CFL Power Rankings – Week 11

The CFL has been the gift that just keeps giving so far in 2022, and week 11 was just a continuation of that. It brought us some more great finishes, but it also was the start of a handful of quarterback controversies that have the chance to shake the foundation of what we think we know about this season. Buckle up, because it isn’t even Labor Day yet. Here are your week 11 power rankings.

9. Ottawa Redblacks

A loss at home to the Edmonton Elks really feels like rock bottom for the Ottawa Redblacks. Where can you even start right now? All of that hope at the start of the season has vanished, and now sitting at 1-8 halfway through the season, even the world’s most optimistic people are starting to believe the playoffs are no longer possible. It’s a real shame, because the people of Ottawa continue to show up to TD Place, and they deserve something better. Perhaps there’s some solace in the return of DeVonte Dedmon to the team? But even then, it won’t be enough to soothe the wounds in the nation’s capital.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

In the past couple of weeks, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have looked much improved, and that’s somewhat unexpected considering it has been in the absence of their starting quarterback, Dane Evans. Perhaps they are starting to get into the territory of no longer calling Evans their starter, and instead transferring that role to Matthew Shiltz, who has stepped in and played admirably in the past two games. In Montreal in week 11, it seemed like the Cats were going to leave with two points, but they allowed Trevor Harris to drive down the field with less than a minute to play. Still, they can control their own destiny, and the next two games against the Toronto Argonauts could flip the fate of the black and gold.

7. Edmonton Elks

It wasn’t pretty, and Chris Jones and the fans wouldn’t have been too thrilled with the first half of the game, but the Edmonton Elks pulled off a win in Ottawa, getting themselves back into the fight for a playoff spot. The importance of this win cannot be understated, especially with the Saskatchewan Roughriders losing in the nightcap game. After completing just three passes in the first half, Taylor Cornelius finished the game with a stat line reading 16/27 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps they could mix Kai Locksley into the quarterback spot a little bit more often to get out of difficult spots, but hey, a win is a win.

6. Toronto Argonauts

The Toronto Argonauts have been sliding a little bit as of late, and while they do currently hold the number one spot in the East Division, their white-knuckled grip on it is slipping. The Argos have now lost three of their past four games, including one at the hands of the lowly Ottawa Redblacks, and they haven’t looked too inspiring since losing Andrew Harris for the rest of the season, either. It seems somewhat unfair to say they need more from McLeod Bethel-Thompson when he currently sits second in the league in passing yards, but you would like to see him put the ball in the endzone with a little bit more frequency. Just like they are for Hamilton, the next two games are massive for the double blue.

5. Saskatchewan Roughriders

It’s not like the Saskatchewan Roughriders can’t be a good football team, but you have to admit that it appears as if there’s a little trouble brewing right now. Benching Cody Fajardo in favor of Mason Fine was a bold move from Craig Dickenson, and it signals a level of distrust with their pivot. Now the questions are going to be brewing. Who starts in week 12? If it’s Fajardo, how long is the leash? What happens if Fine struggles? There’s a lot to unpack with that, but there’s one thing that’s certain, you don’t want to be going through a quarterback controversy when you’re trying to win a championship. No matter who the guy is for the Riders, they need to figure it out as soon as possible.

4. Montreal Alouettes

Somewhere, Gary Stern has the world’s biggest smile on his face. The Montreal Alouettes have felt like a team with so much potential since the start of the season, and after a win against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, there was an opportunity to continue on that good form against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It seemed like it was going to end in heartbreak, but the Als put together a fantastic drive, and they stole a win in front of a nice crowd of about 21,000 people. They have a bye week now to lick some of their wounds and get healthy, and when they get back to action in week 13, the chase for first place in the East Division will be on for the Alouettes.

3. Calgary Stampeders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders aren’t the only hopeful team in the CFL with a controversy under centre. The Calgary Stampeders couldn’t sit back and watch Bo Levi Mitchell struggle anymore in their game against the Toronto Argonauts in week 11, and they made the move to Jake Maier, who came in and finished a win for the Stamps. Dave Dickenson must now decide who will lead his team into battle against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in week 12 in what is essentially a must-win game if Calgary wants to keep their hopes of winning the West Division alive. Let’s see what he does. This week of practice would make a must-watch reality show.

2. BC Lions

Having one great quarterback in the CFL is always great, but in this league, you need a second who can step in and win some games. Nathan Rourke has been simply unstoppable this season, but with him suffering an injury that could keep him out for a little while, attention is turning to fellow Canadian, Michael O’Connor. The Lions said time and time again before the season that O’Connor was on the team not for his passport, but because he was legitimately a good quarterback. We haven’t had much of a chance to see that before, but now, the former UBC Thunderbirds pivot might get his chance.

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

It felt weird turning on the TV this weekend and not seeing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers play, after all, it really felt like they would be playing every single weekend for the rest of eternity based on the schedule in the first half of the season. Right now, the CFL is the Bombers’ world, and everyone else is just living in it. That being said, they have come off a loss to the suddenly red-hot Montreal Alouettes, and a big response against the Stampeders is needed to slam the door shut on any hopes the Stamps might have of getting back into the fight. Another loss would only stoke the fires.

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