CFL Power Rankings: Week 19

Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through Week 19:

1. Edmonton Eskimos (Unchanged)

Record: 14-4

Streak: Won 8

Next: Bye

Coach Chris Jones was not brought in to simply make the playoffs, or put in a nice effort in the West final. He arrived in 2014 to beat the Stampeders and win a Grey Cup. It may happen. A fairly easy win over desperate Montreal wrapped up first place in the West, a bye to the final and a chance to get healthy. Most impressive in this season so far has been surviving nine weeks without starting QB Mike Reilly and still winning 14 times. With Reilly back, they've been a juggernaut. His 29 of 35, 308 yards, 3 TDs this week was a clinical outing, supported in large part by the 11 catches, 127 yards from Derel Walker, who is the offensive find of the season, league wide. The defence gave up almost 200 yards rushing and that can't happen again. 

2. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)

Record: 13-4

Streak: Won 2

Next: at B.C.

A Friday night cruise on the Red Mile, top down, tunes blasting, waving at all the lovely ladies. That was about how this one vs. the Riders went. You could see Bo Mitchell (21-of-29, 247 yards, three scores before being taken out) in the huddle saying "OK boys, let's go score again. Who wants it?" RB Jerome Messam, always making a good first impression with a new team, ran for 121 yards. Jon Cornish is still concussed so Messam is going to be a key factor in the playoffs, yay or nay. Stamps go to B.C. to finish and then host the Lions in the semi. Both sides will be trying to stay healthy while not showing much to the other side. Kicker Rene Paredes is back on his game, right on time. 

3. Ottawa Redblacks (Unchanged)

Record: 11-6

Streak: Won 3

Next: vs. Hamilton 

It's all in the lap of the Redblacks now, who are on the verge of completing the most astonishing regular season I can recall in almost 50 years of watching this league. A win, or a loss by less than six points, and this second-year expansion side will clinch top spot in the East, a first-round bye and home field in the division final. An outstanding defensive show held the Cats to just six points on their own field. Amazing. It was the defence that first caught everyone's attention across the league in Year One, so putting on a show in The Hammer was appropriate. QB Henry Burris, wearing a leg brace, struggled on the windy day, but he's the man. They go as far as he takes them. Simoni Lawrence seems to know this. 

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Unchanged)

Record: 10-7

Streak: Lost 2

Next: at Ottawa 

Coach Kent Austin grumped and growled his way through the post-game presser (such as it was) because his offence had just stunk the joint out in front of the home fans in the front end of two games with Ottawa that decide the East. That's two straight the attack has been clawless. Young Jeff Mathews, like all rookie pivots, is finding the late going far harder than mid-season as the pressure rises and expectations grow. He threw two picks in the red zone (why were those two Cats receivers standing in the same spot on the first one?) and was unable to mount anything sustained. Cats must win by more than five points this week in Ottawa to earn the bye and host the East final (they'd have the better record in the division). Defence was great, by the way, in case you didn't notice. 

5. B.C. Lions (Up from 6)

Record: 7-10

Streak: Won 2

Next: vs. Calgary 

Leos flew into Toronto this week bringing good fortune along for the ride. After two Jonathon Jennings picks, three fumbles, two missed converts, a blocked punt returned for a score and just 274 net yards in offence, B.C. won anyway and clinched a playoff spot. And at this point, that's all that matters. Most times, when the club did something dumb, they followed it with something great. Lavelle Hawkins had an outstanding game, catching six balls for 144 yards and a score. Defence bent but came up with big plays when needed, especially six sacks that left Ricky Ray in survival mode as his pocket collapsed on him. Kicker Richie Leone is having one of those mental blocks on converts (he's missed 11 of them) as when a catcher suddenly can't throw the ball back to the pitcher. 

6. Toronto Argonauts (Down from 5)

Record: 9-8

Streak: Lost 3

Next: vs. Winnipeg 

Don't have to look further than two B.C. drives in the third quarter on Friday to know what's wrong. Argo defenders took 10 penalties, including five for roughing and three for objectionable conduct. It was a circus out there. Ricky Ray, who returned at QB for the first time in a year and was rusty but OK, opined afterwards his team needed to be more "mentally tough". A few of them need to be turned over coach Scott Milanovich's knee. All this happened with the Argos down just three points. Leos handed the game to the Double Blue and they handed it right back again. Toronto's corner defence took the game off. Offensive line was crunched (six sacks allowed). This club has to grow up a lot over the next week. 

7. Montreal Alouettes (Unchanged)

Record: 6-11

Streak: Lost 1

Next: vs. Saskatchewan 

Had to expect more from a team fighting for its playoff lives. Larks led Edmonton into the fourth quarter before collapsing completely. It was as though getting that far was all the team had left in this disappointing campaign. QB Kevin Glenn did his best in the three games he had the control, but the real trouble has been the Als' inability to develop a starting pivot since Anthony Calvillo retired in 2013. Glenn actually produced (led by 199 on the ground from the runners), over 400 yards and three TDs. Should have been enough to win. Held afloat by the defence all year, that unit popped open and gave up over 400 net yards of its own, and didn't give the ball to the O enough to make a difference. Five turnovers from everyone finally killed it all. 

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Unchanged - bye)

Record: 5-12

Streak: Lost 2

Next: at Toronto 

Once again, the good burghers of Winnipeg greet the oncoming winter with nothing much to remember from a season of Bomber football. Good thing the Jets are looking so good. It's been 25 years since a Grey Cup win for the 'Peg (Toronto went 31 years once, and that's not a streak you want to beat). Coach Mike O'Shea and the brain trust (hold your jokes, Winnipeg fans), will be looking at a lot of players on Friday night, including young quarterback Dominique Davis at some point. What Blue needs to do this week is put on a show for the local folks, so there's some kind of optimism moving forwards. Moving forwards on offence all night would be a big step. 

9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged)

Record: 2-15

Streak: Lost 4

Next: at Montreal 

Can anybody remember seeing a secondary so bad at tackling as this one? (Feel free to comment below). A way to boost confidence in the paying public next season might be to fire every one of the deep defenders and simply start again. Calgary moved at will. All year the offence has played hard (watching Weston Dressler catch six for 129 yards  this week showed that) knowing anything they put on the board won't be enough. Riders ran out both young QBs, and Keith Price was more productive than Brett Smith, though the latter was playing when the game was kind of still on the line. This team isn't nearly good enough to take 18 penalties and expect to compete. Tyler Crapigna might be a kicker for the future. Darian Durant said this week he'll be ready for camp. Good news.