CFL WEEK 13: POWER RANKINGS

Welcome back CFL Fans! Week 12 is all wrapped up with a few significant changes in the CFL Power Rankings going into week 13. The top 3 positions are hotly contested by Winnipeg, Calgary and BC, as they have been since the first week of the season.

The middle of the pack is a toss up from week to week with the Argo’s, Riders, Alouettes, and Tiger-Cats juggling the 4th to 7th spots in the PR’s. After 12 weeks of competition, it appears that the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks are in a “death roll” battle for 8th. As usual, @TheBrysh has recapped the week 12 performances and recalculated the Power Rankings going into week 13. Let’s have a look how things have shaken out!

THE BATTLE FOR 2ND IN THE WEST

Week 12 started out with a bang! The 6-3 Calgary Stampeders travelled to Winnipeg to take on the 1st place, 9-1 Blue Bombers at IG Field. As predicted , this turned out to be the matchup of the week, featuring a back-and-forth battle that will have consequential influence on the top 3 PR’s.

The Stampeders sat QB Bo Levi Mitchell and started backup Jake Maier, who has performed well of late. Maier had an impressive game with 294 yards passing, 82% completion rate and a 3:0 TD to INT ratio. This was not enough to top the Bombers, as QB Zach Collaros answered with 294 yards of his own to keep them in the game. In the end, it was QB Dakota Prukop who put the Blue Bombers in control for good with a 2 yard TD ramble in the 4th quarter.

October 18 2014: Bombers Johnny Sears Jr. (0) returns a punt during the Calgary Stampeders vs Bombers game at the Investors Group Field in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

At BC Place, the 8-1 Lions hosted the visiting 5-5 Saskatchewan Roughriders, in a rematch of their week 11 battle at Mosaic Stadium. Saskatchewan was hungry for a revenge victory, and looking to climb toward the top 3 in the West.

With star QB Nathan Rourke sidelined with injury and undergoing surgery, the Lions had their work cut out for them. Saskatchewan’s QB Cody Fajardo, has been battling fatigue and injury this season, but turned things around Friday night.

Fajardo managed 321 yards passing with 2 TD’s and a 79% completion rate. Riders RB Frankie Hickson had a “quantum leap” performance with 129 rushing yards on 15 carries. The offensive push was too much for the Lions to handle, and the Riders took a 23-16 victory.

REGINA, SK – JULY 20: Solomon Elimimian #10 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrates after making a tackle in the game between the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on July 20, 2019 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Brent Just/Getty Images)

TIGER-CATS @ ARGONAUTS

The 3-7 Hamilton Tiger-Cats visited the 4-5 Toronto Argonauts in week 12, this match has the potential to shake up the already unstable East Division. Favoured by 3 points, the Argo’s fell behind the Tiger-Cats 19-13, half way into the 3rd quarter.

Hamilton’s backup QB Matthew Shilz took over the reigns when QB Dane Evans was picked off 3 times. Shilz looked impressive in his short appearance completing 13 of 15 for 258 yards and a TD. In the 3rd quarter, Argo’s DB Jamal Peters intercepted a Dane Evans pass for the 3rd time of the night. With possession of the ball, Toronto turned up the heat to take a convincing win, 37-20, thanks to a 258 yards passing performance by QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 12: Matt Boateng #28 and Jeff Richards #23 of the Toronto Argonauts tackle Steven Dunbar Jr. #82 of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after a pass reception as Crezdon Butler #24 of the Toronto Argonauts looks on during the second half at BMO Field on November 12, 2021 in Toronto, Canada. Toronto defeated Hamilton 31-12. (Photo by John E. Sokolowski/Getty Images)

THE BATTLE FOR THE 8TH POSITION

The 3-7 Edmonton Elks hosted the 1-8 Ottawa Redblacks at Commonwealth Stadium in a rematch of the week 11 game. Last week at TD Place Stadium, the Elks defeated the Redblacks 30-12, and Ottawa was keen on retribution.

The Elks were hoping to break a 12 game losing streak at home, but this week would not help them out of the slump .QB Nick Arbuckle got his first start with Ottawa and completed 21 of 32 passes for 219 yards. Edmonton WR Kenny Lawler made some impressive receptions finishing the game with 146 yards, but could not find the end zone. The Redblacks demonstrated greater ball control and took the decision 25-18.

OTTAWA, ON – AUGUST 19: Ottawa Redblacks offensive lineman Ucambre Williams (61) prepares to block Edmonton Elks defensive lineman Thomas Costigan (95) during Canadian Football League action between the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks on August 19, 2022, at TD Place at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

WEEK 13 POWER RANKINGS

With a week 12 victory the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are solidified in 1st. A close decision for the Calgary Stampeders and a BC Lions loss calls for a changing of the guard in the number 2 position. Toronto’s win solidifies them at number 4, while the Riders victory over the Lions moves then up to 5th. Montreal and Hamilton both drop one spot to 6th and 7th respectfully. The battle for 8th continues, and week 13 sees Ottawa with a slight advantage over Edmonton.