Zach’s back: Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros returned from injury last week and immediately had one of the best games of the season. He made three big-time throws and led the league with a 91.2 overall PFF grade.

B.C.’s Mathieu Betts takes over game: The edge rusher not only recorded three sacks in his game, but he had nine total pressures and led the league with an 88.5 PFF pass-rush grade.

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With the B.C. Lions’ 27-22 victory over the Toronto Argonauts last week, the playoff teams are almost all set. Unless one of Calgary, Winnipeg or B.C. loses all its remaining games and Toronto wins out, one of those three will cross over to the East playoffs for the first time since 2019. Despite Hamilton and Saskatchewan each losing last week, both teams have officially clinched a home playoff game this year. 

This week saw a lot of impressive performances, which we’ll highlight here in this week’s Team of the Week. The Edmonton Elks led the way with seven players selected to the team, while Winnipeg was right behind them with five. Coincidentally, all four losing teams last week (Calgary, Toronto, Hamilton and Saskatchewan) all had exactly two players each make the team.

OFFENSE

QB: Zach Collaros, Winnipeg

RB: Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg

Receiver: Nic Demski, Winnipeg

Receiver: Tyler Snead, Montreal

Receiver: Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Edmonton

Receiver: Dillon Mitchell, Winnipeg

Receiver: Jake Herslow, Toronto

LT: Jarell Broxton, British Columbia

LG: Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton

C: Christopher Fortin, Calgary

RG: Jacob Brammer, Saskatchewan

RT: Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan

DEFENSE

DI: Jonah Tavai, British Columbia

DI: Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary

EDGE: Bradlee Anae, British Columbia

EDGE: Mathieu Betts, British Columbia

LB: Brock Mogensen, Edmonton

LB: Tyrice Beverette, Montreal

Cover LB: Kenneth Logan Jr., Edmonton

CB: J.J. Ross, Edmonton

CB: Kabion Ento, Montreal

HB: Destin Talbert, Hamilton

HB: Kobe Williams, Edmonton

S: Chelen Garnes, Edmonton

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Lirim Hajrullahu, Toronto

P: Jake Julien, Edmonton

Returner: Trey Vaval, Winnipeg

QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEK: QB ZACH COLLAROS, WINNIPEG

Making his return after missing two weeks recovering from a head injury, Zach Collaros came back to give the Bombers offense a much-needed spark. A week after backup QB Chris Streveler completed just 3-of-8 passes for 54 yards and an interception, Collaros went 20-of-25 for 367 yards and a touchdown.

Collaros had a ridiculous 86.4% accurate throw rate with an inaccurate throw rate of just 9.1%. Both of those marks led the league last week, as did his three big-time throws. He also avoided any turnover-worthy plays in leading Winnipeg to its blowout win. 

While Collaros had a tough start to the season, he’s bounced back nicely over the second half. Since Week 10, Collaros has the best big-time throw to turnover-worthy play rate (7.2% to 2.6% respectively), and his 90.9 PFF passing grade in that time ranks second among all quarterbacks. 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: RB BRADY OLIVEIRA, WINNIPEG

With the dominant performance from the Blue Bombers’ offense, it’s not a surprise to see last season’s Most Outstanding Player win this week’s OPOW. Oliveira had an excellent game across all phases of the contest. He rushed for 98 yards on 15 carries, forcing a missed tackle and gaining over 55% of his yards after first contact. That was good for a 76.3 PFF rushing grade.

He was just as good catching the ball, gaining 52 yards and forcing three missed tackles on four receptions out of the backfield. He also recorded a couple of good blitz pickups in pass protection. All in all, he finished with a very impressive 80.2 overall PFF grade this week.

While he may not be dominating defenses like he did last year, Oliveira is still in the midst of an impressive season. His 83.0 overall PFF grade on the year ranks second among all running backs. 

OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE WEEK: CALGARY STAMPEDERS

The Stampeders suffered a tough loss last week, their third straight. If there’s any positive to take away from the game, though, it’s that their offensive line was as dominant as ever. Calgary’s rushing attack led the CFL this week with an average of 4.0 yards before first contact, and the unit finished with a 75.0 PFF run-blocking grade.

The bunch was even better when dropping back to pass protect. As a whole, the Stampeders’ offensive line didn’t allow a sack, and surrendered just six total pressures on 38 dropbacks. That was good for a league-best 94.7 pass-blocking efficiency score and a 79.8 PFF pass-blocking grade that led all offensive lines. 

PASS RUSHER OF THE WEEK: EDGE MATHIEU BETTS, BRITISH COLUMBIA 

This award could have gone to any three of the Lions’ defensive linemen who earned a spot on the Team this week — that’s how dominant they were. In the end, it was Betts who stood out the most thanks to an impressive three sacks.

It wasn’t just sacks, though. Betts added a hit, five hurries and three additional pass-rush wins. His 22.7% pass-rush win rate trailed only teammate Bradlee Anae this week, while he led the league in pressure rate (20.4%), pass-rushing productivity score (13.6) and PFF pass-rush grade (88.5). 

Betts is currently the CFL’s league leader in total pressures with 62. His season-long 90.0 pass-rush grade ranks fourth.

RUN DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: HB WESLEY SUTTON, MONTREAL

Another week, another halfback winning the run defender award. With Calgary’s offensive line stifling Montreal’s defensive front, it fell on the secondary to help limit the rushing attack. Sutton responded in a big way.

He led the league with five total tackles in the run game. Moreover, Sutton recorded an 82.1 PFF run-defense grade, the highest in the league. Most importantly, with under 1:30 remaining in the game, he stripped the ball from Stamps short-yardage QB Quincy Vaughn on the goal line, snuffing out any chance of a Calgary comeback.

Sutton has been an excellent run defender all season long, ranking second with 33 total tackles and forcing two fumbles.

COVERAGE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CB KABION ENTO, MONTREAL

All season long, Kabion Ento has been one of the best coverage corners in the CFL. This game was no different.

Ento played 38 coverage snaps and allowed just two catches on four targets. He broke up a pass, made four tackles in the pass game and finished with a 72.3 PFF coverage grade. Ento allowed his matchup to get open on just 11.4% of his coverage snaps in the game. 

Ento has the third-highest coverage grade in the CFL this year at 85.4, with four interceptions and two other pass breakups.