CFL Power Rankings
Stamps stay on top
Malcolm Kelly breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League.
1. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)
- Overall Record: 5-1-1
- Streak: Unbeaten in 6
- Next: At B.C.
The pre- and post-game action was enthralling, shame the game was pretty dull. Bo Mitchell, who helped blow the whistle on Saskatchewan's hidden practice roster, was booed and said he didn't care. Something was amiss, however, as Bo had a below average night (18-for-31, 344 net yards) and couldn't finish drives. Kicker Rene Paredes nailed four field goals (and a convert). This victory was created by a ferocious defence that sacked Darian Durant five times (three by Charleston Hughes), and had seven knockdowns. Durant had to take off a number of times just to stay alive. After the game, Rider coach Chris Jones shook hands with Stamps' coach Dave Dickenson – lip readers report he said "Win with some class." As Calgary fans would say ... whatever.
2. Ottawa Redblacks (Unchanged due to bye)
- Overall record: 4-2-1
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: Montreal
A bye was just what the RBs needed to calm things down after QB Henry Burris went off on his critics, live on TV. RBs are 1-1-1 at home, 3-1 on the road – a record that matches pretty much everyone other than Calgary (3-0 in its own barn). Ottawa is nicely balanced, sitting in the top half of the league in both offence (3rd) and defence (4th) and that will hold them in good stead moving towards Labour Day. If you're looking for a negative, a club that is first in passing yards gained, and second in rushing yards should have scored more points. Keep up those first two stats and the third will come along eventually. The QB controversy in Our Nation's Capital is not over, by the way. It's merely simmering.
3. B.C. Lions (Up from 4)
- Overall record: 5-2
- Streak: Won 2
- Next: Calgary
Leos hadn't been home since long before anyone knew who Sydney Pickrem is (37 days), and started gangbusters, building a 20 point lead at the half. They then gave it right back and found themselves tied at 38 with three minutes left. Young QB Jon Jennings went on a nifty six play, 91 yard drive for the victory, tossing one to his favourite receiver Manny Arceneaux for the win. Manny had another 100-plus game. Coach Wally Buono wasn't real impressed with the mistakes, though certainly with the 5-2 mark. As he said, they'll have to be better home to Calgary next week. Chris Rainey had a long return TD called back for a penalty, and the Leos allowed Brandon Banks to go the distance late in the game. Only 21,213 showed -- are mortgages so high no one can afford football tickets?
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Up from 6)
- Overall record: 4-4
- Streak: Won 3
- Next: Bye
Interesting hanging out in front of the Winnipeg room after their win over Toronto; 10 minutes of yelling and loud music, then it all went quiet. Business like. Mo Leggett, who had keyed the victory with a field-long pick return in the fourth quarter, stuck to the script in the interview. Team is together. We're all professionals. One game at a time. Mo ... YOU'VE WON THREE STRAIGHT. It's Winnipeg, for gosh sakes. This victory at Toronto was based on five interceptions by a defence that seemed to know where Logan Kilgore's throws were going (Mo would not comment on this) and an excellent outing by the offensive line. QB Matt Nichols (17-28, 246 yards, two TDs, one pick) was barely touched, and the grunts opened holes for 136 rushing yards.
5. Toronto Argonauts (Down from 3)
- Overall record: 4-3
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: Edmonton
While the television folks were adding virtual logos to the half-filled BMO Field turf this week, the club responded by sending out a virtual pivot. There are going to be bad nights for an inexperienced QB, and this one met that standard. Logan Kilgore, filling in for Ricky Ray, put in a classic rookie outing with lots of yards (428 net offence) and lots of mistakes. Five picks, that is, leading to 24 points in a 34-17 loss. One in the fourth quarter found him leading a long drive before tossing the orb to Peg's Mo Leggett, who ran it back 98 yards and the TD that put this away. Lots of drops didn't help, either, but offensively this was mostly Kilgore. The defence, No. 2 coming in, couldn't get any pressure on Matt Nichols, and gave up 136 yards rushing.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Down from 5)
- Overall record: 3-4
- Streak: Lost 2
- Next: Saskatchewan
QB Zach Collaros made his first start in almost a year and was greeted by a sack and a fumble on his first possession. The offensive line didn't help as B.C. rushers dumped their Golden Goose five times. Collaros shook it all off and had a strong night, going 24-for-40, 331 yards, two TDs and a pick. Yes, they trailed by 20 at the half, and yes, they lost it late after fighting all the way back. Key, though, is Collaros has returned and the East will look different moving forward. None of this helped the defence or special teams however, as both had tough nights – the former for the second week in a row. Cover teams gave up 214 yards in returns, and it would have been almost 300 if a Chris Rainey TD run back wasn't nullified by penalty. Highly unusual for Hamilton.
7. Edmonton Eskimos (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 3-4
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: At Toronto
The disturbing thing about this victory over Montreal was how close it was with under two minutes to go. It took a pair of interceptions as the clock ticked out to preserve a win that should have been emphatic. QB Mike Reilly's offence produced 400 net yards, including 100 on the ground, and a pair of 100-plus receiving outings from Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker. All almost negated by a fumble on the Als' one yard line in the first quarter, and a fumble on the three in the third. All of that effort (36:36 possession) produced a touchdown and a field goal. Esks' final 10 drives saw eight punts, a fumble and a three pointer. Defence did the job, holding the visitors to four field goals and coming up with the two late interceptions that earned the two points.
8. Montreal Alouettes (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 2-5
- Streak: Lost 2
- Next: At Ottawa
Jim Popp, the coach/GM, went off on his players after the loss to B.C. Some of the players were hurt. Popp apologized. And they all went off to Edmonton where the club couldn't mount an offence and was beaten again. What annoyed a couple of ex-players we spoke to was that the story got out of the dressing room in the first place. Trouble in Montreal. While the defence kept the Larks in the game, QB Kevin Glenn couldn't get enough going to make it pay. Kicker Boris Bede was finally replaced, by Anthony Fera, who provided all the points with four threes in five attempts. Glenn (22-39, 271 yards, two picks) still had a chance, trailing 16-12 with 1:24 left and on the Edmonton 30. Pick. Handed the ball back thanks to a miracle strip -- Pick-6. Game over. Now what?
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 1-6
- Streak: Lost 3
- Next: At Hamilton
Rider Nation went into full meltdown this week after the club was fined for roster cheating, and the team lost its third in a row, two straight to Calgary. We're not going to knock them because Saskatchewan is the one province where football really means something. Still, an emergency intervention by Dr. Phil could be in order. This column picked the Riders to finish around .500 and they'll have to go 8-3 to do it. QB Darian Durant was crunched five times, and had to run for 74 to get something going. There was no offence in the first half until a nice last minute drive produced a touchdown. Game stayed close because a stalwart defence held Bo Mitchell to a below-Bo average outing. Rookie kicker Quinn Van Gylswyk missed two of three, replacing rookie Johnny Mark who was three of four the previous week.