POWER RANKINGS
1 ( 1) EDMONTON
The Eskimos ( 6- 0) are an amazing story. Despite a scroll- like injury list, Edmonton keeps finding a way to win. Quarterback Mike Reilly is one of the few key offensive players who has yet to be sidelined. Despite a variety of moving parts, Reilly keeps producing and winning. He has to be the early front- runner for CFL most- outstanding- player honours.
2 ( 2) CALGARY
The Stampeders are unsurprisingly looking like a meat grinder, having outscored the opposition 128-35 during a three- game winning streak. The only qualifier: The three victories have been at the expense of non- powerhouses ( Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Toronto). But the great teams win the games they should win, and Calgary has done precisely that since suffering a surprising loss to Montreal.
3 ( 3) B.C.
The Lions downed the visitors from Saskatchewan 30-15 on Saturday. The Roughriders trailed 30- 0 before scoring two garbage- time touchdowns. B.C. deserves to move up in the rankings but, really, how can anyone bump Edmonton or Calgary right now?
4 (4) WINNIPEG
The Blue Bombers (4- 2) would be 5-1 had they not blown a 17- point fourth- quarter lead against B.C. on July 21. Winnipeg is equally capable of celebrating the improbable, given its propensity for late- game dramatics. Quarterback Matt Nichols simply refuses to lose. He isn’t the flashiest quarterback, but he has consistently delivered since becoming the No. 1 signal- caller last season.
5 ( 6) TORONTO
Situated in a difficult market, the Argonauts can hardly afford to have a losing record ( they are 3- 4). The Argos need a healthy, effective Ricky Ray to have any chance of making inroads. Toronto’s defence was receiving plaudits before the Boatmen were outscored 79- 51 over a two- game span. Nonetheless, the Argos move up one spot simply by virtue of leading the East Division.
6 ( 7) OTTAWA
The defending Grey Cup champions are a puzzle. The offence, led by quarterback Trevor Harris and receiver Greg Ellingson, is dangerous. But the Redblacks are also explosive late in games, when everything tends to blow up in their faces.
7 ( 8) MONTREAL
Darian Durant is settling in as the Alouettes’ quarterback, as evidenced by his average of 290 passing yards per game. This week’s matchup with Toronto will include an interesting subplot. In 2013, Durant quarterbacked the Corey Chamblin- coached Roughriders to a Grey Cup victory. Chamblin is now the defensive coordinator for the Argos, who will play Montreal each of the next two weeks.
8 ( 5) SASKATCHEWAN
The Roughriders were exposed Saturday in Vancouver — hence the threespot descent. It would be four, except for the Ticats.
9 ( 9) HAMILTON
There is a pulse. The Tiger-Cats took the front-running Eskimos down to the final play on Friday, losing 33-28. Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros threw three touchdown passes despite being subjected to unrelenting pressure.