CFL Power Rankings: Stamps hold off Redblacks to stay on top
Calgary faces stiff test from Ottawa but remain unbeaten in 11
Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through Week 12:
1. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 10-1-1
- Streak: Unbeaten in 11
- Next: Winnipeg
Ottawa came in this week and gave it a run against the White Stallions, falling finally because of porous defence, and errors. Take note Stamps – if you see them again and they have this straightened out, the game will be tougher. Last time out was a tie. Stat picking turned up a good one – Calgary produced an average of 10.2 yards on second down. That'll kill the other team every time. QB Bo Mitchell (25-of-35, 353 yards, two TDs and zero picks) cruised along on Jon Cornish Day with 415 net and zero giveaways. He combined with Marquay McDaniel for 102 of them, including an early play that made defender Andre Pruneau look like a rookie. Hard to do. Defender Alex Singleton had 11 tackles, and Jamar Wall contributed a super 60-yard pick six.
2. B.C. Lions (Unchanged, bye)
- Overall record: 8-3
- Streak: Won 3
- Next: Edmonton
Back from Rio, we caught up with a Sept. 10 piece in the Vancouver Province about the lack of fans coming out to see this strong Lions team. The comments on it were revealing – high prices, long travel to games, parking, Sky Train tickets, easier to watch on TV, etc. Whatever the reason, it certainly isn't watching a lousy team. Wally Buono's boys come out of the bye at 8-3, not giving up first place just yet, and trying to stay ahead of the oncoming Blue Bombers. They will have been off 14 days by the time the ball is kicked-off, so rust may be a factor. Wally added a familiar name in former Cats' star Terrell Sinkfield, recently cut by Minnesota. He had 1,030 yards in Hamilton last season and adds a deep threat. Five games left against West teams.
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 8-4
- Streak: Won 7
- Next: @ Calgary
Halftime angst ("We're going to find a way to lose this, you watch!") has become a thing of past seasons. Down six into the room, and 13 points shy shortly after, Big Blue throttled up a gear or two and ran the Argos out of the home park. That's seven straight and six points up on at least a cross-over playoff spot, with six games to go. Been a while since a Peg fan can look at another Peg fan and say "We got this" and actually mean it. QB Matt Nichols ran a balanced attack that produced 121 yards on the ground, 232 in the air, and 349 net. Weston Dressler led with eight catches for 93 yards. Best signing in the CFL off-season is now clear – kicker Justin Medlock, six for six on this day.
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Up from 5)
- Overall record: 6-6
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: @ Saskatchewan
When things aren't going right with your stars, you look for other sweater numbers to fill in void. Kitties beat Montreal at home on a rough night for the offence, thanks to a kicker, and to a running back most of you have never heard of. Brett Maher produced four field goals on four attempts, adding up 13 of Hamilton's 20 points. Ross Scheuerman, (look him up, this guy has followed the dream), bulled his way for 79 needed yards on 16 carries, plus 40 in the air. He replaces the injured C.J. Gable. Zach Collaros (25-36, 291 yards, one TD, two picks) was fine statistically, but tossed two early interceptions (one terrible) that cut off scoring chances. Defence put up a wall, allowing no majors.
5. Ottawa Redblacks (Down from 4)
- Overall record: 5-5-1
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: Toronto
The Redblacks jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Calgary this week then never looked forward. This time last year Ottawa was on a roll and believing anything was possible. Now, they look nervous about what's coming next. Trevor Harris had produced some good plays in the first half, then with 2:25 to go he made a poor decision and a pick-six went the other way. Offence didn't recover after that. So many drives came up short and the RBs produced just 17 first downs, plus 324 mostly empty yards. A telling point was the 3.2-yard average on second-down plays. Can be worked on. The defence had zero picks, zero knockdowns, and one sack. No presence. Through sheer will and tenacity they stayed close against the top team – this is a good thing.
6. Edmonton Eskimos (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 5-7
- Streak: Lost 3
- Next: B.C.
It is unacceptable to be outplayed by a one-victory team when you need a win to stay in the hunt. Last week, they played well and lost in OT to Calgary. This week they played poorly and lost in OT to the bottom-feeding Riders. Both are still losses. Basically, the Eskimos are keeping the East's third place team right in the playoff race, because of the crossover. Over the last two games, QB Mike Reilly led his team to 836 net yards, without enough points to show for it. Partly, the yards are coming on occasional big plays, rather than consistently enough to finish drives. They are out of synch, and cannot rely on kicker Sean Whyte to carry them into the playoffs. This is still the defending champ, however, and you don't back off until they are down for the count.
7. Toronto Argonauts (Unchanged)
- Overall record: 5-7
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: @ Ottawa
Coordinator Rich Stubler's "bend not break" defence is broken. Stubler was brought back as the guru, and money was spent to sign some talent, and it has rarely come together. The offence did everything needed to produce a huge road win as Dan LeFevour created 432 yards of net offence, and four TDs, while between the QB and Brandon Whitaker they had 167 yards in rushing. But the defence crumbled in the face of Winnipeg's second-half attack. Double Blue were outscored 27-7 in the final half, and you can't blame "exhaustion" because Toronto's defenders were on the field for just four more plays than the Bombers. Peg scored on all six of its last drives (two FGs, three TDs, FG).
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Up from 9)
- Overall record: 2-10
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: Hamilton
There were 60 minutes plus OT to this surprise win over Edmonton, but we're going to start at the beginning with a play that set the tone. Darian Durant dropped back on the second play from scrimmage, found no one open, dodged two tacklers and took off on a 25-yard scramble. Message: I'm here to play, let's go. Doesn't matter that no points resulted. Then the defenders picked it up and fought like cornered prairie dogs, ripping the ball out of a receiver's hands at one point for a touchdown the other way. When down into the fourth, the Riders clawed back in – old Bill Baker would have loved it. At the end, Durant ended as he started, running in the OT winner. There are no stats in this, because it wasn't about that. This week was about heart and desire. Fans deserved it.
9. Montreal Alouettes (Down from 8)
- Overall record: 3-9
- Streak: Lost 4
- Next: Bye
So Jacques Chapdelaine is now the head coach, as Jim Popp leaves the sidelines to concentrate on what to do for next year. Makes sense. You aren't going to drop Anthony Calvillo into the job, as he's only been the full-time offensive coordinator for less than a year. There are other choices on the staff who can do this, but let them start fresh. Montreal needs new players, and some sense of team unity. Als had an early 8-0 lead thanks to a superb punt block and touchdown run by Duron Carter, but produced just two field goals, a single and a safety touch the rest of the way in Hamilton. Defence good. Offence dropping little poops all over the place. Montreal must find out from here on if Rakeem Cato is the 2017 starting quarterback, and give Vernon Adams, Jr. a look.