CFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Alouettes in League of Their Own, Lions Slip Significantly

From controversy to blowouts, from upsets to major injuries, Week 10 in the CFL had all of it as we continue to unlearn and learn whatever it is we think we know about this beautiful league.

When the dust settled, Thursday seemed like a reasonable amount of time to catch our breath. The NFL wouldn’t allow that, as the Atlanta Falcons cut QB Nathan Rourke, which set the CFL world on fire. In the midst of quarterback injuries, his former team, the B.C. Lions, signed Rourke, adding even more intrigue to this 2024 season.

With that little news note out of the way, let’s get into a wild edition of this week's power rankings.

1. Montreal Alouettes (8-1)

Photo byRaymond PetrikonUnsplash

With Cody Fajardo’s return looming, a quarterback controversy may be in the works in Montreal. QB Davis Alexander has stepped in seamlessly, which has resulted in the Alouettes not missing a step without their star behind center.

Charleston Rambo has been a breakout player in the CFL the last few weeks, most recently catching six passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. This could not have come at a better time, as star receiver Tyson Philpot left last week with an injury.

The defense continues to allow this team to work through offensive injuries. The Als are second in points allowed per game, yards allowed per game, and passing yards allowed per game. They are also third in interceptions and fumbles recovered which gives them a +9 turnover ratio, which is second in the CFL.

2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3-1)

Rider fans across the nation are screaming at the CFL command center this week, feeling that they were robbed of a victory last week against the Redblacks. The game ended in a 22-22 tie, and with a Lions loss, that tie was enough to put them back in first in the West Division.

QB Shea Patterson has done a good job holding down the fort for injured QB Trevor Harris without having to be great. He threw for 299 yards, two scores, and three picks on Thursday, which was enough to help the Riders climb back into first. A.J. Ouellette is still out with an injury, which has kept the running game from reaching its full potential. Backup RB Hickson ran for only 23 yards on 12 carries last week.

As good as Patterson has been in relief, the defense is the real reason this team is still competing for a bye in the playoffs. They will be tested this Friday as the Alouettes come to town and hopefully with Trevor Harris back behind center.

3. Ottawa Redblacks (5-2-1)

As much as Ottawa can thank the CFL command center for bailing them out Thursday night, their record is what it is, and they deserve it. They haven’t lost since Week 5, and all phases are pulling their weight.

A scary moment came on Thursday when Dru Brown went down with an injury. No disrespect to backup Dustin Crum, but if Brown is out for a prolonged period of time, this is a huge hit to their offense. The Redblacks are middle of the pack in offense as it is, but with the leaps Brown has taken throughout the season, this may be hard to overcome.

Defensively, the Redblacks are third in the CFL in every major category, and their defense will continue to be leaned on as the season goes on. This week, they head to Calgary to play a Stampeders offense that is undefeated at home in 2024.

4. Toronto Argonauts (5-4)

The Argos got a much-needed win at BMO Field against the Stamps after losing two of the previous three, including Week 9 against the same Stampeders. Where the Argos were shutout in the second half the week before, they exploded in that same half this week, outscoring Calgary 32-10 with a final score of 39-25.

Yet again, the Argos found a way to win despite mediocre quarterback play. QB Nick Arbuckle went 16-for-26, throwing for 181 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The special teams and running game produced what Toronto needed to get above .500%.

RB Ka’Deem Carey had 89 yards for 13 carries and a touchdown, while Janarion Grant had 152 return yards, including yet another touchdown. That brings Grants’ totals to 1,275 yards and 4 touchdowns, both of which lead the CFL. DaShaun Amos threw his hat in the offensive ring with a pick-six.

The Argos’ defense continues to make big plays at the right time to give the offense a chance. Statistically, their run and pass defense are polar opposites. They are first in the CFL in run defense, allowing only 69.2 yards per game, which is 10 full yards less than any other team. Their pass defense, on the other hand, is eighth in the CFL, allowing 296.2.

The Chad Kelly situation continues to loom, as the CFL has not yet decided whether to reinstate the former M.O.P. There’s a lot of speculation as to whether the team even wants him back, but we’ll leave that conversation for another day.

5. Calgary Stampeders (4-5)

It’s unfair to put the Blue Bombers above the Stampeders when they were on a bye week, so Calgary sits at No. 5. However, the Jeckle and Hyde nature of this team is what separates the Stamps from the true contenders. If they could find a way to put their best performance together week after week, this team could compete for the Grey Cup.

In Week 9, the Stampeders entered halftime against the Argos down 22-6 before closing the game with a 21-1 run. In Week 10, they went into the half up 15-7, but they gave up 32 points in the second half and lost by 14 points.

Jake Maier continues to show he is capable of big moments, but the wrong play at the wrong time continues to cost this team. He threw for 373 yards, one score, and one pick, but that one pick resulted in a pick-six with the game on the line. He is undefeated at home in 2024, which will be very welcomed this week against the Redblacks.

6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6)

Despite an 0-5 start to the season, the Bombers exit their bye 3-6 and are only one game back of the Stampeders for the third and final playoff spot. This week, they travel to Vancouver to play the Lions—the same Lions that they shut out in Winnipeg just two weeks ago.

7. B.C. Lions (5-4)

After a magical 5-1 start to the season, the Lions have lost three in a row, and since Week 6, they haven’t looked like the Grey Cup contenders we thought they were. QB Vernon Adams Jr. is still injured, which makes way for the much-anticipated star of former Lions QB Nathan Rourke.

Rourke set the league on fire in 2022 before heading south to take a shot at the NFL. In his rookie and only season in the CFL, Rourke completed 78.7% of his passes, throwing for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in just 10 starts. He also ran for 304 yards and seven touchdowns.

The good news is that his playing style is very similar to that of Adams Jr., and he knows this offense well. Whatever rust he may have, he is still a significant upgrade from the Lions' current quarterback room. In Adams Jr.’s absence, receivers Hollins and McInnis have seen a significant drop in their production. Against a stingy Bombers defense, Rourke will have to get everyone involved early and often.

8. Edmonton Elks (2-7)

The ‘Tre Ford Era’ took a hit last week as the quarterback left the game due to a rib injury and remains day-to-day. Bethel-Thompson played well in relief, but there’s no denying that Ford’s insertion into the lineup brought new life to the season for the Elks. From Week 1 to Week 9, the Elks scored over 30 points just twice. They’ve scored 30-plus points in each of the last two weeks and travel to Hamilton on Saturday to play one of the CFL’s worst defenses.

The last two weeks have also seen their running game do a complete one-eighty. Two weeks ago, they averaged under 70 yards rushing per game. In just two games dominating on the ground, they have boosted that number up to 105.0. Javon Leake has run for 266 yards and four touchdowns over the last two games, while Justin Rankin has 137 yards of his own in that same stretch.

9. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-7)

If Edmonton keeps going the way they’re going, there’s a good chance the Ti-Cats won’t leave this nine-hole for the rest of the season. After winning two games straight, bringing their record to 2-5, they lost back-to-back games to Montreal and looked rather lifeless doing so.

To make matters worse, it seems like they waved the white flag when they benched quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell for Taylor Powell, who will make the start this week against the Elks. Mitchell’s first drive wasn’t pretty, but that is more than fair. But in the big picture, Mitchell is far from the problem in Hamilton. The Ti-Cats are first in the CFL in pass yards per game, and Mitchell leads the CFL with 2,522 yards and 18 touchdowns.

On the flip side, the Tiger-Cats defense is last in the CFL in points allowed, clocking in at 31.9 per game. The defense has been a disaster for Hamilton all year, and no change in quarterback is going to fix that.

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Article originally written by Marc Sautter