CFL Power Rankings: It's Calgary... and everyone else
Unbeaten-in-9 Stampeders running away from the pack
Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through Week 11:
1. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 8-1-1
- Streak: Unbeaten in 9
- Next: at Edmonton
When Jerome Messam was signed as a free agent back in February, some wondered (What? ... Who? ... Me?!!) why they would take a chance on an oft-injured, talented but inconsistent running back. This week, he showed how a dominant rusher can crush an attempted comeback in the late going. Having built up a 21-0 lead in the first half, the White Stallions let the Eskimos back in it. Still a game into the fourth, Messam made his statement with two TDs, one a smack-em-in-the-head run of nine yards, and the other a pure power rumble from 47. He had 18 carries for 100 overall. Calgary averaged an impressive 9.4 yards on first down, and 8.4 on second down. You aren't going to beat 'em giving up those stats. Right now, the league is Calgary... and everyone else.
2. B.C. Lions (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 7-3
- Streak: Won 2
- Next: vs. Montreal
What does Wally Buono see in Jonathon Jennings? Only this ... unable to move the club much all game, the young QB took the ball on his own 26 with 3:32 to go in Toronto, and marched them methodically down the field to put Richie Leone in position for the winning field goal. It was one hell of a drive for someone with about a year's experience, against a defence playing superbly on this night. Poise. Confidence. A run, four passes, four more runs and pow, Leone kicks one through at 0:00 for another win on the road. Jennings also had to survive seeing Argos in his face all night, and it took a while to work it out, certainly. Anthony Allen's 13-for-56 on the ground and the 92 total wasn't huge but when you can approach 100 for the game it makes a difference.
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 6-4
- Streak: Won 5
- Next: vs. Saskatchewan
How do you get the measure of the Bombers in this season of love for Peg fans? Shall we comment on Justin Medlock being forced to kick seven field goals and produce 22 of the team's 28 points as the offence stalled time and again? Or do we focus on how Big Blue is finally paying the metaphorical rent by reeling off five straight victories, cutting off the 11 straight losses to Not Just Regina at Mosaic Field, and taking control of second place in the West? Yes, let's do that. In a weekend of unfinished offensive drives, the Bombers did their share by piling up 341 passing yards from QB Matt Nichols, but only producing a single touchdown. Note to the defence: Don't shut down after one half. Let's play the whole 60 minutes.
4. Ottawa Redblacks (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 5-4-1
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: Bye
A win is a win, and All That Jazz, but dancing around all night for 368 yards only produced 19 points in a victory at Montreal. For a club that had lost two straight, two points and retaining first place was nice, make no mistake. Especially when the defence did a great job on Kevin Glenn, holding the Larks' QB to 205 yards in the air and picking him off twice. On the attack, Trevor Harris drives were stalling all over the place, though in the RB pivot's defence, those nine first half penalties on both sides of the ball either cut off momentum or helped kill field position. Eventually, things worked themselves out and a late victory was secured. Messy though. Not focused. Ottawa seems afraid of making errors right now, and that's leading to mistakes.
5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Up from 6)
- Overall record: 5-5
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: at Toronto
With Zach Collaros back, you can easily see this team making the Grey Cup again, irrespective of a defence that works with the consistency of the television in my Rio hotel room. Four first-half turnovers by the Cats and some shoddy coverage put the Kitties in a 27-7 hole that they simply shrugged off in front of the home Labour Day fans. From three minutes to go in the second quarter, Hamilton outscored Toronto 42-9. That's astonishing, even for someone who grew up watching the awful Argos of the 1970s. Collaros went 28-for-35, 359 yards, four TDs and a pick, while RB C.J. Gable bruised Toronto tacklers on 12 carries for 135 yards. It's as though being down 20 didn't even faze the Kitties – "Ahhh ... we got this."
6. Edmonton Eskimos (Down from 5)
- Overall record: 5-5
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: vs. Calgary
You can't run with the big dog unless you get off the porch. Or play some decent defence. A week after a good effort vs. the puppies from Saskatchewan, Edmonton defenders were decimated by the thundering pack from Calgary. Letting any team build a 21-0 lead makes things difficult, but allowing a great club to do it means you have to expend so much energy just battling back into it, there's often nothing left at the end for the final push. Stamps simply ran off with the fourth quarter. Playing loose pass coverage against Bo Mitchell is a recipe for losing because he'll zip that ball into receivers. Edmonton allowed 498 net yards. QB Mike Reilly was average, going 23-of-36, 219 yards, a TD and two picks. He was also sacked four times, twice early.
7. Montreal Alouettes (Up from 8)
- Overall record: 3-7
- Streak: Lost 2
- Next: at B.C.
Give me some men who are Stouthearted Men and they're probably playing for the Larks' defence. Can somebody get these guys a little help? Too many games this year the defenders have had to carry the load from opening whistle to long walk back to the dressing room. After one good outing vs. Ottawa two weeks back, the offence of Kevin Glenn has stalled again. Six quarters produced 11 points, all this week. Glenn threw five touchdowns in Ottawa but was 21-33, 205 yards and two picks this time out vs. the RBs. Stefan Logan was most of the offence, and he's the kick returner, piling up 142 yards. Glenn's attack averaged just 3.9 yards on 36 first down tries. You can't win regularly with that. Under 20,000 in the stands once again – fans are getting restless.
8. Toronto Argonauts (Down from 7)
- Overall record: 4-6
- Streak: Lost 4
- Next: Hamilton
If this keeps up, we could be on the verge of significant post-season coaching and management changes in Toronto. The return of Ricky Ray at quarterback has produced much better offensive football, and two more losses. Labour Day Week opened with a defeat at home to B.C. where complaints about the way Toronto runs its offence continued. Short passes without Yards After Catch means you have great stats but no points. That was fixed nicely as the week ended with the traditional classic vs. Hamilton when the offence exploded into life for a half, just in time for the defence to implode. Double Blue collapsed completely with the game on the line, getting slashed by the Cats' attack. Awful outing by the defenders after a good one five days before. Dishearting for the fans.
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 1-9
- Streak: Lost 6
- Next: At Winnipeg
OK, that wasn't fair. Bad teams consistently lose the close games, but heavens to Betsy you'd think the sports gods would have let the Riders come back and win this one after working so hard to come back. Down 19-3 late in the third and going nowhere, Saskatchewan started to tune up their strings as QB Darian Durant threw his first TD pass in four games, hit the two pointer, led them down again before running it in himself on an option, and then took the convert in on another sneak. A later Kendial Lawrence punt return tied it with a few minutes left. Overtime? A chance at keeping the 11 game win streak against Winnipeg in Regina alive? No fairy tales this season – the defence gave it up on a key pass interference that led to the losing field goal.