POWER RANKINGS

16 WEEK

1. Calgary (1) The Stamps missed out on Saturday’s triple-header shenanigans, but return to action against the sputtering Argos. It’s not guaranteed win night at McMahon Stadium; at least, not officially. But Calgary is 6-0 at home, the Argos 0-5 on the road.

2. B.C. (3) The Lions are the hottest team in the league, winners of three straight, and are seemingly intent on playing in the West semifinal. Or hosting it. Which would be nice, considering the covered stadium and the ocean and the mountains and the sushi and Stanley Park and the Gastown steam whistle.

3. Ottawa (5) It’s Week 16 and rookie kicker Lewis Ward is still en fuego. Are we completely sure he isn’t Dave Ridgway’s love child? He went 7-for-7 for the second time this season and with 37 consecutive successful field goals, he is two short of the all-time CFL record held by Calgary’s Rene Paredes. The kid needs a nickname, stat. And the Redblacks need to find the end zone on occasion. You know, in case he starts to miss.

4. Saskatchewan (4) The Riders beat the Argos. Big deal. But they did it with offence and a 56-yarder from kicker Brett Lauther. Bigger deal. But they also needed the Argos’ unfortunate kicking game to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, which it did when Zack Medeiros missed from 36 and 51 yards. So yeah, less of a big deal.

5. Edmonton (2) Despite the ongoing chemistry between QB Mike Reilly and WR Duke Williams, that high-powered offence isn’t getting it done on a regular basis. Who knew Derel Walker was that integral to their success? Everybody? Right. Anyway, no matter what the offence does or doesn’t accomplish, that spongy defence isn’t going to give them a prayer in the East semifinal. Did we say East? We meant West. Maybe.

6. Hamilton (6) The Tabbies are a dismal 3-6 against West opponents with the Lions on tap to close out that portion of their schedule. With two games upcoming against Ottawa, they can still fight for top spot in the East, but they all need to be sharper. That includes kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, who missed a 42-yarder in OT in B.C., and head coach June Jones, who opted for a punt rather than a 43-yard field goal try late in the fourth that would have given the Ticats a 10-point lead and likely sealed the deal before OT.

7. Winnipeg (7) It was a costly home win over lowly Montreal as the Bombers lost RB Andrew Harris, LB Adam Bighill and receiver Nic Demski to injury. If none of them return soon, that uphill climb into the East or West semifinal will be infinitely harder to fathom than it was last week. But at least the Investors Group Field fans have stopped booing QB Matt Nichols.

8. Toronto (9) Theirs is a slightly longer string, but see below.

9. Montreal (8) Just playing out the string now.