Contenders vs Pretenders – Week 5

Contenders vs Pretenders – Week 5

Published: Wednesday, Jul 5th 2023, 6:07pm

By Alex Dormuth (@RealAlexD) 

 

Only 3 games this past week due to the Canada Day long weekend, but we still had a change to one of the teams. Here is Week 5 of Contenders vs Pretenders (listed in alphabetical order)

 

BC Lions – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

I won’t let a blip on the radar drop them out. Yes, Vernon Adams Jr. threw 6 interceptions, with more than half of them being just awful decisions, but he’ll learn from that. Even in a disastrous game, he still threw for nearly 400 yards and 3 TDs. They’ll be fine and are still the best team in the West (for now). 

 

Calgary Stampeders – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

Nothing changes here on a bye week. They’ve suffered a TON of injuries, especially on offense and it’s going to be too much to handle. Jake Maier isn’t good enough to overcome that. Luckily for the Stamps, there’s three worse teams than them.

 

Edmonton Elks – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

What a disaster this team is. I still don’t get the rationale of benching your QB after he finally plays well, but that’s Chris Jones for you. Losing the guaranteed win night in Ottawa (and looking really awful in the process) cements Edmonton at the bottom of every Power Rankings you’ll see this week.

 

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

Same as Calgary and Saskatchewan, their status won’t change after a bye week. Not that Bo Levi Mitchell was lighting it up by any means, but they are better with him running the show. They need him back and fast if they want to catch up to Montreal in the East.

 

Montreal Alouettes – Pretenders (Last Week – Contenders)

Am I going to flip flop them after every win/loss? Maybe. I still think the Als are the 2nd best team in the East, but until they get their O-Line to protect Cody Fajardo, they are going to have some really tough days. Even with a tough day (and a monsoon), they were in that game with Winnipeg until the end. They aren’t that far off, but have another tough matchup against the Lions.

 

Ottawa Redblacks – Pretenders (Last Week – Pretenders)

They finally won at home!! It was against a team that should be relegated, but they won at home nonetheless! I just can’t see how they will beat literally any of the other 7 teams in the league right now, even with QB Jeremiah Masoli making his return this week.

 

Saskatchewan Roughriders – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

There’s just something about this team this year. Okay, it’s Trevor Harris. But they have this weird aura around them. While they’re very clearly the third best team in the West right now and do have their issues with injuries (and coaching decisions), I can’t help but think that this is a team that is going to be a very tough out in the playoffs.  

 

Toronto Argonauts – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

I had them losing to BC and Corey Mace must have heard that. WOW! What a performance from the Argos against the Lions on Monday. I’ll admit it (again)… I was wrong about Chad Kelly. He’s only 4 starts into his CFL career, but he’s really looking like he has command of this team and he’s making good decisions. The very clear best team in the East Division.

 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Contenders (Last Week – Contenders)

Still the 2nd best team in the West after their win in Montreal, but that 17-3 win didn’t impress me one bit. If it weren’t for a horrible INT thrown at the goal line by Fajardo, Montreal would have had a shot in this one. But, like I’ve said about the Riders this year, good teams find ways to win and the Bombers did just that. They just don’t feel as daunting as they have the last few years.