3DownNation power rankings: Redblacks finally bust out of the basement

The 3DownNation power rankings have been tallied following Week 9 of the 2021 CFL season.

There has been plenty of movement up and down the board so far this season, but two things have remained constant: Winnipeg at the top and Ottawa at the bottom. While the former remains the CFL’s unquestioned powerhouse, the latter will be a basement dweller no longer. Well, at least for one week.

Our power rankings are created by having our contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. Last week’s rankings are listed in brackets.

Enjoy the rankings and feel free to roast us on Twitter for anything you feel we’ve got wrong.

Photo courtesy: CFL/Jimmy Jeong

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)

There is little debate as to who is the best team in the CFL and a resounding 30-9 victory over the B.C. Lions on Saturday proved it. With a 400-yard outing from Zach Collaros, 200 yards receiving from Kenny Lawler and endless pressure from the defensive line tandem of Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, the stretch run might just be a game of ‘pin the tail on the MOP’ for this club.

Photo courtesy: Adam Krueger, Toronto Argonauts

2. Toronto Argonauts (4)

The best part of a bye week? When all your top competition loses and you become the second best team in the league by default. Though with the incomparable Chris Jones now calling the shots defensively, there is little doubt the Argos will soon being backing up this positioning.

Photo courtesy: Candice Ward / Calgary Stampeders

3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (2)

The Riders drew some giggles when they said the Stampeders would be their toughest test of the season pre-game, but nobody was laughing when they lost. An offence that couldn’t hit the deep ball hurt Sask badly, but the close finish and Brett Lauther’s incredible onside kick efficiency means they only drop one spot this week.

Photo courtesy: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5)

Fumble away a commanding lead and lose an overtime thriller against a quarterback with one good leg, but still move up in the rankings? Yeah, it doesn’t make much sense, but neither did anything else about Hamilton’s home-field collapse versus Montreal.

Photo courtesy: CFL

5. B.C. Lions (3)

A week ago, you could argue that the Lions were nipping at the Bombers’ heels as West Division contenders. A head-to-head comparison showed the massive disparity between the two teams and a one-dimensional offence that lost its most explosive weapon early got completely outclassed on the field.

Photo courtesy: Candice Ward / Calgary Stampeders

6. Calgary Stampeders (7)

The Stampeders had a fast start against the Riders and hung on desperately to win, but the continuing uncertainty surrounding the play and health of Bo Levi Mitchell has few voters trusting them. The horsemen ride up one spot, but no more.

Photo courtesy: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

7. Montreal Alouettes (6)

A gutsy performance by quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. after suffering what appeared to be a painful ankle injury gave Montreal a wild overtime victory in one of the most entertaining games of the year, but there was no glory from the voters. The question is whether the erratic Adams could replicate his miraculous strike to Eugene Lewis if he tried.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

8. Ottawa Redblacks (9)

What a difference competent quarterbacking makes! Caleb Evans didn’t have to do much in his first ever start, but what he steered the ship well enough to not only beat Edmonton for a second time, but do it convincingly. That means, at least for a week, nobody can call them the worst in the league.

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

9. Edmonton Elks (8)

While the return of Trevor Harris next week should help, the Elks on in full-fledged survival mode and the blame game has already begun from the outside. When you lose twice to a team who’s lack of talent has become a running joke, what does that make you?