is anything but. The Als have not posted back-to-back wins since early September, and you don’t need to be a scholar to figure out that isn’t going to help you come playoff time. Montreal needs to find some consistency to have any chance at reaching the Grey Cup.
6) Edmonton Eskimos (8-8)
Last Week Ranking: 7
Finally. That is the word one could use to describe the Eskimos officially making the playoffs this week. This team could have, and probably should have, clinched a playoff birth some time ago. However, with key injuries all over the field and some inconsistent and curious play, the Eskimos certainly took their time in securing their spot. But they are in, and really, that’s all that needs to happen. Anything can happen in the CFL playoffs.
7) B.C. Lions (5-11)
Last Week Ranking: 6
Despite a strong push at the end of the season, the B.C. Lions will have to accept their fate of being excluded from the CFL playoffs. Any chance that the Lions may have had disappeared the second quarterback Mike Reilly went down with a broken wrist in last week’s devastating 19-6 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos.
8) Toronto Argonauts (3-12)
Last Week Ranking: 9
Last week in these rankings it was determined the Argos had given up on their season. While that may have been true at the time, they still found a way to beat the Ottawa Redblacks. A 28-21 win against Ottawa on the weekend, and it appears as though there is still some pride left in the Argos dressing room.
9) Ottawa Redblacks (3-12)
Last Week Ranking: 8
Three more weeks of this? That’s what Redblacks fans have to be asking themselves right about now. Ottawa’s season has been a gigantic disappointment and likely can’t end soon enough for all involved. Once again, Ottawa is last in the CFL Week 18 power rankings.
The Last Word
With playoffs just around the corner, all six playoff spots are decided. The only thing left to figure out is which teams play in which city in the CFL’s Western Division. We may get our answers as soon as this weekend. Can’t wait.
Main image credit: Embed from Getty Images
