Week 11 of the CFL season didn’t create any new or drastic changes in our rankings, but there are still some teams trending in the right direction while some others fall back down to earth at terminal velocity. The playoff scenarios are getting interesting, and those are going to be fun to follow this season. Let’s take a look at who’s on top and who is leaving plenty to be desired.

9. Edmonton Elks (2-7)

The Elks held their own against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in week 11, but putting them above the Ottawa Redblacks (a team who beat them twice), seems unfair to the Redblacks. The Elks had a chance in theory to win the game until the end, but there wasn’t really a feeling that they could win the game. The road with Trevor Harris is an interesting one to follow, but Taylor Cornelius might not be the answer either. He’s got a few more games to prove his worth before the Elks will have the chance to explore other options.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (2-8)

What in the ever-living hell was that? In all seriousness, are they trying to kill Caleb Evans? How is giving up 10 sacks in a single game even possible? We have been overwhelmingly positive about the Redblacks since Evans took over the starting QB job, but that performance is absolutely inexcusable. In the past two weeks, the Redblacks have allowed 15 sacks. That isn’t a typo. That is a real stat. I will leave fans with this. If you are calling for Devlin Hodges to start or are saying Evans doesn’t have a future in the CFL because he’s not played well the past few weeks, stop it. You can’t possibly look at those numbers and say the QB played badly.

7. BC Lions (4-5)

We have always been the people pounding the drum for the BC Lions, but that train seems to have left the station. Here’s the reality about the Lions right now, they can’t beat their good opponents. This season, they have beaten the Redblacks twice, the Stampeders in week two (who were struggling at the time), and the Montreal Alouettes. They are now losers of three straight games and now look forward to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in week 12. Here’s the situation the Lions find themselves in. They need to finish ahead of the Tiger-Cats (or whoever finished in third in the East) in the overall standings. A tie goes to the East, and by comparison, Hamilton’s schedule is easier. The road to the playoffs is almost exclusively looking at crossing over unless the Lions start beating some good football teams, and now.

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-5)

Things haven’t looked good in tiger town this season, but with the Redblacks coming up in week 12 and the Tiger-Cats rested up, they have a chance to grab this season by the horns and take it on. There’s no chance anyone thought the Cats would be as bad as they have this season, but even sitting at sub .500, they are in total control of their own fate. Their next three games are essentially their season. The Redblacks, Elks, and Lions are all beatable. Looking forward a bit, that Lions game could end up being the deciding factor in a playoff race, but they can’t think about that yet. They could easily be four points ahead of the Lions in the standings after their game against Edmonton, but they have to take it one game at a time and take nothing for granted. Hold down the fort and hope Dane Evans comes back.

5. Montreal Alouettes (5-4)

It’s too early to say that Matthew Shiltz is going to save the Montreal Alouettes after their star QB, Vernon Adams Jr. went down with an injury, but he’s off to a great start in trying to prove that he is. In his short time running the Als’ offence this season, he has looked in complete control and has done more than enough to help his team win the football games. This team does still walk that line of being a playoff contender who could be a threat and a team that just doesn’t bring it sometimes, but they have stacked three wins together. They will not have an easy ride the rest of the way. As much as Hamilton needs to watch their back while the Lions look to find a way into the playoffs, the Alouettes might need to be on the lookout even more so.

4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4)

Games that don’t eliminate you from contention or playoff games are never must-win games, but week 12 against the Calgary Stampeders is nearing that territory for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Patience seems to have worn thin after the Riders have gone 2-4 in their last six games, especially with their quarterback, Cody Fajardo. They don’t have the toughest of schedules the rest of the way, but they would be behind the eight-ball in the battle for second place in the West against the Stamps if they lost the game.

3. Toronto Argonauts (6-3)

I don’t have too much to say about the Argos. While I’m still not sure if I’m buying into the hype around this team, but their remaining five games are very winnable for them. Their path to the playoffs is crystal clear, beat the teams they should beat and they will have the East all but locked up sooner rather than later.

2. Calgary Stampeders (5-5)

Yea, things are going alright for the Stampeders right now, but unfortunately for them, they need to keep playing at this level the rest of the season to make up for their really poor start to the season. They already have the season series over the Roughriders, but another win over them would just be sweet. They are all the way back, and even though the Blue Bombers look unbeatable, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Stampeders and Bombers going down to the wire in the West Final.

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-1)

It wasn’t pretty, but the Bombers came away with a win over the lowly Elks in week 11. They have become the first team in the CFL to clinch a playoff spot, so that is certainly a reason to celebrate for them. It won’t be too long before they lock up the West Division. Losing Andrew Harris is obviously a crushing blow, but they have put themselves in a spot where they don’t really need him back urgently. If he’s ready to go for the playoffs, the Bombers would be happy.

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