POWER RANKINGS

WEEK 11

1. Calgary (1)

The Stamps were out of sync and more than a little over-confident on offence and uncharacteristically porous on defence to start what turned into their first loss of the season in Regina last week. But there isn’t a better, deeper team in the league. At least not yet.

2. Edmonton (3)

With QB Mike Reilly spreading the ball to eight receivers for 424 yards, the Eskimos dispatched the improving Alouettes easily enough last week. They still took too many penalties and gave up five sacks, but it was a decent, all-around effort on home soil. The next three games, in Hamilton and then a home-and-home with Calgary, should accurately define what the Eskimos will be down the stretch.

3. Ottawa (4)

The best of a bad lot in the East Division has been undervalued for much of the season, but is receiving some respect now. Fact is, the Redblacks have lost only to Calgary (twice) and Toronto in a last-play stunner. In the last two games, quarterback Trevor Harris has been red hot. He threw for 487 yards in a comeback win over Montreal, then waltzed into Winnipeg and dropped 361 and a touchdown on a Bombers defence that had been tough against the pass.

4. Saskatchewan (6)

A healthy, prepared Zach Collaros makes all the difference in the world for the Riders. Though his passing numbers were modest against Calgary — 270 yards and no touchdowns — he engineered several long drives and made smart decisions under pressure. The Riders won the turnover battle 5-1 and their swarming defence, led again by the apparently ageless Charleston Hughes, sacked Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell five times. The Riders finally look like a team on the rise.

5. Winnipeg (2)

There may be trouble brewing at Investors Group Field, where fans booed the return of starting quarterback Matt Nichols late in a lousy loss to the Redblacks last week after he had suffered an elbow injury.

6. Toronto (7)

That’s a pair of close shaves for the Argos under the guidance of new starting QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. They get the Alouettes in Montreal next and a three-game winning streak would put them back on solid ground.

7. B.C. (5)

The Lions cannot find even a shred of consistency. They are 3-5, have yet to put back-to-back wins together and entertain the giantkilling Riders next.

8. Hamilton (8)

At a pedestrian 3-5, the Tabbies are losing touch with the East Division’s front-running Redblacks and look more like a bottom feeder than the challenger they appeared to be after a 2-1 burst from the gate.

9. Montreal (9)

A dismal 3-15 record last year has bled into a disappointing 1-8 first half of this season and it wouldn’t surprise most observers if ownership decided to start shuffling the deck chairs soon. That said, there is hope for the future, Johnny Manziel and Antonio Pipkin are good, young quarterbacks and the Alouettes have some talent on defence. But there is little hope for the present.