The 3DownNation power rankings are back following the first week of the 2021 CFL season.
Three of last week’s games were upsets, most notably with the Ottawa Redblacks beating the Edmonton Elks despite throwing for just 71 yards. The CFL is always unpredictable early-on in the year, but that’s been compounded by the cancellation of the 2020 season and a lack of preseason games this summer.
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.ca
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3)
Winnipeg rockets to the No. 1 spot after dominating the Tiger-Cats along the line of scrimmage just like they did in the 2019 Grey Cup. The defence held Hamilton to just six points, while Brady Oliveira rushed for 126 yards in his first career start in place of an injured Andrew Harris.
Photo courtesy: Ticats.ca/Nik Kowalski
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1)
Hamilton started strong in Winnipeg with Jeremiah Masoli leading a game-opening 89-yard touchdown drive. The offence fizzled out after that as the unit failed to establish the run and turned the ball over twice with interceptions to Willie Jefferson and Jontrell Rocquemore.
Photo courtesy: Argonauts.ca
3. Toronto Argonauts (8)
The Argos leap up five spots after outperforming Calgary at McMahon Stadium in Week 1, which isn’t easy to do. They face another tough test this week when they travel to Winnipeg for a date with the Blue Bombers, but make no mistake — this team looked a lot better than most people predicted heading into the season.
Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards/Saskatchewan Roughriders
4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5)
The Green and White got out to a remarkable 31-0 lead in the second quarter against B.C. but failed to put the game away until A.C. Leonard picked off Nathan Rourke with less than a minute to play. Who are the real Riders: the dominant team that owned the first half or the passive bunch that slept through the second half?
Photo courtesy: David Moll/Stampeders.com
5. Calgary Stampeders (2)
That strange sound you’re hearing is the Stamps plummeting into the middle spot of our power rankings after coughing up a 20-12 fourth quarter lead to the new-look Argos. Bo Levi Mitchell tossed an uncharacteristic interception in the final minute of the game, while the defence allowed McLeod Bethel-Thompson to throw for 354 yards and two scores.
Photo courtesy: Dominick Gravel/Montreal Alouettes
6. Montreal Alouettes (6)
Vernon Adams Jr. and the Montreal Alouettes had a bye in Week 1, which means we’ve yet to see what exactly they’re going to bring to the table. It’s only fitting that they didn’t move up or down in our rankings as we wait for their 2021 season debut in Edmonton.
Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks
7. Edmonton Elks (4)
The Elks held Ottawa to a measly 127 yards of total offence on Saturday and still found a way to lose at home. Trevor Harris threw three interceptions and failed to get the Elks into the end zone, which is wild considering Edmonton had 35:56 in time of possession.
Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards/Saskatchewan Roughriders
8. B.C. Lions (7)
It’s clear that Michael Reilly’s shoulder is worse than expected, which has spooked our contributors. He may have thrown for 203 yards and a touchdown against the Riders, but his passes lacked the zip and accuracy we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. Can the Lions still compete in the tough West Division with Canadian rookie Nathan Rourke at the helm?
Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks
9. Ottawa Redblacks (9)
Is it fair for a 1-0 team to be ranked this low in the power rankings? Evidently our contributors think it is. The Redblacks upset Edmonton but managed just nine offensive points, 71 passing yards, and six first downs. Until this team can prove they can move the ball at least a little better, it appears they’ll stay in the cellar.
