Labour Day Weekend is officially in the books, which means it’s time to reassess how the league’s nine teams stack up as we enter the final third of the season.
3DownNation’s power rankings are created by having twelve contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. The previous week’s rankings are in brackets. As always, please be sure to check back every Monday morning for our updated power rankings following each week of action in the CFL.
Enjoy the rankings and feel free to roast us on Twitter — yes, we still call it “Twitter” — for anything you think we got wrong.
Photo courtesy: Montreal Alouettes
1) Montreal Alouettes (1)
The Alouettes missed out on the Labour Day Weekend festivities while on a bye but that should suit them just fine as they remain atop the East Division at 10-1 amid a five-game winning streak. Cody Fajardo and company will look to keep the good times rolling this week when Nathan Rourke and the B.C. Lions come to town, marking the first of two meetings between the teams this season.
Photo courtesy: Michael Scraper/SportsCage/Harvard Media
2) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4)
The Blue Bombers won in hostile territory on Sunday after exploding for 22 points in the second quarter, which came courtesy of a 44-yard touchdown strike to Nic Demski, a fumble recovery by Nick Hallett, and a pass interference call on a deep pass to Kenny Lawler. The questions in Winnipeg now concern the status of franchise quarterback Zach Collaros, who was knocked out of the game on a headshot from Miles Brown that drew the ire of team president and CEO Wade Miller.
Photo courtesy: Kevin Light/B.C. Lions
3) Ottawa Redblacks (2)
The Redblacks were unable to overcome a rash of injuries to their receiving corps in Touchdown Pacific, falling behind by 25 points at halftime. The team lacked discipline, taking 12 penalties for 144 yards, and converted only five second downs. Ottawa is still in a great spot in the East Division thanks to a recent six-game undefeated streak, though the club might have to be perfect from here on out if they have any hope of still finishing first.
Photo courtesy: Kevin Light/B.C. Lions
4) B.C. Lions (8)
That sound you’re hearing from the west coast is the Lions roaring their way back into contention after ending a five-game losing skid. Nathan Rourke did everything except his halftime interview with TSN in the win, throwing for 325 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception and rushing for 29 yards and a score. B.C.’s defence also stepped up, limiting the Redblacks to 247 yards of net offence and getting home for four sacks.
Photo courtesy: Toronto Argonauts
5) Toronto Argonauts (3)
The Argonauts ran into a woodchipper at Tim Hortons Field, falling behind their archrivals 21-3 by the end of the first quarter. Though the club made a valiant effort to battle back, it failed to win a third straight Labour Day Classic for what would have been the first time since 2008. Toronto still has a six-point lead on Hamilton for third place in the East Division, though they’ve officially lost the season series to their Southern Ontario rivals.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
6) Edmonton Elks (6)
Jarious Jackson has plenty to smile about as his team won only its second Labour Day Classic since 2012 and is now 4-1 since the start of August. McLeod Bethel-Thompson was brilliant against the Stampeders as he threw for a career-high 486 yards and three touchdowns, while Edmonton’s defence recorded five takeaways. After starting the season off 0-7, the Elks are only four points out of first place in the West Division.
Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan Roughriders/Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
7) Saskatchewan Roughriders (5)
Trevor Harris had a great game against Winnipeg’s tough defence in the Labour Day Classic but it wasn’t enough to lift his team to victory. Mario Alford botched a punt return that was recovered for a Winnipeg touchdown and Deontai Williams took a questionable pass interference penalty covering Kenny Lawler, which cost his team 32 yards. Saskatchewan isn’t playing bad football but they’re now winless in their last six games.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
8) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9)
The Tiger-Cats got off to a red-hot start on Monday and did enough to fend off a late surge against Toronto, sealing the game with a clutch 55-yard field goal from Marc Liegghio and a 48-yard strike from Bo Levi Mitchell to Brendan O’Leary-Orange. Tim White appears to be having yet another midseason breakout as he’s caught 13 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns over Hamilton’s last two games.
Photo courtesy: James Paddle/CFL.ca
9) Calgary Stampeders (7)
Dave Dickenson was extremely disappointed in his team’s 35-20 loss to Edmonton on Monday, suggesting some of his players look too comfortable and might need to be replaced. It remains unclear if franchise quarterback Jake Maier will be one of them after he threw a career-high four interceptions in front of Calgary’s largest crowd of the year. The Stampeders are now three points out of a playoff spot in the West Division and are at risk of missing the postseason for the first time since 2004.
