Week 8 of the Canadian Football League has come and gone, and a lot was learned about the squads in action.
Each team has now played at least a third of their games, so trends have fully materialized.
Here are three things we learned in Week 8 in the CFL.
Elks are the real deal
While a 5-1 start before entering Week 8 might’ve already had you thinking the Elks were made with the right stuff, a win over the defending champions certainly solidified it.
A walk-off win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium confirmed the Elks are legitimate title threats, as they showcased that they can get it done in a multitude of ways.
While it’s been star running back Justin Rankin and their pad-popping defence getting most of the headlines, quarterback Cody Fajardo showed they could get it done in the air. The 34-year-old threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns, which was especially impressive given the Riders were the CFL’s top pass defence.
Edmonton now has a win over Saskatchewan and is the only team to beat the Montreal Alouettes as well this season. They’ll now rematch with the Green and White at home in Week 9, with a chance to further the gap in the West Division and solidify their legitimacy even more.
Calgary’s offence is lethal
Only one team has scored more than 50 points this season, and the Stampeders have done it twice.
Saying Calgary’s offence has been fantastic seems like an understatement, as the Stamps are averaging a league-best 39.7 points per game, getting it done through the air and on the ground.
It starts with pivot Vernon Adams Jr., who has etched his name in history in 2026. The 33-year-old not only set the record for the most touchdown passes without an interception to start the season (18), but his 23 consecutive majors without being picked off, dating back to last year, are a new all-time high.
The identity of the team has been on the ground, however, with 2025 rushing champ Dedrick Mills. The 29-year-old leads the league in carries (95) and yards (584), as he brings a physical presence, along with the offensive line, to Pat DelMonaco’s offence.
A physical, effective run game combined with a quarterback who’s been able to push the ball downfield without turning it over is a recipe for success.
Alouettes run through the offence in 2026, not the defence
Don’t get it wrong, Noel Thorpe’s defence is always going to be near the top in most statistical categories with his heavy disguise, attacking-style unit, but it’s been the offence’s efficiency that has been the key to Montreal’s 6-1 start.
While Davis Alexander’s consecutive pass attempts without an interception record finally ended in Week 8 at 356, the team is still one of the best at not turning the ball over.
Tyson Philpot has emerged as a full-fledged top receiver north of the border, Tyler Snead isn’t far behind him, and Cole Spieker is back healthy as a great tertiary option.
What has really made this offence efficient is the ground game led by Travis Theis.
After a career-high 123 yards along the ground in Week 7, Theis got to rumbling once again in Week 8, setting a new career-high of 156 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
It marked the fourth game in the last five weeks in which the 25-year-old registered 90 or more yards on the ground, as Theis continues to stack up great performances behind a mauling offensive line.
