CFL power rankings: Sizing up the league after Labour Day weekend

Labour Day weekend signals the unofficial start of the CFL's playoff race. There are eight weeks remaining with plenty of drama to unfold as teams jockey for seeding. We break down the contenders for the 111th Grey Cup in the latest edition of theScore's CFL power rankings.

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1. Montreal Alouettes

Labour Day weekend had to be extra relaxing for the Alouettes, who had a bye week and remain atop the league standings. The reigning champs haven't taken any vacations since the start of their season, picking up where they left off last year. Even more frightening, the red-hot Als can put up points regardless of whether it's Cody Fajardo or Davis Alexander at quarterback.

Notorious for their sluggish starts, the Alouettes have perfected the art of the comeback, most recently recording 15 second-half points in Week 12. Montreal clinched a playoff spot and is on pace to capture home-field advantage in its quest for back-to-back titles.

2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Two-time CFL MOP winner Zach Collaros was knocked out of Sunday's matchup against the Roughriders with an undisclosed injury. Winnipeg held off a second-half surge by Saskatchewan for the win, moving into first place in the West.

Brady Oliveira has stepped up for the Bombers, topping 100 rushing yards in four games this season. Despite posting an uncharacteristically mediocre 6-6 record, the Bombers are in an advantageous position with tiebreakers over the Calgary Stampeders and Roughriders. Collaros' status for the Banjo Bowl looms large for a franchise that's accustomed to competing for Grey Cups.

3. Ottawa Redblacks

Head coach Bob Dyce's culture-building efforts are starting to pay dividends. The Redblacks' 7-3-1 record entering Week 14 is the second-best mark by a Ottawa franchise since the 1978 Roughriders started 9-2. It's still possible for Ottawa to host a home playoff game this season after going 4-14 in 2023.

The Redblacks harassed the Lions at TD Place in Week 12, and BC responded by routing Ottawa in their rematch at Touchdown Pacific. The impressive part of the six-game undefeated streak Ottawa brought into Saturday's loss is how well the team played through injuries. Meanwhile, quarterback Dru Brown has performed admirably since returning from injury a few weeks ago.

4. Toronto Argonauts

Quarterback Chad Kelly was controversially reinstated with conditions ahead of Week 12 after serving a nine-game suspension for violating the league's gender-based violence policy. Toronto's defense has played well - that is, until the team traveled down the QEW for the Labour Day Classic.

The Boatmen fell behind their bitter rivals early after an underwhelming start and left Tim Hortons Field with a stunning loss to Hamilton. Toronto remains third in the division despite Monday's defeat. With a 1-4 record away from BMO Field, the Argos need to figure out their identity if they hope to avoid yet another swift postseason exit.

5. BC Lions

After beginning the season 5-1, BC rode a five-game skid into the holiday weekend. Despite the fanfare surrounding Nathan Rourke's return from his NFL journey, the immediate results were more concerning than comforting, with losses in his first two starts.

Rourke appeared to find his footing in front of his hometown crowd in Victoria, British Columbia. The 2022 Most Outstanding Canadian put on a show, accounting for 354 total yards and four total TDs. The Lions' defense also stood tall in the win, racking up four sacks in Mathieu Betts' return. The victory could be the positive momentum the Lions need to push toward the top spot in the West. The dream of playing at home for the 111th Grey Cup remains alive, but BC lacks tiebreaker advantages, so racking up wins is crucial.

6. Edmonton Elks

The Elks have played inspired football since firing general manager and head coach Chris Jones in July. Winners of four of their past five outings, their recent success has come amid a rash of key injuries, including one to quarterback Tre Ford.

After McLeod Bethel-Thompson shredded Calgary's defense with a career-high 486 passing yards and three TDs, Edmonton faces a quandary at QB: Should head coach Jarious Jackson stick with Bethel-Thompson or go back to Ford when he's fully healthy? Four points is all that separates the bottom two teams in the West from first place. The Elks' resilience seems to be paying off.

7. Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Roughriders' recent skid is head-scratching, to say the least. Their current 0-5-1 run features several narrow margins, including losses by a single point and a missed field goal, but the defense has played admirably. Meanwhile, quarterback Trevor Harris has been uneven since returning from injury.

The Riders fell short Sunday against Winnipeg and will turn their attention to the Banjo Bowl to keep their playoff ambitions alive. The defense has played admirably amid their losing stretch. The honeymoon for head coach Corey Mace is over as pressure mounts to restore the Green and White to prominence with six games left.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The Tiger-Cats authored their best performance of the season in their Labour Day Classic showdown with the Argos. Bo Levi Mitchell delivered a throwback performance, passing for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Hamilton is just three games back of a playoff spot in the East and owns an important tiebreaker over Toronto.

The Ticats' defense has flashed in the takeaway department since former Elks coach Chris Jones took over as defensive coordinator. Closing out games needs to remain a priority if the club is genuinely going to contend for a playoff spot. In the short term, Monday's outing makes head coach Scott Milanovich's choice of starting quarterback all the more difficult with Taylor Powell set to return.

9. Calgary Stampeders

The Stampeders were not at their best on Labour Day, and head coach Dave Dickenson questioned their effort after an overall lackluster performance against Edmonton. He specifically called out Jake Maier, who threw four interceptions to just one touchdown. It didn't help that Calgary's defense surrendered 586 yards of net offense to the Elks.

Roster changes are coming, but it remains to be seen which positions will be affected. The Stampeders (4-7) are in desperate need of a spark if they hope to salvage their 2024 campaign.