The Edmonton Elks continue to prove they can win in different ways.

On Friday night, Edmonton earned a hard-fought 19-17 victory over the BC Lions to improve to 5-1. The win gave the Elks a measure of revenge after BC handed them their first loss of the season, a 36-24 defeat just two weeks earlier.

More importantly, it showed Edmonton can win in more than one way. Justin Rankin didn’t put up the eye-popping numbers fans have come to expect. The CFL’s leading playmaker was limited to just seven carries for nine rushing yards as the Lions once again focused on taking away Edmonton’s running game.

However, BC still couldn’t keep him quiet

Rankin caught six passes for 46 yards. According to CFL game statistics, every one of those 46 receiving yards came after the catch. Once again, he showed why he is one of the league’s most dangerous all-around weapons.

His production looked different. His impact did not. The biggest difference from the first meeting between these teams was the way Edmonton responded.

Two weeks ago, the Elks were forced into obvious passing situations after falling behind early. This time, they stayed patient, trusted their defense, and found another path to victory. That defense delivered one of its best performances of the season.

Edmonton recorded four sacks for 28 lost yards and consistently pressured the BC quarterback. Including te first sack for Malik Carney, as an Elk. The Elks also held the Lions to just 213 net yards of offense, preventing explosive plays and forcing BC to earn every yard.

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Championship teams find ways to win when their stars don’t post career numbers. That’s exactly what Edmonton did. The Elks have built their identity around balance. Rankin remains one of the CFL’s most dynamic offensive players, but Friday’s victory proved this team doesn’t have to rely on him every week. A dominant defensive effort, timely pressure, and disciplined football were enough to secure another important win.

There was another encouraging sign as well

Fan attendance continues to move in the right direction. After several difficult seasons, more supporters are beginning to return as the wins continue to pile up. It’s still early, but the excitement around the Elks is growing with each passing week.

The challenge now becomes even tougher. Edmonton travels to Saskatchewan next Thursday. For one of its biggest tests of the season against the Roughriders.

At 5-1, the Elks aren’t just piling up wins. They’re building the profile of a legitimate Grey Cup contender. Some weeks, Justin Rankin carries the offense. Other weeks, the defense takes over. The best teams can adapt, and Edmonton is beginning to show it has exactly that ability