CFL Beat: Week 13

I’m starting parental leave on Monday – still feels a bit surreal to me. In a parallel universe, this would mean sticking the kid in the backyard and watching football until my eyes fell out, but instead, I have to ensure I am never more that two feet from the boy at all times lest he start licking electrical outlets or grabbing plants by the stem to try and concuss himself with a falling pot to the noggin. So perhaps the fact I don’t let him do this means I love him, or something? Is this this unsettling feeling? Or is it just acid reflux? Whatever it is, it’s still better than whatever the hell the Ottawa REDBLACKS are doing out there on the football field.

In league news this week:

• The Ottawa REDBLACKS fired senior VP of football operations Shawn Burke as the team continues on its dismal winless 2026 season; since his arrival going into the 2022 season, the team has gone just 21-60-1; a terrible record with only a single playoff game in five seasons with the organization. Despite signing a contract extension through 2027, he’ll be watching from the sidelines elsewhere. The team announced former Alouettes GM Jim Popp, who built three Grey Cup-winning teams, made the playoffs 19 times and went to eight championship games in 21 seasons in Montreal, will be with the franchise as a senior football advisor as they plot a course forward as an organization.
• Facing a glut of injuries, the Saskatchewan Roughriders signed WR Shemar Bridges, who was recently released from Hamilton. Bridges had a fantastic 2024 season, where he was named Most Outstanding Rookie in the East Division, as well as an Eastern All-CFL selection, but tapered off notably in 2025, with significantly reduced production. Hopefully Bridges is able to find some chemistry with his new team.
• BC signed returner Lawrence Woods III, who spent four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2022-23 and 2024-25. A free agent for this season, Woods also found some success earlier in his career as a DB with Hamilton in a depth role in addition to his returning duties.

Onto the games!

WEEK 12 RECAPS

Ottawa 16 vs. Montreal 46: As predicted, the REDBLACKS got pummelled once again, with the offence listless and the Alouettes forcing five turnovers on the night. Jake Maier, with no pass TDs, a pick-six, and just 126 yards through the air, was yanked later in favour of McLeod Bethel-Thompson, but it straight up did not matter in the slightest for the REDBLACKS. The Alouettes did give up the first score of the game, but quick recovered by the end of the first quarter and were on cruise control for the remainder of the contest; Davis Alexander threw two majors to Tyson Philpot, Terry Wilson had two short-yardage scores, Travis Theis had 121 total yards and a TD, and Kabion Ento had the big pick-six for Montreal. It was yet again a full-team effort to get the job done, but once again, Montreal showed us why they’re the best team in the league this year.

PICK: Montreal

RESULT: Montreal

Winnipeg 19 vs. Edmonton 22: It was a tight one, but the Elks managed to come out on top in this one thanks to a key final drive, where Vincent Blanchard connected from 40 yards out to win it for the Elks on a field goal as the play clock ran out. Edmonton had been down by 16 points in the second quarter, but managed to chip away at Winnipeg’s lead over the second half to finally come out with the win. Credit to the Elks’ Cody Fajardo as well for getting his team back in it; he had a pass TD to Austin Mack to close out the first half, as well as a rushing score in the second half to tie the game at 16; moreover he found ways to move the ball and let his guys do the rest, including some timely kicks from Blanchard that ultimately sealed the deal. Too bad for the Bombers – it was otherwise a good defensive effort from this team, though only a single pass TD from Zach Collaros might be cause for concern moving forward; the majority of points can’t come from a kicker on a winning football team.

PICK: Edmonton

RESULT: Edmonton

Hamilton 20 vs. Toronto 39: Facing a storm delay that forced these teams to wait an hour to kick off this game, the Argos ended up taking this one in a walk as the Tiger-Cats’ offence sputtered once more. Toronto’s dominant second half really helped them run away with it, as Sex Pest Chad Kelly had quite the game, with three pass TDs, a rush TD, and an interception to spur the home side to victory. Hamilton continued to face inconsistent QB play, as Tre Ford, fresh off last week’s heroics against Saskatchewan, couldn’t find the same success against the Argos’ pass rush. Marc Liegghio had two field goals, while RB Larry Rountree and backup QB Jake Dolegala had one rushing TD each, but points were not easy to come by for the visitors. Ti-Cats fans need to hope and pray for Bo Levi Mitchell to try and come back before the end of the year in order to stave off a West crossover playoff berth knocking them from contention, because this current group of quarterbacks isn’t inspiring anyone in his absence.

PICK: Toronto

RESULT: Toronto

Saskatchewan 16 vs. BC 30: The Lions got revenge for their Week 2 loss, with the defence leading the way with three turnovers on the night. Nathan Rourke had over 300 passing yards and two TDs, while the Leos had two key interceptions on Trevor Harris as well as a forced fumble that helped to keep the Green & White at bay. Harris had just a single pass TD on the evening, while favourite target Sam Emilus, back from injury, had a few key catches but also left with another injury in this one – the bug is really starting to bite hard for Saskatchewan now, unfortunately. Surprising to see the Lions just a game back of the Riders now considering both teams’ widely disparate fortunes in the first half of the season.

PICK: Saskatchewan

RESULT: BC

BYE: Calgary (4-6)

WEEK 13 PREVIEWS

Montreal (9-1) vs. Winnipeg (5-5), Friday, August 28th, 8:30 PM EDT (TSN,  CFL+): Montreal’s the hottest – and best – team in the league this year. I see no reason why their success should be halted any time soon – especially against a team that hasn’t been able to put it together consistently in the red zone. It’s true that they still have the league’s best rusher in Brady Oliveira, but teams cannot win in this league with a run-first offence – not with a field this size and with this much motion off the snap. Oliveira needs help, and he’s not getting any. Zach Collaros may be finding his form a bit still after coming back from injury, but he hasn’t looked like the dominant QB he was for quite some time now.

PICK: Montreal

Hamilton (4-7) vs. Calgary (4-6), Saturday, August 29th, 3:00 PM EDT (TSN, CTV, CFL+): Perplexing that Calgary has such a good point differential and is still at the bottom of the West division – such is the peril of this league. Part of my pick hinges on the fact that none of Hamilton’s QBs have much of anything to offer right now, but this game will be very much a tossup if Vernon Adams, Jr. and Dedrick Mills are not back healthy for the Stamps. At the time of writing, it seems like Mills is close and Adams perhaps less so… but much can still change after a bye and some practise time. Never rush back from head injuries, kids.

PICK: Calgary

Toronto (5-5) vs. Saskatchewan (6-4), Saturday, August 29th, 7:00 PM EDT (TSN, CFL+): The Roughriders are one banged-up team right now. Are they a good team? Yes, I think so – but they’re going to need to weather the storm for a little while. This means that perhaps we may have to see a little bit more of a run game this week, as the Argos have been able to get their pass rush going a bit more effectively recently. It also may be necessary as Trevor Harris appears to be running out of guys to throw to off the snap. Still, I don’t like this Argos secondary and I think that Sex Pest Chad Kelly is just a more reckless Brett Favre – in more ways than one, I might add… It’s boom or bust with Toronto this year, it seems.

PICK: Saskatchewan

BC (5-5) vs. Ottawa (0-10), Sunday, August 30th, 7:00 PM EDT (TSN, CBSSN, CFL+): The Nathan Rourke Experience comes to the nation’s capital, where the defence will be picked apart like a charcuterie board at happy hour. While it was probably fair that former DC Will Fields did have to be dismissed for his unit’s miscues through the first half of the season, it is also noteworthy that the D has gotten even worse since his dismissal. The Lions are on a heater right now – and with Ottawa’s QB options looking miserable as well, I am fully expecting another blowout loss for these hapless hosts.

PICK: BC

BYE: Edmonton (8-3)

STANDINGS AND STATS

East Division Standings

West Division Standings

Passing Yards

1. Alexander, MTL – 3400
2. Fajardo, EDM – 3368
3. Kelly, TOR – 3226

Passing TDs

1. Adams, Jr., CGY – 22
2. Kelly, TOR – 21
3. Harris, SSK – 21

Rushing Yards

1. Oliveira, WPG – 850
2. Rankin, EDM – 791
3. Theis, MTL – 788

Receiving Yards

1. Philpot, MTL – 1229
2. Snead, MTL – 982
3. Mack, EDM – 892

Defensive Tackles

1. Pickett, TOR – 63
2. Darkangelo, TOR – 62
3. Brooks, Jr., SSK – 59

Sacks

1. Betts, BC – 7
2. Hicks, CGY – 7
3. Ceresna, WPG – 6

Interceptions

1. Katsantonis, HAM – 5
2. Ford, EDM – 5
3. Labrosse, CGY – 5

Field Goals

1. Castillo, WPG – 33
2. Blanchard, EDM – 32
3. Maltos Diaz, MTL – 24

PICK POOL

Some MAJOR standing shakeups from this past week, largely in part from two perfect weeks from the two people now occupying the top two spots in the standings. Intrigue!

Remember to submit your picks here! https://www.officepooljunkie.com/picks-pickem.php?Pool=NFA9D4OXO6C2U0A1

CFL FANTASY

In Week 12 matchups, Sacre Blew emerged victorious in a battle of basement dwellers, gaining a two-game lead on fifth place by taking down the last-place Superfluous “U”s 85-34. First-place O Spamada took down RoughRougesGTD in a 119-103 shootout win, while my glorious Maestrottawa squeaked by BC Dick’s Dead Horse with a nailbiting 93-92 win. Talk about sweating it out!

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Enjoy the games, everyone.