CFL Power Rankings: Week 8

Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams after Week 8:

1. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Unchanged)

Record: 5-2

Streak: Won 4

Next: at Edmonton 

Brandon Banks took a little dump pass from Zach Collaros on the first drive against B.C. and ran his 150 pounds into all-star linebacker Solomon Elimimian and his 225 pounds of muscle. Elimimian wound up on the ground, Banks in the end zone and the Cats were on their way to a crushing of the Lions. Hamilton is now 10-0 at Tim Hortons Field and this week looked every bit the best team in the league. Zach Collaros was 19-of-23, 290 yards, four TDs and a perfect QB rating. That's seven touchdowns passing in two games. Banks had 203 total yards. The defence offered up four sacks, two picks (one for a 6), and forced two fumbles (one for a 6). 

2. Calgary Stampeders (Up from 3)

Record: 5-2

Streak: Won 2

Next: at Saskatchewan

Apparently the biggest lesson the Stamps learned from an overtime loss in Ottawa three weeks back was humiliation. So this week they circled the cavalry, sounded charge and ran over the Redblacks, stomping them into the ground. Bo Mitchell, playing the handsome lead in this Western film, stood tall and proud in a pocket that leaked at times and found receivers willing to make plays everywhere he looked. The defence was outstanding, the kicking was strong, the guy who brought coach John Hufnagel (now 9-0 coming off bye weeks) his cold drinks on the sideline was superb. 

3. Edmonton Eskimos (Down from 2)

Record: 5-2

Streak: Won 1

Next: vs. Hamilton

A terrible first quarter was overcome by sparkling defence and just (just) enough attack to create the 15 points needed for the win at Montreal. The Als also have a strong defence, but neither Matt Nichols nor James Franklin could come up with a touchdown on the night. That was left to third stringer Jordan Lynch. Grant Shaw, who was perfect coming in, lost his mind for the night, missing three field goals before nailing the winner when it counted. As long as the defence continues to dominate, wins will result. There will come a time when the offence has to contribute regularly, however. 

4. Toronto Argonauts (Up from 5)

Record: 5-2

Streak: Won 2

Next: vs. Ottawa

Things weren't so hot for the Argos in steamy Winnipeg this week until the hosts handed them two opportunities to make things right. And the Double Blue did that, combining an A.J. Jefferson 70-yard punt return TD in the fourth quarter with a fumble on the next Bomber series that produced the winning score. You take a game like that, run to the plane and get home ASAP. Wonderful night for RB Chad Kackert, the 2012 Grey Cup MVP who has been out since 2013 with injuries. Kackert carried 12 times for 73 yards (a 6.1-yard average), blocked well and showed what perseverance is about. 

5. Montreal Alouettes (Up from 7)

Record: 2-5

Streak: Lost 3

Next: at B.C.

If the Larks had any kind of offence they would have been home and dried by the end of the first quarter against Edmonton. They don't, so an interception, an Eskimos fumble deep in the opposition zone and a pick 6 turned into just nine points. Having a superb defence, as the Als do, doesn't help if the ball isn't moving the other way. Young QB Rakeem Cato is not ready yet (no rookie QB is ready for 2-3 years in most cases) so Montreal now has to make a decision with Tanner Marsh back off the injured list. An offensive line would also help — Cato was sacked eight times. 

6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Up from 8)

Record: 3-5

Streak: Lost 2

Next: Bye

Against the league's elite (two losses to Hamilton and one to Edmonton), the Blue Bombers have been hopeless, outscored 122-37. Against the mushy middle, however, they are a competitive 3-2 and should have beaten Toronto on a strong defensive outing, only to be killed by a special teams letdown and a fumble, both in the fourth quarter. In this year's West Division, mushy might be enough to make the post-season. Robert Marve made his first start at QB (as Drew Willy is out for 6-8 weeks) and was OK (18-for-29) but spent too much time looking around — normal in a debut. 

7. B.C. Lions (Down from 6)

Record: 3-4

Streak: Lost 1

Next: vs. Montreal 

The Leos had been saying earlier in the week that the key to beating the Cats at Hamilton was not to let them get an early lead. It was 21-0 after one quarter and 31-10 at halftime. QB Travis Lulay was under fire right from the get-go and threw a pair of picks before mercifully being replaced by John Beck. This was a total team effort, as B.C. allowed seven touchdowns, four by the defence, two by the offence on turnovers and one on special teams. Worse, star LB Solomon Elimimian went down with an Achilles injury and is out indefinitely. Those 52 points were the most this club has given up in 12 years.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (Down from 4)

Record: 4-3

Streak: Lost 1

Next: at Toronto

Just when you thought the RBs were looking like super heroes … KAPOWIE! A normally strong defence was playing touch football out in Calgary, waving at all the pretty white horses as they thundered by. It was 31-3 at halftime. Poor Henry Burris was hit so hard a couple of times there were instant betting pools online as to whether the old QB would get up. He did. Old Henry's tough. And they got him out of there for the second half. Ten first downs, 162 yards net offence, five sacks for the game. Now watch them go into Toronto and bust up the Argos. 

9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged — Bye)

Record: 0-7

Streak: Lost 7

Next: vs. Calgary 

The rebuild for next year began this week with the release of veteran DB Geoff Tisdale, and look for the club to continue getting younger. Better on defence would also be nice. Riders have given up 110 yards rushing and 290 yards passing per game. That's 400 yards (still better than B.C., by the way). Rebuilding the defence is top of the list. And if the Redblacks can construct a decent one by good scouting and somebody else's discards, Saskatchewan can too. Especially when they already have talented pieces to work with. Brett Smith should be the QB the rest of the way to see if he's the real deal.