Contenders vs Pretenders – Week 13

Contenders vs Pretenders – Week 13

Published: Monday, Aug 28th 2023, 4:08pm

By Alex Dormuth (@RealAlexD) 

 

Another week gone and the standings get a bit tighter. Was there enough going on to make a change this week to any team?

 

BC Lions – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

Well, I don’t think anyone saw BC getting destroyed at home by a bad Ticats team, but here we are. Two straight losses will always get my ears perked up, but right now, not enough to make them a pretender. Go into Montreal and lose… not only could the Riders be one game behind you, but I might not have a choice but to drop you down.

 

Calgary Stampeders – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

For some reason, they play their best ball against the Argonauts, Jake Maier included. It’s a shame they don’t play them more often because that’s the Maier I’d like to see all the time. But alas, another L and another week as a CFL Pretender.

 

Edmonton Elks – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

Two straight wins (FINALLY AT HOME! I’M LEGIT HAPPY FOR YOU, ELKS FANS!) and all of a sudden, the Elks can pass the Stampeders in the West with a win on Labour Day… and they’d be firmly in the playoff talk. Wow. If Steve is right and they win 4 in a row… well, I won’t necessarily move them to the Contenders list, but I’ll do something!

 

Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

The Ticats FINALLY realized that James Butler is good. Why they haven’t been using him when they’ve been on their backup QBs all year is beyond me, but maybe with Scott Milanovich calling plays, we’ll see more of it… and that could somehow launch this bad team into talks of a home playoff game. Wild.

 

Montreal Alouettes – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

I’m not going to swap them this week after losing in a place that very few teams win in lately. What concerns me is some of the awful throws from Cody Fajardo, but they have enough talent on both sides of the ball to give Toronto some issues in the East Final.

 

Ottawa Redblacks – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

The Redblacks are now the answer to a sports history trivia question after being the team to lose to the Elks at Commonwealth. Teams now have their film on Dustin Crum and seem to have very few issues with him now. Hopefully he isn’t a flavour of the week after his 2 wins, but it’s sure starting to look that way.

 

Saskatchewan Roughriders – *Contenders (Last Week – *Contenders)

They stay as a conditional Contender following their bye week as I hope they find their focus again this week against the Bombers in the annual Labour Day Classic. If they come out of the bye with the same intensity they showed against BC and keep the LDC close or even win, I’ll drop the *.

 

Toronto Argonauts – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

Javon Leake is an absolute treat to watch! So is Chad Kelly and the offense. The defense is an adventure, because they can show up or they are getting roasted deep, but either way it’s fun! Coach Ryan Dinwiddie has these guys playing at an incredibly elite level and I really hope people in Toronto take notice. 

 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

Another statement game at home by the Bombers after crushing Montreal. I knew they’d win, but I thought the Als would keep it close. Zach Collaros is the front runner for MOP and their bounce back ability after a bad play is incredible. They’re going to be TOUGH to beat in the playoffs again.