After Week 9: CFL Power Rankings (Winnipeg Continues to Dominate)

For the sixth consecutive week, Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain the undisputed class of the CFL while Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks zig-zag at the bottom

The Canadian Football League has completed Week 9 of the 2021 regular season.  Nothing changed at the top.  But the bottom of the standings got a serious shake up.

Following yet another convincing victory last week, 2021 remains very much the year of the Blue Bombers.  Winnipeg enjoys the CFL's best record, at 7-1.

Winnipeg has pulled away from the other eight teams in the league and is leaving everyone behind.  Not only do the Blue Bombers have the league's most victories and remain undefeated at home, they also lead the CFL in scoring (offense) and rank first in the least number of points allowed (defense).

Now, that's dominance!

With Winnipeg destined to be the CFL's team to beat the rest of the season, the battle for second-best is quite a race.

Here's a glance at the standings heading into Week 10:

Which brings us to this week's CFL Power Rankings.

What follows are the complete power rankings #1 through #9 according to 3DownNation website.  Note the ranking from the previous week is also listed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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