• Impressive postseason for Samuel Emilus: The Saskatchewan wideout led all receivers this postseason in yards after the catch, yards after first contact and missed tackles forced.

• Marcus Sayles carries Saskatchewan defense to Grey Cup: Sayles was targeted six times this postseason, and allowed a 0.0 passer rating on those attempts.

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Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

The CFL Playoffs ended last Sunday with the Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrating, beating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 to win their first Grey Cup in 12 years. 

As we look back on it, we’ll highlight all the top performers throughout on a special “Team of the Playoffs.”

While they didn’t claim the Grey Cup, the Alouettes actually led the way with seven players named to the team. The champion Roughriders came in tied with the B.C. Lions for second with six each.

OFFENSE

• QB: Davis Alexander, Montreal
• RB: Stevie Scott, Montreal
• Receiver: Samuel Emilus, Saskatchewan
• Receiver: Kenny Lawler, Hamilton
• Receiver: Justin McInnis, British Columbia
• Receiver: Tyson Philpot, Montreal
• Receiver: Jalen Philpot, Calgary
• LT: Nick Callender, Montreal
• LG: Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton
• C: Liam Dobson, Hamilton
• RG: Jacob Brammer, Saskatchewan
• RT: Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan

DEFENSE

• DI: Miles Brown, Calgary
• DI: Micah Johnson, Saskatchewan
• EDGE: Mathieu Betts, British Columbia
• EDGE: Habakkuk Baldonado, Saskatchewan
• LB: Tyrice Beverette, Montreal
• LB: Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, Montreal
• Cover LB: Reggie Stubblefield, Hamilton
• CB: Marcus Sayles, Saskatchewan
• CB: Lorenzo Burns, Montreal
• HB: Destin Talbert, Hamilton
• HB: Evan Holm, Winnipeg
• S: Jackson Findlay, British Columbia

SPECIAL TEAMS

• K: Sean Whyte, British Columbia
• P: Carl Meyer, British Columbia
• Returner: Robert Carter Jr., British Columbia

QUARTERBACK OF THE PLAYOFFS: QB DAVIS ALEXANDER, MONTREAL

In his first postseason as a starter, Alexander went on an impressive run that saw him get so close to a Grey Cup victory. Alexander led all quarterbacks in the playoffs with nine big-time throws and gained 61.8% of his yards through the air. That was the second-highest mark, and his average depth of target of 11.3 yards ranked third.

Alexander also chipped in with his legs in a big way. Despite being limited with a hamstring injury that clearly bothered him all season, Alexander rushed 16 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. He picked up eight first downs and forced four missed tackles. He finished the playoffs with an 86.9 overall PFF grade.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE PLAYOFFS: WR SAMUEL EMILUS, SASKATCHEWAN

Emilus played just seven games in the regular season thanks to injuries, but when he did appear, he was elite. His regular-season 84.1 receiving grade would have ranked second if he qualified. 

Luckily for Saskatchewan, Emilus got healthy for the playoffs and carried that strong play all the way to a Grey Cup victory. Emilus caught 19 passes for 208 yards and nine first downs this postseason. He led the CFL with 89 yards after the catch, 60 yards after first contact and four missed tackles forced. Emilus averaged 3.20 yards per route run, the highest of any receiver to play at least two games in the postseason.

Emilus was named Most Outstanding Canadian for the Grey Cup, and he more than deserved it for his excellent playoff run.

OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE PLAYOFFS: SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

It’s no surprise that the winners of the Grey Cup had the top offensive line throughout the playoffs. The Roughriders’ offensive line anchored a rushing attack that gained 207 yards on 39 carries and averaged 2.0 yards before contact per carry, one of the highest marks of the playoffs. As pass blockers, they didn’t allow a single sack and gave up just 11 total pressures across 68 dropbacks. They were one of two teams to finish with a pass-blocking efficiency score above 91.5 in the postseason.

As they were all season, the Roughriders were led by their Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award winner, Jermarcus Hardrick. The right tackle didn’t surrender a single pressure in the playoffs, and also ranked inside the top 10 with a 72.9 PFF run-blocking grade.

PASS RUSHER OF THE PLAYOFFS: EDGE HABAKKUK BALDONADO, SASKATCHEWAN

The Roughriders’ pass rush was impressive all season, and Baldonado was at the forefront of it. The edge rusher continued that play in his two playoff games, recording seven total pressures in each of those games.

Those 14 total pressures led the league in the postseason, and he also added three additional pass-rush wins. Baldonado had a 20.6% pass-rush win rate that slotted second among all defenders, and his 11.0 pass-rushing productivity score ranked third. 

RUN DEFENDER OF THE PLAYOFFS: LB JAMEER THURMAN, SASKATCHEWAN

Another defensive award, another Saskatchewan Roughrider. This time, it’s middle linebacker Jameer Thurman for his run-stopping prowess.

Thuman led the CFL with seven tackles and four assists against the run, with just one missed tackle. Thurman made a league-high three solo stops on the ground and finished with a 77.1 PFF run-defense grade through the playoffs.  

COVERAGE PLAYER OF THE PLAYOFFS: CB MARCUS SAYLES, SASKATCHEWAN

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise considering the team’s Grey Cup win, but Saskatchewan sweeps the playoff awards with Sayles showcasing elite coverage skills in the Roughriders’ two playoff wins.

In two games, Sayles was targeted six times and allowed just a single reception for six yards. He picked off two passes and broke up three others. He made four tackles in the pass game, all of which came at big moments.

Quarterbacks targeting Sayles in these playoffs had a 0.0 passer rating. He ended with an 89.6 PFF coverage grade and was Saskatchewan’s highest-graded player.