Tag Archives: CFL power rankings

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 19

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Most teams didn’t have much to play for in Week 19, but we still got two great games decided by a last-second field goal.  On the other hand, Saturday’s action wasn’t very exciting, what with three out of the four participants more concerned with resting key players for the postseason.  But hey, at least Winnipeg won its last game at CanadInns.  I mean, the new stadium will be ready for next season, right?

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Week 19 Power Rankings

1. Calgary Stampeders (12-6) Last Week: 2.  Yeah, I know that B.C. hasn’t had anything to play for (except to not get injured) these past couple weeks, but no team is heading into the playoffs hotter than the Stamps, winners of four straight.  And sure, their last two opponents might not have been giving it their all, but by putting up 32 points per game in October, the league’s second-highest scoring offence looks primed for the playoffs.  There is some question as to who starts at QB next week, but me, I’d take the continuity of Kevin Glenn here.  Drew Tate didn’t do enough to impress against Edmonton, and he still looks a little rusty after missing most of the year.  Should make for an interesting battle in training camp next season–though Glenn probably has the edge if he leads this team to the Grey Cup. ;)

2. B.C. Lions (13-5) Last Week: 1.  It’s kind of hard to fault a team that held its opponent to just six points last night, but keep in mind that the Riders were starting journeyman J.T. O’Sullivan at QB for the second half.  Even the Hamilton defence could (maybe) hold ‘em under 20 in those circumstances.  And hey, Travis Lulay’s back, but his 9-for-14, 88-yard performance was nothing to write home about.  In fact, O’Sullivan threw for just three fewer yards in as many completions and attempts!  Don’t get me wrong, the Lions are still poised to defend their title, but I think Calgary’s the hotter team heading into the postseason, even if it remains to be seen whether they can win at B.C. Place.

3. Montreal Alouettes (11-7) Last Week: 3.  Like B.C., Montreal hasn’t had anything to play for the past couple weeks.  Unlike the Lions, their starting QB didn’t see a single snap on Saturday, and while Adrian McPherson had a good game on the ground, rolling up over 100 yards rushing, he didn’t do too much in the passing attack.  Mind you, that’s entirely irrelevant to Montreal’s fortunes; the backup quarterback was simply auditioning for a job next year–in Winnipeg, where Joe Mack is bound to be stabbed if he brings back Beat Up Buck as his QB next season.  In any case, the Als will have a big home-field advantage at the Big O for the Eastern Final, but hey, it’s not like they’ve never lost there before…

4. Toronto Argonauts (9-9) Last Week: 4.  Talk about an embarrassing beatdown.  Ricky Ray and Chad Kackert didn’t see a snap between them, and Chad Owens was pulled as soon as he broke the all-purpose yardage record–and yet, the Argos still put up 43 points on Hamilton in a must-win game for their opponent.  Not that there’s any QB controversy in TO after the passing exploits of Jarious Jackson and Zach Collaros; Ray has looked sharp in his two starts back from injury, and the team is finally putting some points on the board.  The flipside is that their usually-reliable defence has given up 40+ in two of the last three weeks–and one of those games was against Winnipeg.  We should be in for some exciting postseason football in the T-Dot, one way or another!

5 (tied). Edmonton Eskimos (7-11) Last Week: 5.  Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-10) Last Week: 6.  Though they both stumbled into the playoffs, there are no real winners here.  The Esks and Riders combined for just one win in October–and that came when Edmonton beat Saskatchewan in Week 16.  If Edmonton has the upper hand here, it’s because by crossing over, they’ll face an easier road to the Grey Cup; but I don’t expect a legion of Eskie fans to travel to Toronto for the Eastern Semi, the way Rider Nation would.  (Besides, there’s bound to be a bunch of ‘em in Calgary next Sunday–some of whom might not even live there!)  That said, I foresee an early playoff exit for both of these teams.

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-12) Last Week: 8.  While they finished the season tied for the worst record in the league, at least Winnipeg ended the year on a winning note.  But unless they can rebuild Buck Pierce with robot parts, they’re going to need to shake some things up this off-season.  Hey, maybe they can land Ricky Ray once the Argos realize that even with an elite QB at the helm, Torontonians still can’t be bothered to go to their games.  I mean, he was probably a one-year, get-us-to-the-Grey-Cup rental anyways…

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-12) Last Week: 7.  Never thought I’d say this, but I actually feel bad for Henry Burris.  The man throws for just under 500 yards and four TDs, and yet his defence gives up 43 points–to the Argos’ second- and third-stringers.  Hell, if I was Hank, I think I’d demand a trade to Winnipeg.  At least the Bombers D can hold teams under 30!  (29.5 ppg allowed, which is still better than Hamilton…)

Tune in next weekend for my playoff predictions!

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CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 18

Posted by gruesomegreg on

With just one week left in the CFL season, the playoff picture has become a lot clearer.  We now know that the Toronto Argonauts will be hosting the Eastern Semi-Final, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be watching at home.  After coming up short in Montreal, the Edmonton Eskimos will need to beat Calgary for the first time this season in order to ensure themselves a playoff spot — unless Hamilton loses in Toronto, making that matchup moot.  Perhaps the most interesting game of Week 17 had zero playoff implications, mind you.  In Calgary, the Stamps got off to a 34-0 lead over the Lions, en route to a 41-21 win.  Of course, B.C. was without Travis Lulay and a couple other key players–but that win’s gotta give Calgary some confidence heading into the postseason.  Here’s how I see things after Week 18.

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Week 18 Power Rankings

1. B.C. Lions (12-5) Last Week: 1.  That’s right, despite the loss, I’m keeping B.C. in first place.  The fact remains that they beat Calgary twice when it counted, and despite the relatively insignificant setback, the defending champs remain the team to beat.

2. Calgary Stampeders (11-6) Last Week: 2.  That said, putting 41 points on the Lions D was certainly a positive for Calgary.  Getting Drew Tate back into game action is another plus.  This team still has some work to do, but if anybody can beat B.C. in the playoffs, my money’s on the Red and White.

3. Montreal Alouettes (11-6) Last Week: 3.  Montreal also had nothing to play for this week, but kept their scintillating 7-2 home record intact by playing great defence–on the two-point conversion attempt by Edmonton in the dying seconds.  Otherwise, they almost blew a game in the fourth quarter that they led comfortably for most of the way, but I’d expect them to be less lackadaisical when it counts.

4. Toronto Argonauts (8-9) Last Week: 8.  Full credit to the Argos.  After losing three straight home games, when winning just one of them would’ve punched their ticket to the postseason, Toronto went on the road and beat a playoff-caliber team in Regina.  Sure, the Riders are slumping, and they made some key mistakes that cost them the game, but it was still a big win for Toronto.  That said, their well-earned home-field advantage hasn’t been much of one on the season.  The Argos are one of two teams (Winnipeg is the other) to have a losing record on their home turf–and yet, their five road wins are tied with B.C. for most in the league.  Uh, they can’t opt to defer that home-field playoff game, can they? :P

5. Edmonton Eskimos (7-10) Last Week: 5.  Well, it looks like the Esks have finally found their QB.  Too bad it took ‘em till the fourth quarter of their second-last game to do so!  Still, Matt Nichols’ stat-line today was pretty impressive: 9-for-15, 230 yards and three TDs, all in less than 15 minutes of play.  He’ll most likely lead his troops into Commonwealth for a home matchup against the Stampeders substitutes, needing a win to stay in the West.  (Mind you, I kinda hope they cross over, just to see Ricky Ray go up against his former team in the first round!)

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-9) Last Week: 4.  Though they’ve already clinched a playoff spot, the Riders are limping into the postseason with three straight losses.  A fourth straight setback in Vancouver–where the Lions have lost only once this season–and they could be traveling to Toronto for the first round.  Mind you, that might not be such a bad thing.  There’s sure to be a lotta Rider fans in the stands, anyways, and in their last trip to Rogers Centre, they thoroughly embarrassed the home side, 36-10, on Thanksgiving.  Perhaps the East provides the path of least resistance for this team…

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-11) Last Week: 7.  OK, so they beat Winnipeg.  However, Toronto’s win yesterday ensures that there won’t be one more game at Ivor Wynne.  I think the Ti-Cats could still win in Toronto this Thursday, but it won’t mean a thing if Edmonton gets the job done the next night.  In any case, an 11-loss team isn’t really worthy of a playoff spot in my books.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-12) Last Week: 6.  It only took ‘em 18 weeks, but Winnipeg is officially the first team out of the playoff picture.  No surprise, really, when the league’s lowest-scoring team has given up 163 more points than it’s scored on the season.  There really aren’t too many positive things to say about the Bombers’ 2012 campaign…  Wait till next year, eh?

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 17

Posted by gruesomegreg on

What a great slate of games yesterday!  After Montreal and Saskatchewan went down to the wire in the wind at Mosaic Place, the city of Calgary said, “I see your wind, Regina, and I’ll raise you… snow!”  In a fierce blizzard that didn’t let up for four quarters, the Stamps were just able to squeak out a 34-32 win over Henry Burris and the Ti-Cats, and it’s probably safe to say the conditions played a part in that dropped hold on the last-second field-goal attempt.  Friday’s action was less intense, with high-scoring efforts from B.C. and Winnipeg, of all teams, who picked a funny time to put up their biggest offensive outburst of the season.  Technically, the Bombers and Ti-Cats are still alive in the East, although another win by Toronto or Edmonton would seal the deal.  But let’s not take things for granted, here.  The Argos travel to Regina next week, while the Esks have games remaining against Montreal and Calgary.  It could very well come down to Week 19, when Toronto hosts Hamilton–provided that the Tabbies beat the Bombers next weekend.  Should make for a couple interesting weeks of (mediocre) football, that’s for sure!

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Week 17 Power Rankings:

1. B.C. Lions (12-4) Last Week: 1.  One team that’s sitting pretty in the clubhouse is the B.C. Lions.  Even if they were to lose their last two games, they’d still finish first, by virtue of beating the Stamps twice this season.  Mind you, they do travel to Calgary on Friday to face the Stamps a third time in what is likely a Western Final preview–though they might not be starting Travis Lulay for the occasion.  Mind you, if this week’s win was any indication, they don’t necessarily need him.  Backup Mike Reilly threw for 276 yards and two TDs in beating Edmonton 39-19, so it seems they’re still in good hands.  Wally Buono sure has a way in discovering quarterbacks, doesn’t he?

2. Calgary Stampeders (10-6) Last Week: 2.  I gotta say, it’s pretty close between Calgary and Montreal in these rankings.  Both teams are 10-6 on the season, 6-2 at home, and have five wins in their division (Montreal has played one more divisional game and has posted one more loss).  They even split the season series back in July.  But for me, the deciding factor has to be points for and against.  The Stamps have scored 464, second only to Hamilton, while allowing 382, for a differential of +62.  On the other hand, while Montreal has put up 440 points, just one fewer than the B.C. Lions, they’ve given up a whopping 445, for a -5 differential.  Something to keep in mind for the playoffs, perhaps?  Speaking of the postseason, the Stamps have a big confidence-booster on Friday versus B.C.  If they go 0-3 against the Lions in the regular season, a trip to the Grey Cup suddenly seems a lot less likely…

3. Montreal Alouettes (10-6) Last Week: 3.  Saskatchewan kicker Sandro DeAngelis (allegedly) said it best to the Als’ Jamel Richardson in pre-game warmups yesterday.  If the CFL West is the SEC, the East Division is the MAC.  But in keeping with that analogy, Kent State just went down to Georgia and beat the Dawgs, as Montreal pulled off a 34-28 win in the Regina wind yesterday.  The Als should, in all likelihood, advance to another Grey Cup game, but keep in mind that they’re only 5-4 against the CFL’s junior circuit, and could possibly be ripe for an upset.  Let’s just say I don’t see ‘em resting their starters against Edmonton next Sunday.  For my money’s worth, that’s an Eastern Final preview, right there!

4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-8) Last Week: 4.  Sure, Saskatchewan is slipping, posting back-to-back losses against Edmonton and Montreal.  But with Edmonton, Toronto and Hamilton all losing this week, the Riders don’t drop in these rankings, seeing as they’ve become the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot.  Even if they lose their last two games, the Riders will still have enough wins to cross over into the East.  That’s right, kids.  It only takes 8 wins to make the playoffs in the East.  The Ottawa Rough Riders could very well win the division in 2014–I mean, Calvillo has to have retired by then, right?  Right?

5. Edmonton Eskimos (7-9) Last Week: 5.  The Eskies are the only road team to win at BC Place this season, but they couldn’t repeat the feat on Friday.  Kerry Joseph might as well change the name on the back of his jersey to ShitSandwich after going 6-for-24 in that game.  Hell, youngster Matt Nichols completed just two fewer passes than Joseph–and he only had five attempts!  While Edmonton remains one win away from the playoffs, they’d better hope that either Montreal or Calgary, who have nothing to play for at this point, bench some of their starters, as Hamilton could very well nudge them out of third place (in the East) otherwise.

6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-11) Last Week: 7.  Full credit to the Bombers for putting up 44 points on the road the other night.  As a result, they’re the only team that moves up in the standings, as well as these rankings.  With the win, Winnipeg still has an outside shot at the postseason, but they’ll need their third straight road win to get there.  In any case, someone’s playoff dreams will die in Hamilton next week.  The Bombers have already beaten the Tabbies twice, though those were two home games.  Should they get the win, they’ll have a home date against Montreal’s backups in Week 19–but they’d still hafta hope the vanquished Tigers play spoiler to Toronto, and the second-place Stamps don’t take it easy on Edmonton.  If only Buck Pierce had been healthier sooner, eh?

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-11) Last Week: 8.  I hate to say it, but my hat’s off to Henry.  In his return to McMahon Stadium, Smilin’ Hank thoroughly outduelled Kevin Glenn, tossing 70 more yards–and two fewer picks.  But his team still came up short in the snow, in a game that they really needed to win.  I still think Hamilton has the inside track for second in the East, but should the Argos pull off an unlikely upset in Saskatchewan next week, their Week 19 meeting at Rogers Centre will be rendered meaningless.  Even to get there, Hamilton will hafta do something it hasn’t done all year and beat the Blue Bombers.  Andy Fantuz better work on his holding!

8. Toronto Argonauts (7-9) Last Week: 6.  How does a team in line for a home playoff date drop three straight home games by a total of 50 points?  Sure, they can be excused for not having Ricky Ray in the first two, but Ray wasn’t the one who gave up 44 points to Winnipeg, a team Toronto held to just 10–on the road, no less–in Week 14.  Right now, this Argos team is playing with about as much fire as a wilted match.  And sure, they could seal the deal by beating Hamilton on November 1st, but they’ll hafta put up a few points to do so.  The Ti-Cats have scored at least 30 in their three meetings, despite two losses, while the Argos only average 23 points per game.  Is it too late to hire a hypnotist who can convince Ricky he’s playing against Calgary?

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 16

Posted by gruesomegreg on

This week, things pretty much went according to plan.  The B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes all won, the last two clinching playoff spots in the process (B.C. already clinched last week).  The one big surprise was the Saskatchewan Roughriders, winners of three straight, losing–and losing badly–in Edmonton.  The Esks not only look to have third place in the East locked up via crossover, they could very well finish third in the West if they can string a couple more wins together.  Here’s how I saw things this week.

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1. B.C. Lions (11-4) Last Week: 1.  They came, they saw, they conquered.  Though they weren’t facing the toughest opposition, B.C. came away with a convincing 20-point road win this week.  They’re still the team to beat.

2. Calgary Stampeders (9-6) Last Week: 2.  Week 15 was a tale of two halves for the Stampeders.  They came out all guns blazing in the first, piling on 26 points, but were subsequently outscored 7-6 by the Bombers in the second half.  That said, they still picked up an 11-point win, largely due to their defence forcing eight turnovers–including three end-zone interceptions.  It looks like Calgary’s likely got second-place sewn up, but it’ll take a Week 18 win over B.C. and some help to be hosting the West Final, not the Semi-Final…

3. Montreal Alouettes (9-6) Last Week: 4.  It’s starting to look like the East will go through Montreal this year.  With a two-game lead on the Argos and a tiebreaker in hand, thanks to today’s 24-12 win, the Als appear to be the Beasts of the East for yet another season.  But will this be Anthony Calvillo’s last stand?  The 40-year-old QB has started to look his age of late, though he’s missing some key targets due to injury.  Still a lotta question marks on this team, if you ask me.

4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-7) Last Week: 3.  Going into Week 15, the Riders had the second-best defence in the CFL, giving up just over 20 points per game.  But that was before they got torched by a 40-year-old quarterback (OK fine, Kerry Joseph’s 39) and the league’s second-worst offence.  They didn’t execute so well offensively either, Darian Durant throwing for just 204 yards with two scores and two picks.  A significant setback for a team that had really gotten it together these past three weeks–especially considering that Edmonton now owns the tiebreaker should it come down to who stays in the West for the first round.

5. Edmonton Eskimos (7-8) Last Week: 6.  When the Esks scored 35 points against Hamilton last week, I had chalked it up as a bit of a fluke, them going up against the CFL’s worst defence.  But when they followed it up with a 37-point performance against the Riders, well, lightning doesn’t strike twice, right?  Whodathunkit that Kerry Joseph, who hadn’t won a game since ’09, would be the spark this team needed to get back into playoff contention?  Mind you, if there’s one knock against Edmonton right now, it’s that their two big wins both came at the friendly confines of Commonwealth Stadium.  The team is just 2-5 on the road this season, and in all likelihood will hafta travel to meet their playoff opponent.  A nice little run, but they’re probably one-and-done.

6. Toronto Argonauts (7-8) Last Week: 5.  With the Jays’ season over, the Argos have a significant stretch of home games before they call it a year.  But their homestand hasn’t gotten off to a good start–back-to-back losses in which they’ve averaged a mere 11 points per game.  Without Ricky Ray, number two receiver Dontrelle Inman and starting RB Chad Kackert, the Argos just can’t get anything going offensively.  In fact, with a loss to Hamilton in Week 19, they could conceivably be on the outside looking in come playoff-time.  Get well soon, Ricky (and Dontrelle and Chad and whoever else I missed)!

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-11) Last Week: 7.  Neither Winnipeg nor Hamilton played well this week, but had the Bombers turned a couple of those INTs into TDs, they could’ve beaten Calgary.  Aaaaand if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.  No excuses for Loseapeg!

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-10) Last Week: 8.  If this team makes the playoffs, it will only be because they’ve got Winnipeg and Toronto left on their schedule.  And even that doesn’t look likely; one more win by Toronto or Edmonton, and the Tabbies will be punted out the doggie door.  To all the pundits who put them in first place this preseason, I fart in your general direction!  (For what it’s worth, I had them finishing fourth, albeit with an 8-10 record that they likely won’t achieve…)

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 15

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Not much movement at the top of the rankings this week–aside from the top spot, while B.C. regains its perch after one week at number two.  Saskatchewan is surging with its third straight win, but still sits behind the Stamps in the standings since Calgary beat them twice.  And while Montreal has now lost to the two worst teams in the league in consecutive weeks, the only East Division team that won this week was Winnipeg–and they’re not moving ahead of the Als, that’s for sure.  Instead of two equal halves, the league can really be divided into a Top Five and a Bottom Three–and whichever member of the second group sneaks into the playoffs is most likely headed for an early exit.  Here’s how things stand after Week 15.

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Week 15 Rankings

1. B.C. Lions (10-4) Last Week: 2.  With the win over the Stamps, the Lions became the first team in the league to clinch a playoff spot.  And since they’ve got a two-game advantage and the tiebreaker over Calgary, it’s almost certain that the road to Toronto runs through Vancouver this year.  I think it’s very likely they’ll be back to defend their title, too.

2. Calgary Stampeders (8-6) Last Week: 1.  To Calgary’s credit, their loss to the Lions last weekend was a vast improvement over the 34-8 beating they took in Week Five.  However, they still weren’t able to beat B.C., and now they’ve got Saskatchewan hot on their heels.  Fortunately, they get a break in the schedule over the next two weeks, facing off against Winnipeg and Hamilton.  Then again, I suppose you could ask the Montreal Alouettes how playing the Bombers and Ti-Cats back-to-back worked out for them…

3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-6) Last Week: 3.  The Riders showed they could win away from home this week–although with all those green jerseys in the stands, it hardly felt like a road game for Saskatchewan.  Still, this is a team on a roll that could very well end up hosting a playoff game in November.

4. Montreal Alouettes (8-6) Last Week: 4.  If the Als don’t drop in the rankings after losing to the Bombers on their home turf, it’s only because they protected their house a whole lot better than the Argos did.  Sure, there is definitely cause for concern in the Alouette camp, but they remain the best team in the CFL’s junior circuit–for now, anyways.  The Als travel to Toronto to take on the Argos this coming Sunday…

5. Toronto Argonauts (7-7) Last Week: 5.  The only positive the Argos can build on going into next week’s clash with Montreal is that Ricky Ray should be healthy enough to start.  If he isn’t, they’re screwed.  The team did nothing offensively under Jarious Jackson, and they gave up a boatload of points to the Riders, to boot.  Suffice to say that 36-10 thrashing would be even more embarrassing had Saskatchewan not settled for five field goals.  I have a feeling that a fired-up Alouettes squad will put some points on the board next week–it’ll be up to Ray and company to match ‘em.  Stay tuned!

6. Edmonton Eskimos (6-8) Last Week: 7.  Edmonton moves up a spot this week as they set their sights on that crossover spot in the East Division, and they did so by wiping out their main competition on Friday.  The Esks are taking this race seriously, too: they’ve named Kerry Joseph their starting quarterback for the rest of the season.  Ooooh, scary.  But the Ti-Cat defence made Joseph look like a young Ricky Ray last week–which shows you the kind of team they’re up against.  For the record, I think Edmonton will steal that sixth and final playoff spot.

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-10) Last Week: 8.  With the win in Montreal, the Bombers have now equaled the Ti-Cats’ road win total.  They’ve also beaten Hamilton twice.  I guess we can call them the second-worst team in the CFL, at least for this week.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-9) Last Week: 6.  A streaky team throughout the first half, Hamilton has been so up-and-down lately, you’d swear they still had Kevin Glenn at quarterback.  But no, they traded him for Smiling/Frowning Hank Burris, whose lofty passing statistics have failed to translate into wins.  Their lack of a shut-down defence hasn’t helped, either.  Like Winnipeg, I expect Hamilton to be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 14

Posted by gruesomegreg on

This was a week of unexpected results.  I mean, who had the lowly Hamilton Tiger-Cats laying a lickin’ on the Alouettes?  (Fun fact: Montreal has now lost five straight games at Ivor Wynne Stadium.  I’m sure they can’t wait for it to be torn down!)  Toronto running roughshod over the Bombers on the road–without Ricky Ray?  Yeah, didn’t see that coming.  Hell, I wouldn’t have picked the Riders to beat B.C., either.  But the one team that lived up to expectations last week, proving that their back-to-back Labour Day wins weren’t all just luck of the boot, was the Calgary Stampeders.  Their all-around dominant performance combined with Montreal and B.C. losses puts the Stamps in first place this week.  But that could be subject to change, as they travel to Vancouver this weekend for just their second meeting with the Lions on the season.  You might as well skip the Turkey Day doubleheader, cuz that’s the game to watch, right there!  (Mind you, the Riders and Argos isn’t a bad matchup, either…)

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Week 14 Power Rankings

1. Calgary Stampeders (8-5) Last Week: 3.  Though their four-game winning streak was snapped in unlucky Week 13, the Stamps have still won five of their last six, four of them coming against divisional opponents.  Their 5-2 record against the West is matched only by the Argos’ mark in the East Division, but the team faces its toughest divisional foe this weekend.  For a Thanksgiving weekend matchup, this one could have major playoff implications; a loss here, and Calgary is two games back with the tiebreaker in B.C.’s favour.  The Stamps are a respectable 3-3 on the road, but the Lions have lost just once at home–a 27-14 defeat at the hands of Edmonton way back in Week Four.  Yes, those are the same Eskimos the Stamps have beaten thrice this season.  Not that I’m implying anything…

2. B.C. Lions (9-4) Last Week: 1.  The bright side of B.C.’s effort in Regina last weekend was that they came on strong in the second half, coming within a touchdown of erasing an 18-1 halftime deficit.  The flipside is that they scored only seven points through three quarters of football before adding two majors in the fourth.  While the B.C. D remains the league’s stingiest by a wide margin, their offence is pretty middle-of-the-pack.  Not that they generally have a problem holding opponents under 25 points, but they almost need to do so in order to win.  And for a team leading its division, a 3-3 mark against Western opponents isn’t all that impressive.  Still, a win over Calgary this weekend puts them back in first place, possibly for good.  I don’t think there’s anyone in the league this team can’t beat, but on an off night, they’re susceptible to slipping up, and that could cost them in the postseason.

3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-6) Last Week: 4.  Mosaic Stadium is a pretty tough place to play.  Just ask the Calgary Stampeders or the B.C. Lions, the two West-leading teams who left Regina with losses on their records these past two weeks.  Those two big divisional wins have vaulted the Riders back into the playoff hunt, though they’ve already lost the season series against Calgary, effectively putting them two games out of second.  With a final month’s schedule that includes trips to Toronto and Vancouver, as well as hosting the Als and Argos, it might be difficult for Saskatchewan to gain some ground in the standings, but third place is probably safe–provided that they beat Edmonton in Week 16.

4. Montreal Alouettes (8-5) Last Week: 2.  The Als are this week’s biggest losers–unless you count Edmonton.  Hard to believe that a team can be leading its division with a 2-4 road record and a -18 points differential, but alas, the Als maintain a two-point lead in the East despite losing in Hamilton for the second time this season.  Need further proof that the East is the CFL’s junior circuit?  All three of the Western playoff teams are ranked ahead of Montreal this week, and rightfully so, IMO.

5. Toronto Argonauts (7-6) Last Week: 5.  Even though they were playing against Winnipeg, I didn’t think the Argos could win without Ricky Ray.  But they pulled it off with ease, Jarious Jackson doing just enough (17-for-28, 155 yards, one TD) to beat the league’s worst team–quite comfortably, at that.  If there’s one thing that adds some lustre to their lacklustre win in Winnipeg, it’s that, well, they were in Winnipeg.  Toronto has won four road games this year, tied for the most with B.C., which might come in handy come playoff time if they don’t win their division.  Of course, if they finish first in the East, that all goes out the window, cuz the Grey Cup Final’s in Toronto this year.  They’re not gonna get there with Jarious Jackson at the helm, mind you…

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-8) Last Week: 8.  In last week’s rankings, I dropped the Tabbies to last after they lost the season series to Winnipeg.  But with their win last weekend, they actually won their season series against Montreal.  Not that I think they’ll catch the Als in the standings, but perhaps another playoff upset is in order.  (I mean, who could forget last year’s exciting East Semi-Final?)  Mind you, to make the magic happen, they’d hafta win on the road, a tricky proposition for a team that’s just 1-5 away from Ivor Wynne.  That said, their most winnable road game (on paper, anyways) comes in Week 15 when they travel to Edmonton.  The Esks, losers of five straight, are just 3-3 at home–the only team with a losing record on its home turf is Winnipeg, and we know what happened when the Ti-Cats went there, but I digress.  The winner of Friday’s contest moves ahead in the race (more of a potato-sack hop, really) for the sixth and final playoff spot.  If there was ever a time for Henry Burris and co to answer the call, it’s gotta be this Friday.

7. Edmonton Eskimos (5-8) Last Week: 6.  Hard to believe there was a time when this team was challenging for first, but they haven’t won a game since Labour Day, going 0-for-September for the first time in franchise history.  Edmonton is down to its third-string quarterback, whether by injuries or attrition–or perhaps a bit of both.  Matt Nichols has some potential at the position, but you kinda get the feeling that this team is playing for next year.  And yet, if they can snap their losing streak against the equally-inept(?) Hamilton Tiger-Cats, they’d be in playoff position.  It’s the stoppable force (Edmonton offence) against the moveable object (Hamilton D) in a race for a first-round exit–and I don’t think TSN’s ratings will break any records for this one.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-10) Last Week: 7.  Losing 29-10 at home to an Argo offence led by Jarious Jackson, well, that’s pretty much rock-bottom.  And looking at the schedule, I don’t see any games remaining where I’d be tempted to bet on the Bombers.  It honestly wouldn’t phase me if this team finished 3-15.  But hey, they could always trade for Ricky Ray next year, right?  (Yeah, don’t get yer hopes up, or anything…)

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 13

Posted by gruesomegreg on

After a couple weeks in which I didn’t watch a lot of CFL football, I saw a good chunk of every game in Week 13–perhaps none bigger than the Sunday afternoon contest that snapped the Stamps’ four-game winning streak.  The Riders will get a boost in the rankings for that one, while Calgary drops a spot for narrowly missing the comeback.  But the biggest mover of the week was Montreal.  Facing a tough Toronto team that beat them at Molson Stadium in their previous meeting, the Als went out and dominated the Argos, knocking out Ricky Ray in the process.  Alas, the biggest loss Toronto suffered yesterday wasn’t the 31-10 setback on the scoreboard, but rather that of their starting QB.  We don’t know how long he’ll be out yet, but a significant loss of Ray-ing time could throw their Grey Cup chances overboard.  And here’s how things look after lucky Week 13.

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Week 13 Power Rankings

1. B.C. Lions (9-3) Last Week: 1.  Sure, they barely squeaked out a 19-18 win in Edmonton, but in the process, the Lions picked up a game on Calgary in the West Division standings.  Plus, with the Stamps’ streak snapped, B.C. now has the longest current string of consecutive wins, beating three teams that would make the playoffs (albeit all in the East Division, heh heh) if the season ended today.  Considering their dominant performances in their most-recent triumphs over Montreal and Calgary, it’ll likely take a loss (against the Stamps in Week 15) to knock the Lions from top spot in these rankings.

2. Montreal Alouettes (8-4) Last Week: 4.  I had pegged the Toronto-Montreal matchup as the game to watch going into Week 13, but in the end, it wasn’t very watchable–unless you bleed bleu, gris et rouge.  The Als, owners of a scintillating 6-1 home record, avenged their only loss at Percival Molson in grand fashion, taking it to the Argos for four full quarters.  After a win like that, it’s now clear who’s the best team in the East Division–the same squad that’s been on top, oh, for about the past decade or so.

3. Calgary Stampeders (7-5) Last Week: 2.  Suffice to say, the Stamps suffered a slight setback in Week 13.  Though they’ve come from behind against the Riders before, they couldn’t muster any overtime magic on the road this time, dropping a tightly-contested 30-25 decision in Regina.  Sure, there were some close calls and non-calls throughout (still don’t see how that wasn’t a fumble after video review in the first quarter!), but in the end, Saskatchewan was just a bit better yesterday.  Oh well, seven wins in the last eight games against the Riders ain’t nothing to shake a stick at–the season series remains in Calgary’s favour should it come down to a tiebreaker in the West.

4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-6) Last Week: 5.  Though they finally won one against Calgary, I’m still sticking the Riders a spot below the Stamps in the standings.  That said, they leapfrog the Argos into fourth place by virtue of their starting quarterback being back and looking strong, while Toronto’s franchise signal-caller is in a decidedly dicey situation.  Incidentally, the Riders meet the Argos for the first time two weeks from today on Thanksgiving Monday.  That contest could certainly go either way, but I’ll take Darian Durant over Jarious Jackson any day!

5. Toronto Argonauts (6-6) Last Week: 3.  Losing a starting quarterback in the middle of the season can be devastating for a team.  As a Stamps fan, I should know.  In fact, I was in the stands, right behind the Calgary sideline, when Drew Tate went off with a shoulder injury against Toronto in Week 2.  Thankfully, Calgary had an experienced starter waiting in the wings, having shipped Frownin’ Hank Burris (Hey, his team just lost for the second time to Winnipeg.  Winnipeg!) to Hamilton for Kevin Glenn, who started last season for the Ti-Cats.  Mind you, the Argos have a less-extensive insurance policy in Jarious Jackson.  Sure, he has started in the CFL before, but for the past two seasons, he was riding pine and running sneaks behind reigning MOP Travis Lulay in B.C..  As a matter of fact, Jackson has only attempted 118 passes this decade; the last time he posted 100 completions in a year was 2008.  Did I mention he possesses just a 54.1 career completion percentage and a 1.4-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio?  Get well soon, Ricky!

6. Edmonton Eskimos (5-7) Last Week: 7.  In case you haven’t heard, The Team That Traded Ricky Ray isn’t faring so well in the quarterback department, either.  For the second time in three weeks, the Esks held an opponent to 20 points or less and lost–at home, to boot!  I will give ‘em some credit in that the team that beat ‘em 19-18 this week was the league-leading B.C. Lions, but Steven Jyles’ second-half passing numbers in that game would even have Cleo Lemon shaking his head.  But hey, at least they’ve beaten the Bombers this year, which is more than can be said for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats…

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-9) Last Week: 8.  They may have the worst record in the league, but with last week’s win at CanadInns, the Bombers earned the tiebreaker over Hamilton by virtue of beating the Tabbies twice this season.  Their record against the rest of the CFL?  A paltry 1-9.  That tiebreaker won’t mean a thing unless they can catch the Edmonton Eskimos, either.  Edmonton needs to post a better record than the third-place team out East to cross over, but Winnipeg would hafta win at least twice themselves a chance–and they only have one more game remaining against the Ti-Cats.  (On the plus side, they have a home date with the Argos, who’ll potentially be without their Ray of hope, on Saturday…)  The other team that’s been beaten by the Bombers this season?  Well, that just happens to be the Eskies, although their season series wrapped up in Week 5.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-8) Last Week: 6.  This is a team that, despite scoring 23 more points than anyone else the CFL, still gives up almost 32 points per game.  They even gave up two more than that last week to a team that’s scored just 237 (19.75 ppg) all season.  Their defence is so bad, the Tabbies hafta score 30+ in order to win–and they came up well short of that in Winnipeg.  Then again, Hamilton has just one win in six road games thus far; only winless Winnipeg has done worse.  Thus, I think we’ll probably get a crossover scenario this season if Edmonton can just keep it together.  And hey, who wouldn’t wanna see Ricky Ray against the Eskies in the East Semi-Final?  (Get well soon, Ricky!)

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 12

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Week 12 in the CFL saw a couple of important streaks continue.  The Winnipeg Blue Bombers lost in Calgary for the 10th straight time; they haven’t won at McMahon since 2002, which also happens to be the last time the Toronto Argonauts won at B.C. Place.  Mind you, the Argos put up much more of a fight this week than the Bombers did, to put it mildly.  And speaking of streaks, the Hamilton Ti-Cats ended their five-game slide by exterminating the Eskimos at Ivor Wynne.  Amazingly, their 51-8 win just barely put them back in the black as far as point differential is concerned.  The Tabbies have now scored a league-high 348 points on the season–and given up 347.  Still, that big win is worth at least one spot in this week’s rankings…

Preseason Predictions

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Week 12 Power Rankings

1. B.C. Lions (8-3) Last Week: 1.  The Lions suffered a bit of a scare on home soil, squeaking out a five-point win over Toronto despite giving up three turnovers and 300 yards passing.  Still, with the best record in the CFL, they stay atop my rankings, especially after back-to-back wins over the top two teams in the East.

2. Calgary Stampeders (7-4) Last Week: 2.  Winnipeg hasn’t won a road game all year, and they haven’t won in Calgary in a decade, so beating the Bombers was almost a foregone conclusion.  The Stamps needed to win big to make a statement, and that they did, putting up the second-most dominant performance of Week 12.  The difference being that while Hamilton snapped a five-game losing streak by thrashing Edmonton yesterday, the Stamps will be going for their fifth straight win when the face the Roughriders next weekend.  Though they shouldn’t take Saskatchewan or Edmonton lightly, you know the date that’s gotta be circled on this team’s calendar is October 6th, when they’ll look to avenge an embarrassing Week Five loss to B.C..  In the end, the result of that game seven weeks ago is what’s keeping them from the top spot in these rankings.  (Hey, you gotta beat the man to be the man, right?)

3. Toronto Argonauts (6-5) Last Week: 3.  Even though they lost to the Lions this week, dropping down to second place in the East Division, Toronto still fared a lot better in B.C. than Montreal did the week beforehand.  And considering that the Argos are 1-0 against the Als this season, I still gotta give ‘em the edge in my standings.  That said, the two teams face off again next Sunday, in what’s shaping up to be the game to watch in Week 13–Toronto will need a win to stay on top.

4. Montreal Alouettes (7-4) Last Week: 4.  Considering that the Als have the worst defence of any team with a winning record in the league, holding Saskatchewan to 17 points had to be considered a small victory.  Glass half-empty: the Riders were starting their backup QB, Drew Willy.  Hey, a win is a win, but I was looking for Montreal to make a statement on their home turf after getting waxed in Vancouver last week.  The only statement they made in my mind is that the Argos might have a shot at winning this division–though I’ll reserve judgement until next Sunday.

5. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-6) Last Week: 6.  Despite the loss, the Riders move up a spot in the standings.  They didn’t play that great today on the road, but if you subtract those two touchdowns they gave up in the first quarter, they didn’t play too poorly afterwards, either–which is more than can be said of the team that was in fifth place last week.  Alas, if the playoffs started now, the Riders would have the last postseason berth in the West, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that remained true at the end of the season.

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-7) Last Week: 7.   You knew that Hamilton had to win one eventually, and they certainly did it in style on Saturday.  Despite trailing 8-0 after the first quarter, the Ti-Cats romped to an easy win, scoring no fewer than 14 points in each of the remaining three quarters en route to a 51-8 whopping.  Hey, if this team beats Winnipeg on Friday and the Argos lose in Montreal, the Cats could be right back in the hunt for a home playoff game, something that seemed highly unlikely after back-to-back losses to Toronto.  (Hey, I didn’t say anything about winning that playoff game, did I?)

7. Edmonton Eskimos (5-6) Last Week: 5.  It’s a race to the bottom in most offensive categories between the Eskies and the Bombers, and though Winnipeg has a bit of a head-start, Edmonton is catching up with their third straight loss.  Against a Hamilton Ti-Cat team that gave up nearly 34 points per game, the Esks managed only eight, and were shut out for the final three quarters.  Not only does Edmonton have a three-headed monster at tailback, it appears they’ve got another one at QB, where Kerry Joseph, Steven Jyles and Matt Nichols all completed passes yesterday, though Joseph got the bulk of the work this week.  That ground game, by the way, was only good for 56 yards–16 of which came from Jyles and Nichols.  And this was against a team that had given up huge chunks of rushing yardage to opponents this season.  In the preseason, I picked the Esks to finish last in the West, and it seems they’re starting to play the part.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-9) Last Week: 8.  That being said, the Bombers are in a league of their own at the bottom of the CFL.  Losers of four straight, this team has not scored an offensive touchdown since they fired Paul LaPolice–hell, they’ve only scored one TD period and 27 points total in the three games since.  Buck Pierce is going to be back next week against Hamilton, but is he really going to reverse this team’s fortunes?  I think not…

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 11

Posted by gruesomegreg on

To be honest with ya, I didn’t catch too much of the CFL action last week.  Of course I watched the Battle of Alberta, but between the opening of the Toronto International Film Fest and the start of the NFL season, I only saw bits and pieces of one other game–Saskatchewan vs. Winnipeg.  That said, it looks like I didn’t miss too much, as both of Saturday’s contests weren’t all that close to begin with.  Between the two of them, B.C. and Toronto put up a whopping 88 points while holding their respective opponents to just 41.  B.C.’s defence turned in a particularly impressive performance by holding the Als to a mere 10 points after being torched for 30 by Montreal eight days prior.  Thus, the Lions regain the top spot with the league’s best record, while my Stamps have quietly put together a three-game winning streak, easing themselves into sole possession of second place.

Preseason Predictions

Week 2 Rankings

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Week 11 Power Rankings

1. B.C. Lions (7-3) Last Week: 2.  The B.C. Lions put in a full team effort on Saturday, holding a quality opponent to just 10 points while scoring a season-high 43.  In fact, they managed to shut out Montreal for the final three quarters as they kept piling points on the board, including 16 in the final frame.  Not only did they hold Anthony Calvillo under 300 yards passing for the first time this year, they even kept him below 200, giving up just 152 yards through the air.  On the other hand, Travis Lulay threw for 262 and four TDs, even in the absence of Geroy Simon.  These Lions have given up at least 24 fewer points than any other team in the league through Week 11, and a whopping 65 fewer than the East’s best defence in Toronto.  Mind you, after their back-to-back meetings with Montreal, they’ve only played four games within their own division, posting a less-than-stellar 2-2 mark.  There might be the potential for them to give up some games down the stretch, but it won’t necessarily happen this week, when they host the East-leading Argos.  Hey, if the two teams match their point totals from last weekend, it should be an exciting game–although I’m expecting something more along the lines of B.C.’s 18-9 Week Six win.

2. Calgary Stampeders (6-4) Last Week: 3.  Heading into Week Nine, the Stamps needed to beat Saskatchewan on the road to avoid sole possession of last place.  But after holding on for a wind-aided 17-10 win and squeaking out a pair of victories over Edmonton, the Stamps now find themselves alone in second, not fourth.  On that note, Calgary’s 4-1 record against Western opponents is equaled only by Toronto’s mark against the East.  And should B.C. slip up against the Argos, the Stamps could easily move into a tie for first, as they host league doormat Winnipeg on Friday night.  Did I mention that Drew Tate is eligible to return from the nine-game injured list after next week’s game?  Things are certainly starting to look up for the Stampeders!

3. Toronto Argonauts (6-4) Last Week: 5.  Toronto also got a big Argo bounce by sweeping Hamilton in their home-and-home series.  Now the Ti-Cat defence is pretty terrible, giving up just less than 34 points per game, but scoring 45 is still a big offensive breakthrough for a team that averages 25 and a half, and had only topped 30 once until they met Hamilton on Labour Day.  While Ricky Ray had a good game last week, 26-for-32, 331 yards passing, he didn’t throw a single TD pass.  Instead, Chad Kackert led the way with a whopping 172 yards on the ground–over 10 per carry–and three rushing TDs.  Guess they don’t miss Cory Boyd too much, eh?

4. Montreal Alouettes (6-4) Last Week: 1.  When you go three quarters without so much as a rouge, you deserve to drop three spots in the rankings.  The Als don’t tend to fare well in Vancouver, but this time, the time change wasn’t even a factor, as the game kicked off at 4 pm Eastern.  If that was meant to be a Grey Cup preview, it looks like I’ll be turning the 100th edition off at halftime–that said, I still see Montreal as the team to beat in the East.  They currently sit second by virtue of a Week Five loss to Toronto, and if the Argos beat them again, things could get interesting.  In any case, I expect the Als to bounce back at home this week, where they boast a 4-1 record, against a Saskatchewan team facing a huge step up in competition after squeaking out a one-point win in Winnipeg.  One shocking statistic jumps out in this matchup: through 10 games on the season, Montreal has given up 104 more points than Saskatchewan–including 56 of the 200 points the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have scored all year.  Saskatchewan, lest we forget, shut out the Bombers on Labour Day Weekend.  This game might be closer than we think…

5. Edmonton Eskimos (5-5) Last Week: 4.  Sure, the Eskies only lost those two games against Calgary by a combined three points, but it’s not a good sign for your kicking game when you miss two last-second, game-winning field goals within one week.  Likewise, when your defence holds an opponent to 20 points and you still lose–at home, no less–that’s discouraging.  Alas, the Edmonton offence is last in the league in several key categories, and they’ve scored fewer points than anyone but Winnipeg.  I’ve been saying this ever since they traded Ricky Ray, but it bears repeating that the Esks don’t have a capable quarterback.  Whether it’s the beat-up body of career backup Stephen Jyles or the worn-out legs of 38-year-old Kerry Joseph, these guys just can’t get the job done.  Edmonton should still make the playoffs, even if they have to cross over, but I can’t see them making a run unless one of their QBs channels Marcus Crandell circa 2001.  Wait, isn’t Crandell their offensive coordinator?  Can he still lace ‘em up? ;)

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-5) Last Week: 6.  Sure, beating the Bombers back-to-back has sorta salvaged a lost season, but it’s clear that Winnipeg’s this year’s edition of the 2011 Roughriders, where it’s only news if you lose to them.  Speaking of losses, it looks like Darian Durant won’t spend too much time on the shelf after leaving yesterday’s game in the second quarter.  Word has it he’ll be ready for Montreal, but will the Riders’ defence?  A win at Molson Stadium would definitely move this team up the charts, but for now, I’m keeping them at Number Six.

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-7) Last Week: 7.  Y’know, it’s hard to believe I had Hamilton at Number One at the end of July, but after a decent start in which they won three straight games, the Tabbies haven’t won another won since, dropping five in a row.  Amazingly, this remains the highest-scoring team in the CFL, but putting 29 points on the board doesn’t do much good when you give up an average of 34.  Last weekend in Toronto, they exceeded their average with 31–but gave up 45 to the Argos for another ugly loss.  It seems that every running back who faces the Ti-Cats turns into Walter Payton/Barry Sanders, with Chad Kackert being the latest exhibit.  With that in mind, I expect Jerome Messam to rumble for 200 yards this Saturday–and finish second on the Eskimos in rushing.  (Hey, it’s not like Edmonton has much of a passing game to speak of…)

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-8) Last Week: 8. Whether it’s by embarrassing blowout or heart-breaking last-second field-goal, the Bombers, like all bad teams, just keep finding ways to lose.  The league’s worst offence didn’t even find the end zone last week, as the Blue-and-Gold scored a TD on a punt return and added 15 points on field goals.  It’s not that the players they have are terrible, but they’re clearly missing that game-changer: an Anthony Calvillo or Ricky Ray who can drive his team down the field; a Nik Lewis or Geroy Simon who demands the ball to pick up the big first downs and make plays at critical junctures; a Jon Cornish or Andrew Harris who can run opposing defences into the ground.  Mind you, Simon was cut by the Bombers 12 years ago and Harris, well, he’s actually from Winnipeg.  But unless he’s got a brother who can really run, I can’t see who the Bombers can bring in that would salvage their season–although a trade for one of Edmonton’s three RBs might make sense.  Hey, can Milt Stegall still catch the football?  Can Dieter Brock still throw?  What’s that–he’s 61?  Uh, nevermind then… :P

CFL POWER RANKINGS: Week 10

Posted by gruesomegreg on

The CFL’s showcase weekend lived up to its billing this year, with great games in Montreal, Hamilton and Calgary–and an extremely ugly blowout in Regina.  With four rematches starting on Friday, I wouldn’t say there’s a clear winner in any of them, except maybe one.  After a 52-0 loss yesterday, there’s no way I’m betting on the Bombers!

Preseason Predictions

Week 2 Rankings

Week 3 Rankings

Week 4 Rankings

Week 5 Rankings

Week 7 Rankings

Week 8 Rankings

Week 9 Rankings

Week 10 Power Rankings

1. Montreal Alouettes (6-3) Last Week: 2.  And so we end Week 10 with a new team atop the rankings.  In knocking off the B.C. Lions, Montreal put up as many or more points in the first half than anyone had scored in an entire game against B.C. since the Lions’ last loss back in Week Four.  Sure, this one went down to the wire, but a big red-zone stand by the Alouettes’ D ensured the home team of a win–and the top spot on my list, at least for now.  For what it’s worth, I think B.C.’s perfectly capable of bouncing back on their home turf next week, but a win on the road would certainly cement Montreal’s top-ranked status.

2. B.C. Lions (6-3) Last Week: 1.  Despite a close loss where they just couldn’t convert at the end of the game, the B.C. Lions remain atop the West Division.  And losing to the previously second-ranked team by a mere five points isn’t going to drop them too far in my rankings, either.  If they fail to avenge the loss next weekend, well, that might be a different story…

3. Calgary Stampeders (5-4) Last Week: 3.  As per usual, the Stamps won another game that couldn’t have been any closer; barring overtime, of course.  But full credit to Kevin Glenn and the offence for bouncing back after giving up 14 points in 45 seconds–especially when that second Eskie TD came on an interception return.  If anything, this week’s performance proves that they’re *thismuch* better than Edmonton, although the rematch on Friday looms large…

4. Edmonton Eskimos (5-4) Last Week: 3.  The Eskimos came up just short on the road this evening, being a tackle in the end zone away from overtime.  Hafta give the Stamps the edge for getting the W, but the race for second place in the West remains airtight.  Kudos to Kerry Joseph for turning back the clock and chipping in a 311-yard effort.  The Esks might’ve found themselves a (soon-to-be 39-year-old) starting QB–for this season, anyways…

5. Toronto Argonauts (5-4) Last Week: 5.  Full credit where credit is due: that was an impressive fourth-quarter comeback on the road from a team that had lost its last 16 games when trailing at halftime.  For about 15 minutes, Ricky Ray looked like the Ricky Ray of old, leading a couple big scoring drives downfield.  The flipside of the coin is that they put up their 33-point effort against the CFL’s second-worst defence.  And while a win in Hamilton on Labour Day is always something for a Toronto team to hang its hat on, the Tabbies have now lost four in a row, and were already sitting in seventh place in my rankings coming in.  Thus, just as the win doesn’t advance Toronto in the East Division standings, it also keeps them in the same spot on my list.

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-5) Last Week: 8.  Wow, what a way to snap a five-game losing streak!  The Riders beat Winnipeg from pillar to post in the Prairie edition of the Labour Day Classic, putting up both the highest point total and (by far) the largest margin of victory on this young CFL season.  Of course, they were facing the team with the worst record in the league, but that win’s still worth a two-spot jump in the rankings.

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-6) Last Week: 7.  The Tabbies put together three decent quarters of football today–but it all came crashing down in the fourth, where they were outscored 22-8.  Henry Burris was just 13-30 for 218 yards, with two interceptions offsetting two TDs, while the league’s second-worst defence (they’ve only given up two points fewer than Winnipeg, even after that 52-0 pounding!) could not offer much resistance when it mattered most.  That’s now four straight losses for a team that once sat atop the East Division (albeit via tiebreaker).  If there was ever a time to turn to Quinton Porter, it would probably be next week…

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-7) Last Week: 6.  Although I stuck Winnipeg up in sixth these past two weeks, they’ve reclaimed their spot in the league’s basement with that devastating loss.  The only positive outlook after that game is that it can’t possibly get any worse next week … can it!?