The CFL’s East Division remains one of football’s great puzzles.
Between Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, every matchup feels like a slog through waist‑deep snow—uphill, both ways—just to scrape out a win. Familiarity breeds chaos in the East; the schedule forces these teams to see each other so often that coaches must constantly reinvent themselves just to avoid repeating what the opponent already scouted three weeks earlier.
Sure, a game can occasionally be blown wide open by a Kenny Lawler takeover, like Hamilton’s trip to Toronto this season. But more often, the division is defined by the fundamentals: the stabilizing presence Montreal enjoyed when Davis Alexander was healthy against Ottawa, or the glaring absence of that same stability for the REDBLACKS during Dru Brown’s long stretches on the sideline. No matter who lines up across from you, the East’s rules of engagement rarely shift.
What does change—every single year—is the sheer effort poured into securing the Eastern Final and the coveted bye week, all in the hope of fast‑tracking a Grey Cup run. Just ask Hamilton how quickly that investment, and the reward attached to it, can evaporate.
OTTAWA REDBLACKS | 4–14 | FOURTH PLACE
Ottawa’s reality is simple: without Dru Brown, they cannot function at their best. But even when Brown was available in 2025, the constant rotation between him, Dustin Crum, Matthew Shiltz and Tyrie Adams produced an offence with mismatched parts—each quarterback offering different strengths, none of them blending into a unified identity.
Opponents started drives at their own 39.5‑yard line on average, the most generous field position allowed by any team this season. And with only 27 explosive plays across offence and special teams, Ottawa finished dead last—six behind eighth‑place Montreal and miles behind BC’s league‑leading 63.
Enter Ryan Dinwiddie. His aggressive, vertical mindset should help reshape the REDBLACKS into something more defined, more dangerous, and more consistent. The mission: rediscover the home‑field success of 2024 and finally climb out of the East basement they’ve occupied far too often.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS | 5–13 | THIRD PLACE
Nick Arbuckle gave Toronto everything he had. That should shock no one—his career has been a masterclass in resilience. Before a late‑season calf injury, he was tracking toward Flutie‑level production in Double Blue, all while Chad Kelly’s return date kept drifting further into the distance.
With no reliable run game, Arbuckle carried the offence on his back. Yet the Argonauts kept losing tight games, and the cumulative effect was staggering: despite feeling far more competitive than Ottawa, Toronto finished just one win ahead of them. One Dejon Brissett Superman catch on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend was all that separated the Argos from sharing the same fate as the REDBLACKS. Both teams sputtered enough to let Winnipeg cross over and steal the final East playoff berth.
Defence was the bigger problem. Toronto surrendered 32.4 points per game—the worst mark in the league. And it certainly didn’t help that Bo Levi Mitchell seems to relish every opportunity to carve up the Argos in Black and Gold.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES | 10–8 | SECOND PLACE
With Davis Alexander, Montreal looked like a contender. Without him, they looked lost.
At times, the defence felt like it was simply holding the fort, waiting for their franchise quarterback—already proven, just not fully healthy—to return. Special teams remained a strength under Byron Archambault, and the run game stayed afloat despite injuries.
Montreal’s season boils down to this: we never truly saw the real Alouettes because we never saw a fully healthy Davis Alexander for long enough. Even so, the flashes of brilliance he provided were enough to push Montreal within a few plays of a Grey Cup title. That alone is remarkable.
With Jason Maas, Danny Maciocia and the defensive core largely intact, Montreal feels poised to enter a new era—one built on a healed hamstring, smart roster construction, and unwavering belief in Maas’ vision.
HAMILTON TIGER‑CATS | 11–7 | FIRST PLACE
Hamilton spent the entire season clawing toward the top seed.
They endured the devastating loss of their inspirational general manager.
They embraced the arrival of Kenny Lawler and showcased his chemistry with Bo Levi Mitchell.
They built a roster with a ferocious pass rush, a breakout rookie at middle linebacker, an improved secondary, elite kicking, and a veteran quarterback worthy of MOP consideration.
And then it all collapsed in a home Eastern Final.
Had the game been in Montreal, and had Hamilton lost on the road, the reaction might have been a resigned shrug. But this was at home, in a blackout, with a fan base convinced the drought was finally ending. That’s what makes the loss so crushing.
The CFL playoffs are ruthless: play eight great quarters and you’re a champion; stumble for four and you’re cleaning out your locker.
For Tiger‑Cats fans, it’s another year of waiting—another season where a talented roster earned every accolade except the one that matters most.
