CFL Power Rankings: Stampeders still team to beat

Malcolm Kelly breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League.

1. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)

• Overall Record: 7-1-1
• Streak: Unbeaten in 8
• Next: Edmonton

Looked like an old fashioned CFL shootout there for a bit, until the game with Hamilton settled into an old fashioned beat 'em up. What gave this to the White Stallions was their discipline – taking just five penalties for 22 yards while the Cats had 14. One of the Stamps flags was bothersome as a 115-yard pick 6 by Tommie Campbell with under two minutes to go was called back due to illegal contact by Joe Burnett. He was about 3 cm outside the five-yard "chuck" area and on the other side of the field. Ticky-Tacky. No matter, Rene Paredes hit a 45 yarder (his fifth field goal) with :37 left to seal the deal. Putting mics on the QBs was kind of cool, but the nomenclature is like a foreign language so the novelty will wear off quickly. You can see these teams in the Grey Cup.

2. B.C. Lions (Up from 3)

• Overall record: 6-3
• Streak: Won 1
• Next: At Toronto

Four yards and a cloud of those little black rubber pieces they make the turf out of these days can be a strong answer in a defensive battle, and the Leos needed every one of them in a victory over Ottawa on the road. Led by Anthony Allen (13-for-76), B.C. piled up 128 on the ground. QB Jonathon Jennings took them on a 10 play, 81-yard drive with time running out to steal this one away in the Land of the Selfie. Not that everything was peachy – the O-line allowed six sacks, specials gave up 203 in returns. On the other foot, Leos took three penalties. Defensively, this was a gem for the guys in the Clemson road uniforms, pressuring the pivot all night. B.C. is now 4-1 on the road. Toronto is next on the trip, and you don't want to wreck the mood by losing.

Lions defeat Redblacks in Ottawa1:04

3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Up from 4)

• Overall record: 5-4
• Streak: Won 4
• Next: At Saskatchewan

There must be a moment when Holy Cow ends and you treat a team as a legit playoff contender. That's now for the Bombers, winners of four straight. Montreal had the Peg offence in check for much of the game, keeping four promising drives down to field goals. It took most of the second half for either team to get inside the other's 30, and it was Matt Nichols who came through, leading the O on a five play drive for a field goal, and nine plays for a major. Big Blue won this because of their maturing, ball happy defence, one that now has 17 picks, adding to the total with two in the late going. Nobody is as good at takeaways across the league right now than this group. Don't get arrogant and let down in Regina.

4. Ottawa Redblacks (Down from 2)

• Overall record: 4-4-1
• Streak: Lost 2
• Next: At Montreal

The RBs are finding out how tough this league is when the other team isn't surprised any more. A defensive affair with B.C. turned because Ottawa couldn't tackle and took dumb penalties. RBs only saw seven flags all night, but each one seemed to be at the worst time. Where the tackling really hurt was on specials, as Ottawa gave up 200 yards on returns. Lions gave up 203, but weren't as docked by it. QB Trevor Harris, making his first start in front of a healthy Henry Burris, rather than because of injury, went 23-of-30, 353 yards, 1 TD, no picks, but he was also sacked four times and fumbled twice. Of the four losses, three have been at home. Injury report: GM Marcel Desjardins went down with a knee problem after being run over on the sidelines after a kick return.

5. Edmonton Eskimos (Up from 6)

• Overall record: 5-4
• Streak: Won 3
• Next: At Calgary

Lesson for the week: If you shut down too early on anybody, even Saskatchewan, you might be embarrassed. An impressive first half had a big crowd in hysterics as the Eskimos went up 22-3. Blowout! Revenge on Chris Jones for leaving us!! With three minutes to go in the game, the visitors were sitting within a touchdown after 22 points of their own following the interval. It was up to the defence to lock it down, and it did. RB Shakir Bell was on a mission, carrying 18 times for 138 yards. Add that to the scampering by QB Mike Reilly and Edmonton put the ball on the ground 24 times, almost unheard of these days. Sean Whyte kicked 12 points. Now, the Labour Day back-to-backs with Calgary and a chance for first place.

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Down from 5)

• Overall record: 4-5
• Streak: Lost 1
• Next: Toronto

What came between the Cats and a victory in Calgary was too many orange hankies. There were 14 in total, 11 in the opening half. Where they really hurt was on returns taking away good field position in a game that turned on where you started drives. Now that Zach Collaros has returned, Hamilton is back to its John Stewart offence (Bombs Away Dream Babies) of last year. Zach threw a huge 53 balls, completing 34 of them for 439 yards and three TDs. Unfortunately, two were in the final seven minutes when they had fallen behind a bit far. Defensive coordinators had better work out how to stop the Zach-to-Terrence show, as receiver Toliver has now caught 14 balls for 322 yards in just two games.

Stampeders hold on to beat Tiger-Cats 30-240:38

7. Toronto Argonauts (Unchanged due to bye)

• Overall record: 4-4
• Streak: Lost 2
• Next: B.C. and At Hamilton

While the Argos wait for their fans to step away from watching the club on TV and show up in person (and it's time, if you care about football in Toronto), they can at least take some solace in knowing they're still right in this thing. That's despite two bad losses at home, where the club is 1-4. Ricky Ray is back at QB after missing three games, and since he knows the difference between blue uniforms and white ones, there should be less picks. Argos started their bye week by cutting number two tackler Keon Raymond. This could be a money play as funds are needed to fill some other holes (like backup QB). Tough week with B.C. in, then the Labour Day classic at Medical Research Town vs. the Cats, but the club is getting healthier finally.

8. Montreal Alouettes (Unchanged)

• Overall record: 3-6
• Streak: Lost 1
• Next: Ottawa

For a while it seemed the big bounce in Ottawa would continue as the Larks' offence played a strong first half against a good Winnipeg defence. Trailing 19-18 into the orange slices and energy packs, Montreal had a chance to convince folks they can be a factor. Then ... zero points. Defensively, the unit held up until the fourth, when the Blue Bombers finally broke through the 30 yard line for 13 points. Kevin Glenn (29-of-38, 283 yards) replaced his five touchdowns of the week previous with four picks this time, though two were late when he was forcing it out of desperation. Montreal has lost nine of its last 11 at home, and that isn't helping ticket sales as under 20,000 took this in. Receiver Duron Carter will finally serve his one-game suspension from Week One.

Blue Bombers beat Alouettes for 4th straight win1:05

9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Unchanged)

• Overall record: 1-8
• Streak: Lost 5
• Next: Winnipeg

"The long sobs of autumn's violins"* can now be heard across the central prairie as the Roughriders sink slowly into unimportance. This week they decided to put up a fight, however, rather than just give in to an early offensive invasion by the Eskimos. Falling down 22-0 before the half, the Green and White clawed back to within four by the end of three periods. That was pride talking ... they could have quit on the spot. What cost the defence was an inability to stop the ground attack – 183 yards that not only ate up field but clock. There were also too many early opportunities underneath the coverage as the DBs kept dropping back off the cliff. If the new overlord could stop parachuting in so many new players, there might be time to build a little cohesion.

*Paul Verlaine (1866) ... trying to improve the culture levels around here again.

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CFL Power Rankings: Stampeders still team to beat