POWER RANKINGS WEEK 5
1. Calgary (1)
A team doesn’t lose the No. 1 spot in a bye week unless the previous No. 2 or No. 3 squad does something spectacular to stage a coup in absentia. Didn’t happen. Hamilton lost a tough road game in Regina, the Eskimos totally stubbed their toes in Toronto. So the Stamps’ uninterrupted reign at the top continues.
2. Winnipeg (6)
Sure, that looks like a crazy big jump up the rankings. But the Bombers got their starting pivot back, destroyed B.C. to reach .500 and, as a bonus, they now have an athletic backup quarterback with the game-inspired confidence necessary to reel off a 26-yard romp or toss for a big gain on second- or third-and-short. Suddenly, there isn’t a better quarterback combination than Matt Nichols and Chris Streveler.
3. Hamilton (2)
A road-heavy schedule has contributed to a .500 start for the Tabbies, who head into a bye week, then play two straight at home. Ticat losses in Regina last week and Calgary in Week 1 have had the same basic look: strong defence, plenty of passing yards on offence, but not nearly enough precision or points in the red zone.
4. Ottawa (4)
The Redblacks’ uptempo, mostly nohuddle offence is designed to strike quickly and wear down defences. Against the Als, it did exactly that. However, beating the worst team in the CFL by just 10 points isn’t enough to warrant a move up the rankings.
5. Edmonton (3)
They’re another 2-2 team with puzzling deficiencies week to week. In Toronto, the Esks couldn’t get out of their own way on offence for too long and couldn’t stop anything early on defence. Some of their head coach’s mystifying decisions aren’t helping, including an ill-advised challenge on what he saw as a Toronto fumble. It cost them a crucial timeout they needed late.
6. Saskatchewan (7)
Until head coach Chris Jones stops the quarterback shenanigans, the Riders will be vulnerable to inconsistency that will cost them points and games. However, given the prowess of their defensive personnel and Jones’ penchant for scheming, they will also win some on defence.
7. Toronto (8)
With James Franklin at the helm, the offence put up 12 quick points against Edmonton and staged a late comeback after having the ball for just nine minutes through the second and third quarters combined. They won’t win many more that way.
8. B.C. (5)
The week’s biggest losers have all kinds of trouble generating sustained offence with Jonathon Jennings under centre and still cannot stop the run. That’s a recipe for a lengthy stay at or near the bottom.
9. Montreal (9)
Their listless home loss to Ottawa was the perfect example of why the Als have remained in the basement for five straight weeks. The offence shows almost no potential for the big play, the defence starts well, but has to be on the field too long and opponents inevitably take advantage.