Heading into the 17th week of the CFL season, the once-undefeated Edmonton Eskimos snapped their six-game losing streak and the Montreal Alouettes were officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Here’s how the league’s nine teams stack up based on recent form.
| Rank | Team | Previous | |
| 1 |  |
The Stampeders didn’t play this week, but were big winners with Winnipeg’s loss. Calgary is now five points clear of second place with four games to go. Considering Calgary has secured all but three available points this season its lead is very secure. |
1 |
| 2 |  |
Mike O’Shea should be equally concerned with Matt Nichols’s injured throwing hand as he is his team’s surprisingly uninspired performance versus Saskatchewan. Dom Davis is the backup quarterback in Winnipeg and the West standings could be thrown out of whack if he is forced in to action. The Bombers have the toughest remaining schedule with two home games against the B.C. Lions and matches versus the East-leading Toronto Argonauts and the West-leading Calgary Stampeders. |
2 |
| 3 |  |
No matter what Chris Jones says there is a full-blown quarterback controversy in Saskatchewan. Torontonian Brandon Bridge came off the bench to overcome a 10-point deficit in a win over the Argos. After starter Kevin Glenn was just three of eight passing for 29 yards before being replaced by Bridge completed 20 of 28 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns in relief. Jones has got ahead of the story and said Glenn remains the starter, but his leash continues to get shorter as Bridge outplays expectations. |
3 |
| 4 |  |
The Eskimos ended their losing skid with a win against the only team struggling worse than they were, the Montreal Alouettes. The Eskimos showed character fighting back from an early 15-point deficit on the road. That character win might be what turns their fortunes around down the stretch. |
5 |
| 5 |  |
Toronto has a stranglehold on the East with the tiebreaker on all eastern teams. Now the Argos’ schedule gets tough as their remaining four games are all against the West. |
4 |
| 6 |  |
It’s just as likely the Redblacks finishes first and hosts games all the way up until Grey Cup in the nation’s capital as it is they miss the playoffs altogether. A big road win in B.C. keeps Ottawa afloat in the East, but it does have a game in hand on its division foes. Ottawa is staying out west and practising in Regina before taking on the Riders this week. |
7 |
| 7 |  |
If this is Wally Buono’s last season at the helm, this is not how he wants it to end. The Lions blew a 19-point lead to lose at home in a game they had to win to realistically keep their playoff hopes alive. Every week it seems B.C. finds a way to lose late. With four games left, the Lions have no more room for error. |
6 |
| 8 |  |
Hamilton almost had twice as much time of possession in its win over Winnipeg mainly because Jeremiah Masoli led three drives that started backed up inside the Ticats’ own 10-yard-line. In Hamilton, there is so much talk about what to do with Zach Collaros and the potential of Johnny Manziel. The quarterback who is currently playing at the highest level in the league is Masoli, and if they miraculously get back in the post-season after spending the majority of the season winless the Samoan signal caller will be the reason. 2017 record: 4-10 |
8 |
| 9 |  |
The Alouettes officially eliminated from the playoffs with three games to go. What’s sad is they were eliminated at home in front of less than 19,000 fans. What’s even sadder is franchise sack leader John Bowman, who may retire in the off-season, was seen crying on the bench. What a turn of events for the once model franchise. |
9 |
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