Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Week 9 of the CFL season is in the books and there is major change at the top of our rankings, with a familiar face back in the top slot.
3DownNation’s power rankings are created by having eleven of our contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. The previous week’s rankings are in brackets.
Enjoy the rankings and feel free to roast us on Twitter for anything you think we got wrong.
Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions
1) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3)
Don’t let their perfunctory public statements fool you, the Bombers had this week circled on their calendar since June and delivered their satisfying vengeance by putting up a 50-burger on the B.C. Lions. Their big play passing attack is back firing on all cylinders thanks to the return of Kenny Lawler, meaning this won’t be the last time Zach Collaros flirts with the 400-yard passing mark.
Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
2) Toronto Argonauts (1)
The Argonauts looked utterly lifeless right from the jump in Week 9, suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Calgary Stampeders. The bigger concern going forward is the health of several key pieces, including franchise quarterback Chad Kelly and strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett, both of whom exited early and could be held out of action next week.
Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions
3) B.C. Lions (2)
Pick your superlative of choice and it will probably be right, as the Lions got shellacked, blown out, demolished, and destroyed by the Bombers. B.C.’s fate was pretty much sealed the second that Dominique Davis went under centre to replace the injured Dane Evans but fortunately for the franchise, Vernon Adams Jr. is expected to be back healthy next week.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
4) Montreal Alouettes (4)
The Alouettes did everything they could to lose this week, but still managed to pull out a victory thanks to an 18-point fourth quarter. Cody Fajardo quietly put up another 300-yard game, William Stanback crossed the century mark for the first time, and Shawn Lemon added a pair of sacks and two turnovers in his second game for the team.
Photo: Larry MacDougal/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
5) Calgary Stampeders (5)
The Stampeders may have pulled a stunning upset of the league’s last undefeated team, but more than a few fans likely slept through it. Quarterback Jake Maier heeded his head coach’s warning to avoid “catastrophic plays” and posted one of the most accurate performances in league history, but generated just 149 yards in a snoozefest.
Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards/Saskatchewan Roughriders
6) Saskatchewan Roughriders (8)
A pair of short-yardage mishaps nearly cost them the game, but the Riders eked out a victory thanks to the leg of Brett Lauther. Mason Fine tossed for 296 yards and a touchdown in his best outing to date, though the real star of the game was the rampaging sheep that got loose at halftime.
Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan Roughriders
7) Ottawa Redblacks (6)
Defences seem to have figured out Dustin Crum at this stage but the Redblacks kept their cardiac reputation thanks to a couple of key defensive stands. They would have won yet another classic CFL finish too, if not for Bob Dyce’s pathologically conservative decision to kick a field goal from the one-yard line with a minute left.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
8) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7)
New week, same story for the Ticats, as they squandered away a substantial lead with bad penalties, timely turnovers, and explosive plays allowed. The team heads into their second bye week with some serious questions to answer and a loaded schedule in front of them.
Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
9) Edmonton Elks (10)
We’ll give the Elks a break coming out of their bye and refrain from ranking a fictional team above them. At the very least, there is a glimmer of hope surrounding the CFL’s current laughingstock after they stripped Stephen McAdoo of play-calling duties and announced Canadian speedster Tre Ford as their new starting quarterback.
