With just four weeks left in the CFL regular season, Week 18 delivered exactly what fans expected — drama, defensive swings, and major playoff movement. From Saskatchewan’s defensive statement to BC’s postseason-clinching win and Hamilton’s rivalry dominance, the standings across both divisions are starting to take shape.
Riders Steady the Ship
The Saskatchewan Roughriders snapped their brief skid with a 20-13 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS at TD Place on Friday night, maintaining their grip on first place in the West. Big-play defence set the tone early, as Antoine Brooks Jr. returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown — the first of three Rider picks on the night. Trevor Harris was efficient when it mattered most, throwing for 341 yards and a touchdown while surpassing the 4,000-yard mark on the season.
Receiver Dohnte Meyers did the heavy lifting in crunch time, piling up 127 of his 158 yards in the fourth quarter, including a 66-yard score that broke open a tight game. The win moved Saskatchewan to a CFL-best 11-4, while Ottawa fell to 4-11 and was officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Lions Punch Their Ticket
In Vancouver, the BC Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 38-24 win over the Calgary Stampeders. Nathan Rourke was electric, throwing for a season-high 414 yards and four touchdowns — his 27th through the air this year, a new career high. The Lions jumped out to a 25-point lead by halftime and never looked back, riding a balanced attack that saw four receivers top 60 yards.
While Calgary mounted a late push behind Vernon Adams Jr., BC’s defence shut the door with six sacks and three interceptions. Rookies Jackson Findlay and Robert Carter Jr. came up huge in the fourth quarter, each snagging timely picks to preserve the win. BC improves to 9-7 with four straight victories, while Calgary’s fourth consecutive loss drops them to 8-7 and tightens the West playoff chase.
Ticats Take the Battle of Ontario
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats rebounded from a rough Week 17 showing with a 47-29 win over the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field, sweeping the season series and eliminating their rivals from playoff contention. Kenny Lawler hauled in two touchdowns — bringing his league-leading total to 13 — while Hamilton’s defence overwhelmed the Argos with nine sacks and three interceptions from safety Stavros Katsantonis.
Bo Levi Mitchell efficiently guided the Ticats’ offence, pushing Hamilton to 9-7 and keeping them within striking distance of first in the East. Toronto fell to 6-9, their playoff hopes extinguished after back-to-back defeats.
The Standings Tighten
As the dust settles on Week 18, Saskatchewan (11-4) remains in control of the West, followed by BC (9-7), Calgary (8-7), Winnipeg (8-7), and Edmonton (6-9). In the East, Hamilton (9-7) is leading Montreal (8-7) for the top spot, while Toronto (5-11) and Ottawa (4-11) are now officially out.
With three weeks to go, every snap matters — and the road to the 112th Grey Cup is getting narrower by the day.
