Welcome to Overreaction Monday, where we look back on the previous week’s action and root out some angles that could be prone to hot takes that may or may not be a tad over the top. Either from fans and the media in general or, maybe just specifically me.
Then, I’ll render a verdict as to whether I think it’s an “overreaction”, a “fair” assessment, or if it’s “too soon to tell.”
This week: Come on and roar, you Lions, roar. The Argos stomp their way through the puddles. And Saskatchewan, we’ve had a problem.
A WHISPER TO A SCREAM
JUKE STICK! 🕹️
Nathan Rourke makes a nice move for a Lions first down!
🗓️: Roughriders vs. Lions LIVE NOW
📺: TSN and CFL+#CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/UcOhybGpBz— CFL (@CFL) August 23, 2026
The BC Lions booked their fourth win in a row on Sunday night, taking down the Saskatchewan Roughriders 30-16 and evening their record at 5-and-5.
“The Lions are who we thought they were.”
THE VERDICT: Fair.
After an abysmal 1-5 start to the season, the BC Lions have rattled off four straight wins and have looked better and better with each outing.
A defence that started the campaign as an easy target is now a premium unit. Quarterback Nathan Rourke is healthy and so are his receivers. And they have an activated backfield with running backs James Butler and Zander Horvath.
After this Sunday’s game in Ottawa, the Lions have back-to-backers against the Montreal Alouettes (rubs hands together in anticipation).
How hot can they get?
YOU SHOULD GET THAT CHECKED OUT
In Week 11, the Saskatchewan Roughriders left Hamilton with a loss after an effort that felt more than just a bit flat. In Week 12, they left Vancouver with a loss that was a step down from that, featuring lots of mistakes.
“Saskatchewan’s in danger of falling out of home playoff game territory.”
THE VERDICT: Too soon to tell.
Sometimes a flashing indicator light can mean there’s a problem with just the indicator light itself. Other times, it can portend some big trouble. Either way, attention must be paid.
I’m inclined to think the Roughriders might just have a little oil leak, nothing major. But this Saturday’s home game against the Argos should serve as a full-on diagnostic test.
FINDING THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS
Isaiah Smith breaks free for a 29-yard pickup 😤
🗓️: Tiger-Cats vs. Argonauts LIVE NOW
📺: TSN, CBSSN and CFL+#CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/6cKGiC2L3X— CFL (@CFL) August 23, 2026
Prior to their 39-20 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Toronto Argonauts put running back Sam Hicks on the practice roster, elevated rookie Qualan Jones to the actives, and made first-year tailback Isaiah Smith the featured ball carrier.
Together, Smith and Jones rushed for 136 yards.
“The Argos have unlocked their running game.”
THE VERDICT: Too soon to tell.
The Argos entered the week as the team with the second-lowest average rushing total in the CFL (79.7 yards/game) and with the second-lowest attempts average (15 per game).
With Smith rushing for 99 yards on 15 gives, and Jones getting 37 on nine, Toronto’s ground game got active and grabbed plenty of limelight.
But one game does not necessarily signal a breakthrough.
Still, with that big, bruising tandem (Smith is six-foot, 230 pounds and Jones is five-foot-10, 242 pounds), it’s hard not to notice that the Argos may have found a way to regularly kick down some doors going forward.
ALWAYS SOMETHING TO WORK ON
The Montreal Alouettes roughed up the REDBLACKS by a score of 46-16 but along the way they committed 13 penalties, 12 of them enforced, for 90 yards.
That included four unnecessary roughness infractions and one for objectionable conduct.
“The Als better nip that in the bud or it could be their undoing.”
THE VERDICT: FAIR.
What beats a seemingly unbeatable team? Mistakes.
Against a winless team you can get away with a clutch of undisciplined trespasses, but avoidable errors have had a history of bringing down powerhouse teams before and they can do it again.
“Way too many penalties. We all know it,” Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander lamented after the game.
“When you ask a team that’s 9-1, ‘how can you perform better,’ that’s one of ‘em,” said head coach Jason Maas.
THE UNDERSTUDY? OR THE UNDERSTUDY’S UNDERSTUDY?
The Ottawa REDBLACKS fell to 0-10 in Week 12, with quarterback Jake Maier being pulled from duty during the fourth quarter after throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in a one-sided loss in Montreal.
His replacement, veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson, went 4/9 for 55 yards and also threw an interception.
“The REDBLACKS should go right to third-stringer Bryson Barnes for a start in Week 13.”
THE VERDICT: Overreaction.
There was a reason the REDBLACKS brought Bethel-Thompson in after parting with Dru Brown early in the season, and it wasn’t to merely have him hop into games that were out of reach, with little prep prior to.
If a mood change is needed at quarterback, wouldn’t first giving the veteran a full week of QB1 prep before starting this weekend against the BC Lions make some sense?
THERE’S A NEW KING OF (LEG)SWING
Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard was again a hero on Friday night, striking a 40-yard field goal — with no time left on the clock — to give the Edmonton Elks their eighth win of the season.
It’s the second walk-off winner for Blanchard this season; he nailed a 57-yarder to give the Elks a win over Saskatchewan in Week 8.
“Vincent Blanchard has become the CFL’s place-kicking money man.”
THE VERDICT: overreaction.
Notice that the word “overreaction,” above, comes without capitalization by design here, because it’s not like I feel it’d be a massive mistake to make the claim.
Blanchard has had a tremendous season, connecting on 32 of 34 field goal attempts and 24 of 26 converts.
And hitting two, steely-eyed game-winners does underline Blanchard’s accomplishments with a thick line.
But in a week where Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo set the CFL record for most 50-plus yard field goals in a career with his 42nd and 43rd such blasts (and who is a perfect 21/21 on converts) I’m inclined to have the crown resting on his 35-year-old noggin. Or on José Maltos Díaz’s. OR Sean Whyte’s. Or Marc Liegghio’s.
But Blanchard has sure served notice and there’s a decent chance that uncapitalized “overreaction” could be coming back in this column as “Fair” before season’s end.
