First to worst, and worst to first?
That's a real possibility in the wild West with just two weeks remaining in the CFL regular season.
The Edmonton Elks (12-4), last-place finishers in 2025 as well as four of the past five years, can wrap up first in the division and hosting rights for the West final with one win in their final two games. They were the only West team to miss the playoffs last year.
Meanwhile, the reigning Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-8) have lost four in a row and are in danger of falling out of a playoff spot and into the West basement if their skid continues.
Making the storyline even juicier is the fact that the Elks' quarterback, Cody Fajardo, was sent packing from Saskatchewan after the 2022 season. He reemerged to lead the Montreal Alouettes to a surprise Grey Cup in 2023 and now has a shot to guide another team to another improbable championship.
"All I know is we had the (longest) odds to win the Grey Cup (at the start of the year)," Fajardo told reporters this week. "Here we are with a chance to (host) the West final. The last time this league did that to me, everybody else knows what happened. I take that stuff personal. We've got a good opportunity ahead of us against a good Winnipeg team (on Friday) and clinch the West and do something I don't think anybody outside this building thought we could do."
A win at home against Winnipeg would allow the Elks to rest starters next week and then have a bye before the West final.
But it won't be easy. The Blue Bombers are in a win-and-in scenario when it comes to the playoffs. A loss could put them in jeopardy in the final week — four of five West teams will make the playoffs as a result of the crossover rule.
Regardless of what transpires, the Elks are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and playing a home post-season game for the first time since 2015.
"I've been telling the guys this week, this is kind of like two games," Fajardo said. "Because if we find a way to win this football game, we guarantee ourselves that bye. So essentially you're winning the West semifinal by earning the bye week."
Meanwhile, the Roughriders desperately need to snap out of their funk to avoid becoming the second Grey Cup champ in a row to miss the playoffs in the year after their title campaign. The Toronto Argonauts missed in 2025 after winning in 2024, though they didn't have star quarterback Chad Kelly for all of '25 because of injury.
Fortunately for the Roughriders, they control their own destiny and may have a favourable schedule. Home wins against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday and the Elks next week would secure a post-season berth for Saskatchewan, and likely knock out the Calgary Stampeders, who need to beat the visiting B.C. Lions on Saturday and get some help to stay in the race.
The Als, who crushed the Roughriders 44-24 on Thanksgiving in Montreal, already have clinched first in the East and reportedly had backup QB Dustin Crum taking first-team reps at practice on Thursday ahead of CFL passing leader Davis Alexander.
The Roughriders' finale against the Elks also could see Saskatchewan facing an opponent in rest-for-the-playoffs mode.
Nevertheless, the Roughriders must rediscover how to win football games.
"It's about action and it's about doing it," Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris told reporters this week. "Because frankly I get tired of sitting here saying these certain things. Frankly, pissed off. You lose this many in a row, it frickin' pisses you off. You get tired of talking. Just do it. Whatever we're talking about that we're doing, whatever our culture is, whatever we're trying to focus on for the week, do it and do it well."
The Roughriders should get a boost with the help of a healthy receiving corps. Sam Emilus (leg) and KeeSean Johnson (ankle) were cleared to play this week.
"Call me delirious if you want, but I believe in this group, I believe in this team and I will until the very end," Harris said.
Win first, worry later
The Stamps can only wish they'd be in the Roughriders' position.
Calgary's three-game win streak was snapped last week in Winnipeg, putting the Grey Cup hosts' fate out of their hands.
"We're trying to control what we can control, which means take care of your own business," Stamps general manager/head coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "I'm not in the business of predicting the future markets. It would have been nice obviously if you win last week. You have a little bit different feel.
"But we can still accomplish what we need to. Let's just take care of our business and play our best game."
Week 20 games
Toronto Argonauts (9-7) at Ottawa Redblacks (0-16), Friday, 7 p.m. ET
Rookie QB Bryson Barnes makes his starting debut for the Redblacks, who are two losses away from becoming the first team in CFL history to finish 0-16. Kelly returns for the Argos after missing the team's last game with a hand injury.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-8) at Edmonton Elks (12-4), Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT
The Blue Bombers notched a huge 33-28 win over Calgary last week to put themselves in position to extend their playoff streak to 10 seasons with a win here.
Montreal Alouettes (13-3) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-8), Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CST
Will the Als give star receiver Tyson Philpot (1,809 yards) a full game to chase a big record? Former Stamps star Allen Pitts has the record of 2,036 receiving yards in a season, set in 1994.
B.C. Lions (10-6) at Calgary Stampeders (8-9), 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT
A Winnipeg loss or Lions win gives B.C. a home playoff game. Nathan Rourke and the Lions have won nine of their past 10.
