With Week 8 in the CFL behind us, the pretenders continue to be separated from the contenders, and on both ends of the spectrum, there are teams we never would have expected. With the halfway point a week away, the playoff implications increase with every game played. The Blue Bombers continued to sink due to a struggling offense, while the third string kept the Alouettes at the top of the league. The Redblacks have proved they belong in the conversation with the elite, while the Elks cannot buy a win no matter the changes they make. If you’re a betting individual, make sure you check out Total Apex Sports Bets every week for our best bets on every CFL game. Whether it’s props, winners, or totals, we have you covered. The storylines are endless, so let’s get into it.
1. Montreal Alouettes (6-1)
When Cody Fajardo was placed on the six-game IR, the Als came off their first loss, and their first-place status in the East was in jeopardy. After a Week 7 bye and a narrow win over the Riders on Thursday, the Alouettes are back in the driver’s seat, with the potential future behind the wheel. Third-stringer Davis Alexander took over for struggling backup QB Caleb Evans and was almost flawless en route to their sixth win of the season.
Alexander went 15-for-18, 178 yards, and two touchdowns. Tyson Philpot added to his terrific season, catching seven balls for 88 yards. He is second in the CFL with 690 receiving yards and second in touchdowns with five. Their running game was a non-factor, rushing for only 33 yards, yet their defense continues to hold down the fort, putting the offense in a position to win almost every week.
2. B.C. Lions (5-2)
The Lions were on a bye this week, and with the Roughriders (5-2) losing to the Alouettes, they stay at number two and are tied for first in the West with the aforementioned Riders. The Lions travel to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers on Thursday to kick off Week 9 in the CFL. Although they didn’t need to suit up, opponents know just how dangerous the side can be on any given game day. Therefore, the rest may provide an extra boost when returning to the field in their matchup.
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-2)
After QB Trevor Harris went down in Week 3, backup Shea Patterson had done just enough to continue to rack up wins. That came to an end on Thursday as a pointless second half cost the Riders a close game against the Alouettes. Saskatchewan went into the half up 16-3 before the offense hit a wall, and the defense gave way. Shea Patterson went 21-for-33 and 222 yards, while RB Hickson ran for 117 yards and one score in his first start of the season.
Hickson stepped in for the injured Ouellette, who remains questionable for Saturday’s contest against the Elks. The Riders’ defense continues to be dominant, and with a little help from the offense, they easily could have won last week. The defense is second in the CFL, allowing 22.6 points per game, and first in run defense, allowing 47.9 yards per game.
4. Ottawa Redblacks (5-2)
Long coined the ‘Elks of the East’, the Redblacks are shocking the CFL week after week, on both sides of the ball. That continued in Week 8 with a 33-6 dismantling of the Calgary Stampeders, putting them only one game behind the first-place Alouettes. QB Dru Brown has had a breakout season and built on it on Friday. Brown was 30-for-37, throwing for 325 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Kalil Pimpleton had 80 yards, and another 209 yards in punt/kick returns.
RB Ryquell Armstead was ejected in the first half, leaving Ottawa without a running back, which ended up not mattering at all. Receivers Addison and Hardy each ran for 28 yards, while QB Dustin Crum had one single yard that happened to be a touchdown. Defensively, the Redblacks are in the top four in the CFL in every main category. They have given up 25 points or less in five of their seven games, and if the offense keeps progressing like this, that is a recipe for success that will keep them at the top of the division.
5. Toronto Argonauts (4-3)
The Argos have been a hot and cold team all year and continued in that fashion in Week 8. Their passing game was anemic, while the run game and the defense dragged this team to a 16-14 overtime win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. QB Cameron Dukes was replaced in the first half by Nick Arbuckle, who went 12-for-22 and 87 yards. Carey ran for 62 yards and caught another 35.
The real story was the defense. Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros had 317 yards, as he often does, but the defense created five turnovers and kept Winnipeg to only 13 points. The Argos’ defense is second in the CFL in yards allowed with 331.9 and rush yards allowed with 65.9. With the inconsistent nature of the offense, the defense will need more games like last week if they’re going to stay in the hunt for first in the division.
6. Calgary Stampeders (3-4)
If the Stamps won last week, they would have been in the number five spot, maybe even number four, especially with the way the Argos won. The problem is, they lost. Not only did they lose, but they got absolutely smacked by the Redblacks 33-6. Every team is capable of a bad game, and this was certainly that. The Stamps beat the dreaded Lions and were 15 minutes away from beating the defending CFL champs the game before. The offense has played good football this year and is much better than the showing they gave last week.
The problem over the last few weeks has been their defense. Through the first three games, they allowed 23 points per game. Over the last four games, they have allowed 31 points. QB Jake Maier and company can keep up with a defense allowing 23 points, but if they keep allowing 30, it’s going to be hard for Calgary to get back to the playoffs.
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-5)
After starting the season 0-5, the Ti-Cats have won two in a row, which puts them right back in the playoff conversation. A week after a narrow victory over the Argos, Hamilton put an absolute beatdown on the lowly Elks, 44-28. Bo Levi Mitchell continues to have a tremendous season, putting up 316 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball out to eight different receivers. RB James Butler, who has had a frustrating year running the ball, finally broke out. He ran for 98 yards on 21 carries and tacked on 19 yards receiving.
Against the Elks, it’s hard to tell if the defense was dominant, or if the opponent was just inferior. Still, the Ti-Cats held the Elks to just eight points through three quarters, allowing 20 in the fourth when the game was pretty much decided. Hamilton now has a home-and-home with the banged-up Alouettes. If the Ti-Cats can find a way to win both of those games, they will be right in the thick of the CFL playoff race, and the Hamilton faithful can forget all about the horrendous start.
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6)
The season from hell continues, as the Bombers lost yet again. This time, to themselves, as they turned the ball over five times in their 16-14 loss to the Argos. Their defense came to play, holding Toronto to only 124 passing yards, but the offense just could not get out of their own way.
QB Zach Collaros has taken a lot of heat this year, but there’s not too much he could have done to salvage this game. He threw for 317 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The interception was a tip drill on a play that should have been called for pass interference. The other four turnovers were all fumbles in plus territory. Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg’s star kicker, missed two of his four field goal attempts, which added salt to the wound. Winnipeg is now last in the CFL in points for, scoring only 20.4 points per game, which was on nobody’s bingo card to start the season.
9. Edmonton Elks (0-7)
If you’ve been following our CFL Power Rankings at all, there’s not too much to add when it comes to this Elks team. Despite all of the losing, the Elks kept every game close and had a chance to win every week. For the first time all season, they were not even remotely in this game, as they got embarrassed at home 44-28 at the hands of the Tiger-Cats.
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson was dreadful, going 10-for-22 and only 85 yards. Fans have been chanting for young Tre Ford for weeks now, and they finally got their wish, but it didn’t come until partway through the fourth quarter. Ford passed for 121 yards and three touchdowns, which is partly because of a soft defense in a blowout game. Still, Edmonton would be tone-deaf if they didn’t start Ford moving forward.
