The 2025 season has been awesome so far.<\/p>\n
I know recency bias is a thing and it\u2019s something I always try to take into consideration. With that said, I\u2019ve found this season as enjoyable as any I can remember. The on-field product has been outstanding. And the storylines have been intriguing with an unpredictable stretch drive in front of us. It really has been that good.<\/p>\n
So why has it been such a great campaign? We\u2019ve got four potential reasons on this week\u2019s MMQB.<\/p>\n
RELATED THE PLAYOFF RACE<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As we enter Week 16, when the season will pass the three-quarter mark, everything seems up for grabs. Saskatchewan is the only team to have clinched a playoff spot, while Calgary and Hamilton look like strong bets to punch their tickets, too. Beyond that, though, it\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess as to how things finish.<\/p>\n In the West Division, one game separates Winnipeg, BC, and Edmonton for the third and final playoff spot. Even better, the Elks play both teams down the stretch to give us some head-to-head drama. Oh, and the potential of a crossover has decreased recently, adding that much more intrigue.<\/p>\n With their gutsy 31-30 win over the Elks on Saturday, Toronto has won three straight and is only a game back of reclaiming the third and final East Division playoff spot. Remember, a crossover team must finish with more wins than the team they\u2019re attempting to displace. And the Argos just happen to have two games against BC and one against Edmonton before the regular season ends.<\/p>\n QUARTERBACK PLAY<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s the highest profile position in the sport and goodness has it been on point.<\/p>\n Hamilton\u2019s Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> has proven his 2024 resurgence was no fluke. Mitchell\u2019s follow-up campaign has him leading the league with 27 touchdown passes while sitting second with 3,883 passing yards. The guy he\u2019s chasing in that category is Nick Arbuckle<\/a> of the Argos, who\u2019s pacing the league with 4,089 yards as one of the feel good stories of 2025.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan\u2019s Trevor Harris<\/a> is having a career year at 39 and set a new league record earlier for consecutive games over 70 per cent passing. Cody Fajardo<\/a> leads the league with a 77.0 per cent completion rate and a 111.3 quarterback rating while guiding the Elks back into playoff contention. And Vernon Adams Jr. has been one of the main catalysts of a Stampeders team sitting second in the West Division after missing the playoffs last year.<\/p>\n THOSE GREAT FINISHES<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It feels like we\u2019re getting a highlight reel finish every single week in 2025. Week 15 was no exception, with Toronto\u2019s walk off win over the Elks in an entertaining, back-and-forth football game. It was another in a long line of heart stopping finishes we\u2019ve been gifted this season.<\/p>\n In Week 14 it was Ottawa\u2019s incredible fourth quarter comeback at home to the Lions. Week 13 saw Toronto walk it off (again) minutes after Hamilton scored what we all thought was a game winning touchdown. Week 11? Yeah, that was Sergio Castillo<\/a> helping Winnipeg avoid overtime against a REDBLACKS team that scored two touchdowns less than two minutes apart to erase a large deficit.<\/p>\n I think you\u2019re seeing the pattern here.<\/p>\n ALL THAT CANADIAN TALENT<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Providing a place for Canadian players to play has always been a hallmark of this league. But the talent we\u2019ve seen in recent years has helped push the on-field product to a new level. And that starts with the one name we didn\u2019t mention above when focusing on this season\u2019s stellar play at quarterback.<\/p>\n BC\u2019s Nathan Rourke<\/a> has positioned himself as the frontrunner for Most Outstanding Canadian as his outstanding return to the CFL continues. Despite missing a pair of games due to injury. Rourke is amongst the league leaders in passing yards (3,604), passing touchdowns (20), and quarterback rating (109.1). And Rourke\u2019s dual threat ability remains a factor, too; he\u2019s racked up 381 yards and four more touchdowns on the ground.<\/p>\n But highlighting Rourke is just scratching the surface. Justin McInnis<\/a>, Nic Demski<\/a>, and Kiondr\u00e9 Smith have been three of the league\u2019s most impactful receivers. And Tyson Philpot just went off for 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Montreal\u2019s surprising 48-31 win over the Riders on Saturday. Philpot, who\u2019s only been able to appear in seven games, would be much closer to the league leaders with the benefit of a full season.<\/p>\n On defence, Adrian Greene<\/a> of the Stamps and Saskatchewan\u2019s Tevaughn Campbell<\/a> have been the league\u2019s two best corners this season, despite the fact that both are dealing with injuries at the moment. That claim is backed up both by counting stats and the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. Hamilton\u2019s Stavros Katsantonis<\/a>, on the other hand, has only continued strengthening his case as the CFL\u2019s best safety.<\/p>\n
\u00bb\u00a03 stats that defined Montreal\u2019s Week 15 win over Saskatchewan<\/a>
\u00bb 3 stats that defined Toronto\u2019s Week 15 win over Edmonton<\/a>
\u00bb 3 stats that defined BC\u2019s Week 15 win over Ottawa<\/a>
\u00bb 3 stats that defined Hamilton\u2019s Week 15 win over Winnipeg<\/a>
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