POWER RANKINGS

9 WEEK

1 (1) EDMONTON

The Eskimos are 7-0 and it is to marvel. Yes, Edmonton’s lineup includes the league’s best player this season — quarterback Mike Reilly — but significant injuries continue to mount. The ranks of the receivers and running backs have been decimated, but that is not a deterrent to Reilly. He keeps making plays, especially at crucial junctures, and carries himself as a consummate leader.

2 (2) CALGARY

The Stampeders maintained their second-place ranking during a bye week — intricate process, this — and are now preparing for Friday’s game against a B.C. team that should be determined to make amends for (alliteration warning!) Sunday’s surprising stinker in Saskatchewan.

3 (4) WINNIPEG

Interesting team, these Blue Bombers. They boast a 5-2 record despite allowing slightly more than 31 points per game in regulation time. Saturday’s game was a rare exception for the Bombers, who won by a comfortable margin, 39-12, over hapless Hamilton. Winnipeg typically treats fans to a down-to-the-wire classic.

4 (3) B.C.

The Lions looked like they were (another alliteration warning!) a top-tier team until Sunday, when they lost 41-8 to the host Roughriders only eight days after defeating Saskatchewan 30-15 in Vancouver. The Lions were a turnover machine and could not protect the quarterback.

5 (7) MONTREAL

The East-leading Alouettes celebrated a victory of the ages, or aged, over Toronto. Darian Durant, who turns 35 on Saturday, threw two touchdown passes. Three of his completions were to Nik Lewis, 35. John Bowman, also 35, had a sack and a forced fumble. Kyries Hebert had a game-high eight defensive tackles to go with a fumble recovery. He turns 37 in October. The Alouettes may well boast the finest masters team in CFL history. No word yet on possible comebacks by Peter Dalla Riva and Mike Pringle.

6 (8) SASKATCHEWAN

The Riders are upwardly mobile in the rankings after a thrashing of B.C. The Riders, who are on a bye week, can now savour a big victory for an uncommonly long period.

7 (5) TORONTO

After an encouraging start, the Argos have been bounced in three consecutive games — most recently on Friday, when they lost 21-9 in Montreal. Toronto’s defence, choreographed by Corey Chamblin, kept the visitors in the game despite a shaky start. However, the Argos’ offence without Ricky Ray was not able to deliver.

8 (6) OTTAWA

The defending Grey Cup champs continue to absorb hard-luck losses. The Redblacks (1-6-1) have lost six games by a combined 20 points. They have twice thrown a scare into the front-running Eskimos, only to lose by margins of two and seven. Despite the dismal record, Ottawa is still in the thick of the East (Least?) Division, er, race. A West team would be sunk at 1-6-1. Location, location, location.

9 (9) HAMILTON

The Tiger-Cats are 0-7 and a riveting study only because of TSN’s sideline close-ups of head coach Kent Austin. An offensive genius, Austin nonetheless presides over a team ill-equipped to move the ball — often due to a chronic inability to protect quarterback Zach Collaros. Will the TigerCats ever escape the No. 9 spot? Rob Vanstone