POWER RANKINGS 14 WEEK
1. Calgary (1)
The Stamps’ season-long hold on the top spot here has never been more tenuous. They racked up almost 600 yards of offence in their loss to the Eskimos, but gave the ball away seven times and surrendered 48 points, almost three times their season average going into the Labour Day rematch. This week they head into Hamilton, where the Tabbies are heating up. There might be a new No. 1 next week.
2. Edmonton (3)
There has to be a rankings prize for beating the Stamps, so the Eskimos climb a spot as they head into their bye week before taking on Ottawa and Winnipeg, two teams headed in the wrong direction.
3. Saskatchewan (2)
The Riders are fresh off a win over Winnipeg, which means much less now than it would have when the Bombers were firing on all cylinders. The Riders did it without an offensive touchdown, a testament to the continuing strength of this team: its defence. They drop a spot here because the Eskimos knocked off the reigning No. 1.
4. Hamilton (4)
Let’s hold off moving the Tabbies back into the upper third of the rankings until we see them in action against Calgary. Hamilton’s threegame winning streak comes mostly at the expense of Toronto, which should temper expectations a tad. But the Tabbies’ offence is on fire and its defence is holding, so there is reason to believe they will find themselves back on top of the East Division sooner than later.
5. B.C. (6)
Quarterback Travis Lulay didn’t finish the win over Ottawa last week, but there is a chance he’ll start against Montreal and that may be crucial to the Lions’ chances of escaping the West Division basement. Their defence was dominant in a win over the Redblacks, but the offence has to step it up.
6. Ottawa (5)
The roller-coaster ride that head coach Rick Campbell didn’t want to acknowledge has come to an end. Their offence isn’t generating any upward momentum at all.
7. Montreal (8)
The bye-week bump makes its way to Montreal this week. The Als were still celebrating back-to-back wins last week and move up a notch here thanks to the plummeting Winnipeggers. They get B.C. at home and have a decent shot at a three-game winning streak. Not bad for a team that won three games all of last season.
8. Winnipeg (7)
The Winnipeg gunslingers continue to blast away at their own feet. Beleaguered quarterback Matt Nichols appears to want to do too much and is only capable of doing exactly enough to help the other team win. Head coach Mike O’Shea wants to stand by his man, but that’s a dangerous place to be these days. That said, backup Chris Streveler didn’t light it up in relief against Saskatchewan. This is a team in free fall.
9.
Toronto (9)
Maybe Duron Carter can play quarterback. Seriously though, the Argos are in a heap of trouble on offence.