Taking the under seemed to be the thing to do in week four of the Canadian Football League season. While no offence really set the world on fire with their performances, we found out a little bit more about what every team really is, and in some cases, we remain confused about what is going on. But here we are trying to make sense of what the CFL hierarchy looks like after week four, so without further adieu, here are our power rankings for week four.

9. Ottawa Redblacks (1-2)

After a couple of weeks up higher in the rankings, the Redblacks are right back where they started. Offensively, they might be slightly better than they were in 2019 and they have made small improvements week to week, but they are still underwhelmingly bad on that side of the football. Questions are already being asked about signing Matt Nichols and allowing Nick Arbuckle to leave, but the bottom line is that they have what they have right now. The bright side of things for the Redblacks is in the other two phases of the game. Both defensively and on special teams they are among the best in the CFL. None of that will matter if the offence doesn’t get going, but they have something to build on going forward. Maybe they need to turn to someone different in some spots, and maybe like the Stampeders, success can be found by an unlikely source.

8. Edmonton Elks (1-2)

Where were you this week, Elks? We all wanted to see you in Toronto on Thursday night to take on the Argos to see if you really did turn things around or not. Instead, you had to deal with an outbreak of COVID-19 that forced the game to be postponed and potentially rescheduled. That may or may not happen, but you can’t dwell on that now. The team hasn’t looked good this whole season and there are many issues to fix in order to make the playoffs. First and foremost, finding the endzone. Yes, that is still an issue for the Elks. I need to see way more before I’m willing to think the Elks are anywhere close to reaching their potential. They took steps in the right direction in BC, but they aren’t washed clean of their issues. 

7. Montreal Alouettes (1-2)

It’s possible the Montreal Alouettes are victims of identity theft. Their performance in week two made them look like they might be the best team in the league, but their last two games have been a complete 180. They have looked downright bad. Probably not to the level of the teams below them, but they haven’t come close to looking like a playoff team in their last two games. Vernon Adams Jr. hasn’t been able to complete the deep ball lately and it looks like that is affecting him in the other areas of his game. Who are the real Montreal Alouettes? Will we find out this week?

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-2)

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are finally in the win column, but it wasn’t all pretty for them. The offensive line, the source of many of the team’s issues this season was once again poor despite being able to steal a win in Montreal’s home opener. Dane Evans was good but missed a couple of throws he should have made including a wide-open touchdown pass that he overthrew late in the game. He was sacked six times and pressured many more. This trait is going to be what sinks the Tiger-Cats this season, and if it’s not cleaned up quickly, it won’t be a fun week with the rival Argonauts coming to town for Labour Day. Not to overstress the importance of this game for them, but the Argos will be hard to catch if they don’t beat them. It’s highly important despite being only the fourth game of the season. And oh yea, this one is in front of the home crowd. They will be excited and ready to go, but the pressure to perform will be there too.

Read More: 5 Takeaways From Alouettes Vs. Tiger-Cats – Week 4

5. Calgary Stampeders (1-3)

I can already see the argument of putting the Stampeders lower on this list, and while I respect that take on things, I have to disagree. The Stampeders might be fifth in the West Division in terms of points, but they very well might be the third-best team in the West right now. The team has come together and given their all for rookie quarterback, Jake Maier who has looked really good in his own respect. Their record might be poor, but this team is much better than their record suggests. The last two weeks have shown them to be at the very least competitive against a couple of good football teams in the Alouettes and Blue Bombers, and with their Labour Day game against the Elks coming up, they have a chance to rebound and get another win. They are getting it done with Maier, but when Bo Levi Mitchell comes back, you have to imagine that this team will somehow find a way to take it to the next level like they always seem to be able to do. You don’t get haters by being bad at your job.

4. BC Lions (2-2)

I look at the BC Lions and think that they are a good football team. Some people agree with me there, and others don’t, but such is life when you have the makings of a .500 team. They didn’t look amazing in their game against the Redblacks, but they did their jobs and did enough to win the game. Will that work against the upper echelon teams in the league? Probably not, but here’s the thing with the Lions, they have the roster to beat any team on any given day. I think more than anything they are still finding their footing, and if they can find it, they could be dangerous come playoff time. The top of the West Division is loaded and will be a hard path to get to the Grey Cup through, but the Lions can do it if they play their best football. Maybe the Lions are looking at an East-crossover where they have a chance to raise some hell.

Read More: 5 Takeaways From Redblacks Vs. Lions – Week 4

3. Toronto Argonauts (2-1)

The Argos kick off a string of three consecutive spots that are occupied by the same team this week as they were last week. The last time the Argos saw the field, it was in a win over the defending Grey Cup champions, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. For as happy as the team and their fans would have been after that game, it would have quickly changed when they found out they wouldn’t be on the field in week four. The Edmonton Elks COVID-19 outbreak cancelled their game, and the Argos are left wondering if that game will be made up and if it will happen away from their home. They don’t have time to think about it, however. They have a huge game against the Tiger-Cats on the road this weekend, and if they are able to win it, they would put a bit of a stranglehold on the East Division, at least for the time being. It’s a massive early-season game with playoff implications.

2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1)

Let me tell you, Bombers fans, the Blue Bombers were a late field goal away from dropping a spot in these rankings. In fact, had the Argos played their game and looked halfway decent, they probably would have leaped into second this week, but that didn’t happen so for now, the Bombers maintain their second position. To be frank, they haven’t been very impressive in their last two games. There have been a bunch of drops and uncharacteristic plays that just can’t happen in crunch time. They were lucky to come away with a win against the Stampeders, and they need to let the last two weeks of their season serve as some kind of wake-up call. Like everyone else, the Labour Day game against the Roughriders is a massive game for their season. Losing this one would be a huge blow to their odds to win the division.

Read More: 4 Takeaways From Blue Bombers Vs. Stampeders – Week 4

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-0)

Once again, the Saskatchewan Roughriders maintain the top spot in this week’s edition of our power rankings. They were never really in danger of losing this spot this week after three consecutive dominant performances but heading into next week against the Blue Bombers, there is all to play for. All season long, we have heard about just how good the Roughriders are, but it’s time for them to put their money where their mouth is. The team they are about to play is much better than the three they have already played, and Cody Fajardo and the rest of the offence will be under much more pressure than they have been before this season. Again, it’s a critical game in the standings for the Roughriders, but they have been the best team in the league so far this season. They will be up to the challenge, but it won’t be easy. I hope you’re strapped in and ready for a great game, and a great week of Canadian football as the season ramps up on Labour Day!

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