After Week 13: CFL Power Rankings (Blue Bombers Still on Top After Bye)
For the tenth consecutive week, Winnipeg remains the undisputed class of the CFL, while Saskatchewan moves to number two
The Canadian Football League completed Week 13 of the 2021 regular season.
Nothing's changed at the top in more than two months. It's all Winnipeg. A Blue Bomber explosion.
The bottom of the standings is also unchanged. The Elks suck. They're worse than the RedBlacks and are now rated as the CFL's worst team. Ouch!
Winnipeg, coming off a bye, owns the CFL's best record, at 10-1 and looks unstoppable. The Blue Bombers are making a mockery out of the regular season. 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). Winnipeg has been very stingy on defense, allowing just 126 points in 11 games.
Here's the current standings as of Wednesday morning:
Can any team catch Winnipeg? It sure doesn't seem so based on what we've seen. so far.
This now brings us to this week's CFL Power Rankings.
What follows are the complete power rankings #1 through #9 according to 3DownNation website. The big move was the Montreal Alouettes dropping after a loss while the Saskatchewan Roughriders moved up to #2.
In the rankings, note the position from the previous week is also listed in parenthesis.
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)
When you are the most dominant team in the league, you can put your feet up on a bye without ever worrying about losing your power rankings crown. Even on a break the Bombers got a win, with the league granting a time change for their already clinched West Final appearance.
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (T-2)
It wasn’t particularly pretty, but the Riders hung on for a hard fought win over the Alouettes thanks to some stifling defence and a potent pass rush. The offence is still a question mark however and could be more so after receiver Kyran Moore suffered a serious knee injury.
T-3. Toronto Argonauts (6)
Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie almost gave away a victory with some embarrassing clock management in the final minute, but the Toronto Argonauts still pulled it out in overtime. Thanks to a Dion Pellerin two-point conversion, the Boatmen are playoff bound for the first time since 2017.
T-3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5)
Hamilton’s recent winning streak may have come against duds like Ottawa and now Edmonton, but they’ve done it in dominant fashion. Most importantly, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is finally firing on all cylinders at just the right time.
5. Calgary Stampeders (4)
A matchup with the Ottawa Redblacks felt like a trap and an early deficit proved it, but the Stampeders stormed back for another decisive victory. Along the way, defensive end Shawn Lemon entered some elite company with his 77th career sack.
6. Montreal Alouettes (T-2)
A loss to the Riders makes the Alouettes this week’s biggest faller but that may not be their biggest worry. A sub-par outing from Matthew Shiltz’s led to newly acquired Trevor Harris being pushed into action in his very first game.
7. B.C. Lions (7)
Having now suffered five straight losses, the B.C. Lions’ playoff hopes are slipping away and the recipe for for a consistent offence (or kicking game) seems out of reach. At least this loss took overtime, rather than a blowout.
8. Ottawa Redblacks (8)
No Marcel Desjardins, same old Redblacks thanks to the talent he left them. Without a viable quarterback or offensive line there will be no winning in the nation’s capital, but at least they have cool Halloween costumes.
9. Edmonton Elks (9)
Welcome to Edmonton, where the most exciting part of games now is when their star running back goes WWE Smackdown on linebackers. Things just keep getting worse in the City of (former) Champions.
