CFL Power Rankings: Week 3

CBC Sports football contributor Malcolm Kelly breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League on a weekly basis.

Here's how he ranks the Canadian Football League teams after Week 3:

1. Calgary Stampeders (Up from 5)

Record: 2-1

Streak: Won 1

Next: Winnipeg

Welcome to the first Pan Am Games edition of the Power Rankings, where pretty much everything is temporary and can be taken down.

Young Quinn Smith started the game vs. Toronto as a backup defensive lineman and finished as an offensive guard. Not that unusual in this league with limited rosters, except he'd never done it before – as in, ever. A happy story created by a bad one, the loss of tackles Edwin Harrison and Dan Federkeil to injury just three minutes apart. QB Bo Mitchell (303 yards) played much better after taking silly criticism for his first two games as though he's suddenly lost it. He led his makeshift O-Line on a 13-play drive late in the fourth for three key points that sealed the win.

2. Toronto Argonauts (Down from 1)

Record: 2-1

Streak: Lost 1

Next: BYE

The Argos' Covered Wagon Tour of the West continued with a loss to the Stamps that left them annoyed. QB Trevor Harris, making his fourth start all-time, blamed himself on national TV after two outstanding performances coming in. Understandable, as 20-for-34, 223, 1 pick, wasn't good by his high standards. And another indication he can be a top-level pivot in this league. Defensively, something is wrong in the backfield as the club is getting killed in the deep corners. Too many bad turnovers all around. Still, two out of three in the west is pretty good. B.C. still to go.

3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Unchanged - BYE)

Record: 1-1

Streak: Won 1

Next: @ Montreal

With Pan Am soccer taking up the new gigs until the end of July, the Cats had a week off before repairing up the ridge for Montreal preparation. This player in, that player out, RB Nic Grigsby released. Pretty quiet, though. The Kitties were so intense in their first two games, following a hard-working training camp, they needed a little time to regroup, especially with all their injuries. This defence will be a handful for Montreal's rookie pivot Rakeem Cato, and it will have two games of film to look at.

4. B.C. Lions (Up from seven)

Record: 1-1

Streak: Won 1

Next: @ Saskatchewan

A healthy Travis Lulay made his first start at B.C. Place since September of 2013 and immediately showed why he's been sorely missed. Still not in synch with his offence, the QB was mediocre for most of the contest before leading the Leos to 11 points in the final two-plus minutes and forced overtime vs. the Riders, where he drove for the winning major. The first of those TDs was on a pair of sharp throws. B.C's big time defence gave up too much for most of the game, but when the wood chips were down it was terrific.

5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Up from 6)

Record: 2-1

Streak: Won 1

Next: @ Calgary

Out onto the 100F field came the Bombers, under a lot of heat from the fans for their last outing. Big Blue's defence made sure is would be a happy weekend by producing 13 of the team's 25 points thanks to a strong attack on Montreal rookie QB Rakeem Cato. A Pick-6 major and a blocked punt did the trick. QB Drew Willy, literally knocked out in Week 2, was back and went 20-for-29, 251 yards but he couldn't finish any drives. Getting more from the running backs is required here. Have to improve offence to beat Calgary.

6. Edmonton Eskimos (Up from 8)

Record: 1-1

Streak: Won 1

Next: @Ottawa

Rookie DB John Ojo (Ojo Veinte Seis) picked off a pass halfway through the first quarter against the Redblacks for six and the rout was on. Backup QB Matt Nicholls had some bumpy moments in for Mike Reilly but he did more than enough to win with three TDs. He also shuffle-passed a Pick 6 right to a defender on a play I can't recall seeing before, and I'm old. It was 36-8 at halftime as the defence beat the tar out of the visitors in every department. With all the hard injury news and that lousy start in Week 1, the Eskies needed this one. K Grant Shaw is struggling with the new 32-yard convert distance.

7. Montreal Alouettes (Down from 4)

Record: 1-2

Streak: Lost 1

Next: Hamilton

Rakeem Cato learned this week he may be Marshall, but he still has a learning curve to be a pro quarterback. After his brilliant debut, the rookie faced a Bomber defence armed with 60 minutes of film and a plan – blitz from the edges and force errors. Cato obliged with two first half picks, one for the score. He learned. Using RB Tyrell Sutton to keep the D honest, Cato had some nice looking drives later on, falling just short. The Larks may … may … have something here in this youngster. Montreal's own defenders were solid, though let down early by mistakes from the offence and special teams.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (Down from 2)

Record: 2-1

Streak: Lost 1

Next: Edmonton

When Bad Henry goes off he really goes with gusto. QB Burris had been on his best behavior in the year's early going but against Edmonton there was no holding him. His desperation, falling-down, what-the-hell pass attempt in the first quarter that went for a Pick-6 was an all-time classic. Hey, pretty much the whole team stunk this week. If this were an experienced club you could chalk it up as one of those thangs, but when you're in Year 2, there's no way to tell if that was a mirage or the first two weeks were. So many mental errors in northern Alberta.

9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged)

Record: 0-3

Streak: Lost 3

Next: B.C.

Well … the offence is good. That defence, however, has to learn how to close out games. Against Toronto, it was a last minute field-long drive to allow the Argos into overtime, where the defenders gave up two more scores to lose. This week vs. B.C., there was an 11-point lead with just over two minutes left and somehow the Green and White allowed a touchdown and field goal to tie, then a TD in OT for the loss. Head scratching decision by coaches to go on third and one with :52 to go, rather than punt deep. Last week, it was still early so no panic. This week it's kind of early, so no time to panic – much.