POWER RANKINGS WEEK 15
1 Calgary (1)
It’s highly likely the road to the Grey Cup will wind its way through Calgary. The Stamps shook off a bad start against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to give themselves plenty of breathing room atop the West. They have a deep corps of receivers, a decent running game, the stingiest defence and a favourable schedule.
2 Edmonton (2)
The Eskimos are basically fighting for the right to host the West semifinal now, which isn’t the worst consolation prize. But with the Grey Cup Nov. 25 at Commonwealth Stadium, it wasn’t what they had in mind.
3 B.C. (5)
Look out for this defence. With 13 sacks and seven picks in the last two games, the Lions steamrolled Ottawa and Montreal. If you’re the Eskimos, these Lions are the object in the rear-view mirror that is much closer than it appears.
4 Saskatchewan (3)
Just because the defence and special teams have combined for jaw-dropping touchdown production doesn’t mean the offence can take the rest of the season off. It only looks that way. Worst in the league with 15 offensive touchdowns and a whopping 76 two-and-outs, the Riders have leaned on their defence all year and when that unit doesn’t get the job done, a loss is all but certain.
5 Ottawa (6)
We might figure out the Redblacks before season’s end, but it seems unlikely. They win games they should lose and vice versa. Their quarterback Trevor Harris looks elite one game and not close the next. They’re neither as good nor as bad as they look any given week. And they’re alone atop the East. Their fate will be sealed by a home-and-home series with Hamilton in October.
6 Hamilton (4)
With top receivers Brandon Banks and Jalen Saunders out last week, QB Jeremiah Masoli decided to throw the ball to somebody else: the Stampeders. Bad idea. He needs to get a handle on that ungainly interception-to-touchdown ratio sooner than later. And they need Banks back from injury in a hurry.
7 Winnipeg (8)
The Bombers are this week’s recipient of the bye-week bump, brought to them by the Alouettes, who reverted to their stumbling, bumbling ways in a home loss to B.C. QB Matt Nichols starts again this week. Will he finish? It has been a tough stretch.
8. Montreal (7)
Rookie QB Antonio Pipkin got one thing right last week. “I played terrible,” he said. Four picks, two for touchdowns. Yes, he did. And yet head coach Mike Sherman let him play the entire game. Let’s see what, if anything, Johnny Manziel can salvage from the last six games or as many as he gets to play.
9 Toronto (9)
If the Argos have any hope of playing in the East semifinal, and that’s really doubtful at this point, they have to show some life this week at home against Saskatchewan. That popgun offence of theirs needs an overhaul. Perhaps we’ll see more of recent addition Duron Carter this week.