How the playoff picture is shaping up down The Final Stretch

Very little is decided as we head down The Final Stretch.

With three weeks to go, only three teams have clinched playoff spots. Only two teams have been eliminated from contention. And an entire division is almost completely up for grabs.

In total, seven teams have either clinched or still have playoff life.

And as we enter Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend, here’s how things are shaping up for each one of them.

EDMONTON ELKS

11-4 | 1^ST WEST DIVISION
STATUS: PLAYOFF SPOT CLINCHED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: AT HAMILTON

The Elks are in the driver’s seat to win the West Division, a first-round playoff bye, and the right to host the Western Final on November 7. Their current magic number to clinch the division is two. That means any combination of Edmonton wins and BC losses totalling two does the job.

That number is down to one to guarantee at least a home playoff date at Commonwealth Stadium. The Elks will do that if they beat the Tiger-Cats on Friday or Saskatchewan loses on Thanksgiving Monday in Montreal.

The earlier Edmonton can wrap up the division the better. As soon as the Elks have a “Y” beside their name, head coach Mark Kilam can start making strategic roster decisions. Maybe that means resting players, maybe it’s dialling back workloads, or perhaps neither. But Kilam can’t start thinking about any of that until he knows his team’s ultimate playoff fate.

BC LIONS

9-6 | 2^ND WEST DIVISION
STATUS: UNDETERMINED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: VS. OTTAWA

Step one for the Lions is clinching a playoff spot, which they can do with a win at home Friday night. With no disrespect intended to the 0-15 REDBLACKS, this feels like a very likely scenario knowing BC has won eight of their last nine.

Next up would be securing a home playoff date, which will not be decided this weekend. From a potential tiebreak perspective, BC already owns the advantage on the Riders. A Week 20 rubber match would decide a tiebreaker with the Stampeders, if needed. The same is true for a Week 21 game with Winnipeg.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

8-7 | 3^RD WEST DIVISION
STATUS: UNDETERMINED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: AT MONTREAL

Things have become a little more urgent in Regina as their losing streak stretched to three games last weekend. Now a full game back of BC, and with Calgary hot on their heels, the Riders won’t be able to clinch a playoff spot this weekend even with a win and other results going their way.

That said, the defending Grey Cup champs need a win for psyche and morale more than anything else. And by getting to nine wins, even though it won’t be official, something drastic would have to happen for Saskatchewan to miss. But it all has to start with a victory, which won’t be easy on the road in Montreal.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

8-8 | 4^TH WEST DIVISION
STATUS: UNDETERMINED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: AT WINNIPEG

The Stamps would be hopping on a plane to play in the Eastern Semi-Final if the season were to end today. With a crossover confirmed for a second consecutive year, fourth in the West also serves as the league’s final playoff spot in 2026.

Strangely, Calgary could finish Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend with an “X” beside their name yet behind an un-clinched Riders squad in the West standings. That’s because the Stampeders are currently in full control of their destiny as a win Saturday night will clinch a playoff spot.

A loss to the Bombers, however, would drop Calgary back to fifth in the division and a perilous spot. Winners of three straight, the Stamps should be feeling good about all facets of their game. That’s especially true coming off an impressive win over the Riders last weekend.

It’s interesting to note Calgary closes out their regular season next week at home to the Lions before going on a Week 21 bye. A win on Saturday will significantly ease any feelings of helplessness for that weekend of observing.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

7-8 | 5^TH WEST DIVISION
STATUS: UNDETERMINED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: VS. CALGARY

While not technically an elimination weekend, realistically Winnipeg’s season is on the line Saturday. With their backs against the wall, the Bombers have the advantage of playing at Princess Auto Stadium absolutely needing a win.

A victory changes everything. It would put Winnipeg back in control with a magic number to clinch of just one with two games remaining.

A loss, however, will leave Winnipeg grasping at straws. Namely, the Blue Bombers would be holding onto the one advantage they won’t relinquish: the tiebreaker on Saskatchewan. That was confirmed due to point differential when the two teams met for their September home-and-home set.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

12-3 | 1^ST EAST DIVISION
STATUS: CLINCHED EAST DIVISION TOP SEED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: VS. SASKATCHEWAN

Everything is decided for Montreal from a playoff perspective. But there are still things to be figured out. The first will be how head coach Jason Maas wants to use his players down the stretch with three games to go and a first-round bye secured.

The second is fun but won’t overshadow preparations for a Grey Cup run. Receiver Tyson Philpot needs 302 receiving yards to break the CFL’s single-season record of 2,036, which was set by Calgary’s Allen Pitts in 1994. Currently at 1,735, Philpot needs slightly more than 100 yards per in Montreal’s final three games, which is less than his current average of 115.7.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

9-7 | 2^ND EAST DIVISION
STATUS: CLINCHED EAST DIVISION SECOND SEED
WEEK 19 OPPONENT: BYE

The Argos will be hosting a crossover playoff team in the Eastern Semi-Final on October 31. And with remaining games against Ottawa and Montreal, there’s literally nothing they can do to impact who they play in their home playoff game.

The main thing to watch will be how head coach Mike Miller manages his roster. That will be especially interesting in the case of quarterback Chad Kelly after he missed Toronto’s loss to the Lions last weekend with a hand injury.