POWER RANKINGS

(previous ranking in parentheses)

1. B.C. LIONS (1)

Another less-than-stellar effort, with some unaccustomed sloppy games from those who are typically reliable (Paul McCallum). But, the Lions find a way to win, as they’ve done more often than not this season. Still the gold standard in this league.

2. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (4)

Give it up to general manager Jim Popp, who has given this team the depth to be able to overcome injuries to the likes of Brandon Whitaker and Brian Bratton. A thoroughly dominant effort in beating the Argos last week to avenge an earlier home-turf loss to Toronto.

3. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (2)

Stampeders didn’t play in Regina with the kind of desperation and urgency that produced their four-game win streak. As Jon Cornish noted (after pulling up his pants), a loss like Sunday’s can serve as a valuable reminder of what it takes to win consistently.

4. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (6)

A much better effort, particularly from the defence, which caused no shortage of problems for the Stampeder offensive line. Saskatchewan looked like the hungrier team, which it should have been considering its on-the-brink playoff position.

5. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (3)

Saturday’s game in Winnipeg will give us some insight into this team’s desire and guts, as well as Scott Milanovich’s abilities as a head coach. Playing without Ricky Ray is a huge challenge; Argos need to win to prove something to their fans and to themselves.

6. EDMONTON ESKIMOS (7)

Yes, they lost to the Lions, and yes, that offence still needs a jump-start. But the Eskimos hung tough — at least until that last play when Steven Jyles and the offence looked like they were still in the first week of training camp. Perhaps Matt Nichols is the answer.

7. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (5)

One step forward, two steps back. That game in Winnipeg was a disgrace. That the Ticats could somehow give up 34 points to Bomber team that scored just three points the week before and is by far the lowest scoring team in the league (the Ticats, by the way, are the highest-scoring) defies imagination.

8. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (8)

It’s a little too early to say the Bombers turned some kind of a corner with last week’s win, but we did finally see their defence deliver the kind of game it’s capable of, and it was nice to see Buck Pierce back on the field doing what he does. Let’s hope he stays healthy for a while.