CFL Power Rankings: Week 20

Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through the final week of the regular season:

1. Edmonton Eskimos (Unchanged)

Record: 14-4

Streak: Won 8

Next: Bye to West final

Are the Eskies sleeping or merely waiting? That's an old Chuck Norris joke, but it has to be in the minds of nervously excited fans in Northern Alberta. GM Ed Hervey and coach Chris Jones have built a club that absolutely can win the Grey Cup, in Winnipeg, if it comes out ready to play the West final on Nov. 22. Three weeks off (exactly 21 days) is a lot of down time, and while that will help with injuries (LB JC Sherritt, for example) it can also hurt the momentum. Over the last 10 seasons, teams with the bye have gone 12-8 in the division finals. It's 5-5 in the last five years. But two consecutive byes? Fascinating question. The defence might not feel it much, but the offensive timing could be off.

2. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)

Record: 14-4

Streak: Won 3

Next: vs. B.C. (West semifinal)

John Hufnagel coached the heck out of this nothing game. Did you see him go off when B.C.'s Cord Parks pulled the fake knee-down play in the end zone? Huf's ready for the playoffs. QB Bo Mitchell sat out the win, as did top catcher Eric Rogers. Receiver Lemar Durant, a native of the Left Coast, stepped in and showed he can elevate and catch the ball (he did it twice for TDs). A rushing title is a wonderful thing, but why was Jerome Messam left in the game until midway through the fourth? He's needed next week unless Jon Cornish is over his latest concussion. Defence didn't allow a TD and seems prepped for the semi. 

3. Ottawa Redblacks (Unchanged)

Record: 12-6

Streak: Won 4

Next: Bye to East final

Enough gushing, let's get serious about the playoffs. QB Henry Burris (who will win the Most Outstanding Player award it says here), threw for six TDs (and finished with a league-record 481 completions) as the RBs bopped the Cats to take first place and the bye. Four of his receivers went over 1,000 yards, something only done twice by Montreal under Anthony Calvillo. Wonder if the Ottawas would rather see Hamilton again (much better defence than Toronto) or the Argos, who beat the RBs three times? Defence is great, but special teams (264 yards allowed on returns) need to smarten up by kickoff in the final.

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Unchanged)

Record: 10-8

Streak: Lost 3

Next: vs. Toronto (East semifinal) 

While the league works on improving officiating, the Cats are trying to find some kind of offence and get the defence back together. Using both Jacory Harris and Jeremiah Masoli, Hamilton could only find 191 yards through the air and a single score against Ottawa. If Jeff Mathews can't come back from his concussion, one of the other two will have to take it. Since starter Zach Collaros went down for the season, the Kitties are 2-5. So the defence will have to handle things vs. the Argos — the same set of defenders who gave up 464 yards to the Redblacks, one week after playing so well vs. the same offence. Special teams continue to be great, but you can't do it all on punts and kicks.

5. B.C. Lions (Unchanged)

Record: 7-11

Streak: Lost 1

Next: at Calgary (West semifinal)

Question: Was starting Travis Lulay at QB a chance to keep rookie Jonathan Jennings healthy, or was it to see if the oft-injured star might be able to lead the club in the semifinal? Lulay went 14-20 for 181 yards and no scores against a defence that wasn't showing much. Like Ray in Toronto, Lulay showed the Stamps he still has an arm by dropping one in on Dutch receiver Geraldo Boldewijn's shoulder from 50 yards out in the second quarter. It's going to be Jennings to start, but don't count out seeing Lulay at some point. RB Andrew Harris stayed in long enough to top 1,000 yards and left early in the second.

6. Toronto Argonauts (Unchanged)

Record: 10-8

Streak: Won 1

Next: at Hamilton (East semifinal)

Second best story of the season behind Ottawa was how this club managed to win 10 games on a limited budget and with almost no home appearances. Walking around the locker room on Friday, the opinion was pretty much the same as that expressed by coach Scott Milanovich a few minutes earlier: They decided the year was all about the team, and there would be no excuses. Hamilton had to play in Guelph. Ont., two years back, but that wasn't near as hard as what Toronto had. Ricky Ray will start at QB in the semi, and that makes sense, though Trevor Harris looked pretty good in his time at the controls against the Peg. He's had a year to be proud of. Defence bounced back from recent weeks.

7. Montreal Alouettes (Unchanged)

Record: 6-12

Streak: Lost 2

Next: Training camp 

Larks' ownership has decided a trio of head coaches and a six-pack of offensive co-ordinators in three seasons is enough. So Jim Popp, interim bench boss and forever GM, will be back on the sidelines, along with his coordinators Anthony Calvillo, Noel Thorpe and Kavis Reed. Canadian QB (there's a rare phrase) Brandon Bridge looked good against the Riders, leading a nice drive for his first CFL TD toss. His second TD toss to B.J. Cunningham quacked as it hung up there. Can we come up with another name for Bridge than Air Canada? It's taken. DL John Bowman, the guy who was sat out two games by the old coach, won the sack title.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Unchanged)

Record: 5-13

Streak: Lost 3

Next: Training camp

Headline in the Winnipeg Sun: "One big epic fail." That about wraps things up. This club is 12-24 in the last two seasons and Friday's loss in Toronto left a strong impression there just isn't enough talent here. Not to say there isn't some (linebacking, for example), but it's spread too thin to make a real difference. Depth is required. Next man up only works if the next man deserves to be there. A backup QB for Drew Willy (hurt most of the season) would be nice. Matt Nicholls is nice, but he's a free agent and after playing in the Peg for a month, would he want to stay and share? Coach Mike O'Shea? You can't keep making coaching changes and think it's going to help.

9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged)

Record: 3-15

Streak: Won 1

Next: Training camp

Who coaches this team next year? Does Bob Dyce lose the interim tag? Who are the co-ordinators? Do you blow up the entire secondary (gosh, yes)? Can QB Darian Durant stay healthy enough to rely on, or do you sign another experienced thrower? Who makes those decisions? Does interim GM Jeremy O'Day stay? Can you re-sign receivers Chris Getzlaf and the terrific Ryan Smith, and do you want to take another chance on the oft-injured Rob Bagg? What about runner Anthony Allen, also a free agent? Most important, do you think of next year as a rebuilding one and hope to ensure a competitive side again by the time everyone moves to the new stadium in 2017?