CFL Power Rankings: Pop a cork for Winnipeg
Bombers celebrate first playoff berth in 5 years
Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through Week 16:
1. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)
Record: 13-1-1
Streak: Unbeaten in 14
Next: Montreal
It was pointed out to Dave Dickenson after the Toronto game on Sunday that was within a victory of setting the record for a rookie head coach. He spoke about how it isn't about "me," it's about "us" and what the organization can do together. Inside, QB Bo Mitchell was chatting about how it's wonderful management can consistently give him weapons to work with, but that doesn't mean anything unless he does his job and makes those players the best they can be. Jerome Messam, off a 133-yard rushing day, said he could care less about stats, it's about winning Cups. That's their team culture, folks — it's why the Stamps haven't lost since Week 1. It's also why wrapping this up early should not come back to bite them with a two-week layoff before the West final.
2. Edmonton Eskimos (Up from 3)
Record: 8-7
Streak: Won 3
Next: Bye
For about a quarter there in Montreal the Eskies seemed a disinterested bunch, perhaps aware there was no chance Calgary would lose to Toronto and make a playoff spot a tad tougher. Perhaps they were all thrilled about coach Jason Maas and QB Mike Reilly thumbing their nose at the league and TSN by refusing to wear the live mics for the game. (Sidebar, Your Honour: Dissing a TV network willing to give you $200 million to show your games is selfish and ridiculous). Then Reilly found the right gear and took off on the Larks, piling up 514 net yards, keeping the ball for 36:41, distributing nicely around his receivers, and generally dominating for the last three quarters. Let's not assume they're going East yet, but can't see Ottawa or Hamilton handling these guys right now.
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Up from 4)
Record: 9-6
Streak: Won 1
Next: at B.C.
You have to kind of roll this around at the back of the tongue to really understand it, but the Bombers have made the playoffs. Has a bit of a blackcurrant finish on it.* Nice. Kind of a 2011 vintage feel. This week could have ended in a cheesy fashion, however, if a busted call by an official hadn't saved Big Blue from themselves. It was almost Joe Pisarcik time. Then it wasn't. The Bombers won because key play after key play went the right way. Weston Dressler's brilliant run off a fake field goal, as an example. Mo Leggett (contender for top defender this year) tackling Chris Rainey on the end around with :44 to go to turn the ball over on downs, as another. Great stuff. Pop a cork on this one.
*Oenophile joke
4. B.C. Lions (Down from 2)
Record: 9-5
Streak: Lost 1
Next: Winnipeg
Idea: If you don't want to be done in by a poor official's call at the end, try playing better football at the start. That's an easy answer to how a club with 503 yards net offence can possibly lose the game. Leos gave up three touchdowns to open the contest — two on a pair of 10-play drives, and the other on a 48-yard interception return that two plays later went over for a big Winnipeg lead. So the career-high 208 yards in receptions by Brian Burnham went for naught, as did 150 yards from Manny Arceneaux, and 299 all-purpose by the fabulous Chris Rainey. Defensively, too many big plays were a killer. Leos are just half a game up on the Bombers with this week's final meeting to go. B.C. has a game in hand and that could decide things by Week 20.
5. Ottawa Redblacks (Unchanged)
Record: 6-7-1
Streak: Lost 2
Next: at Hamilton
Smilin' Hank couldn't quite pull off the comeback victory for the struggling RBs this week, but apparently it was enough to get his job back. RBs bumbled through the first half but thanks to the D still only trailed by six. It was 22-7 with seven minutes left when Burris took over for Trevor Harris at QB and covered the political spectrum with a TD toss to Greg Ellingson (right), TD to Ellingson again (left) and to Ernest Jackson (centre) for a two-pointer. He then took just :20 to erase a late Rider TD to send it overtime. And the loss. Nothing is more important than a reliable kicking game and Chris Milo let the fraternity down this week, missing from 46 earlier in the game, and from just 30 in overtime. Star receiver Chris Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL. Tough loss.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Unchanged — Bye)
Record: 6-8
Streak: Lost 2
Next: Ottawa
QB Zach Collaros is out again, this time with a concussion. One of those years in Hamilton, where injuries keep piling up on coach Kent Austin, leaving GM Austin scrambling to find replacements. Jeremiah Masoli (8 games, 2,058 yards, 9 TDs and 8 picks) goes back under centre, and he hasn't been too bad this year. It would help if the team could run the ball a bit (right now it can't). Austin brought in defensive lineman Justin Capicciotti and O-line Xavier Fulton, in a trade with Saskatchewan. Back-to-back with Ottawa could decide first place in a beat-up division. Wading through the Cats' stats this season, nothing stands out as spectacular; nothing stands out as embarrassing. What that tells you is this team could still find itself in time to surprise.
7. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Up from 8)
Record: 4-10
Streak: Won 3
Next: at Toronto
This club's not good enough yet to grump about an ugly win. Something seems to be growing on the prairie after a horrid first half left the fans in Not Just Regina looking forward to the junior hockey season and the pie social at the local place of worship. Riders came out of the bye strong, building up a nice margin with seven minutes left before tossing it all in. Worst was taking the lead with :49 seconds left and letting Ottawa march right back to tie in only :20. However (big time however), no quit, no sad sack faces, just got at it in overtime, kept the RBs to a single point and then won it on Tyler Crapigna's sixth (count 'em) field goal of the night. Nine knockdowns of RB passes was terrific from the defence.
8. Montreal Alouettes (Down from 7)
Record: 4-10
Streak: Lost 1
Next: at Calgary
When you have a QB in Rakeem Cato who may not be up to the challenge, there are stats you gravitate towards. Here's one: second down conversions. Cato threw for 265 yards and produced 316 net in what looked like an acceptable performance until your realize that on 17 tries at second down he came up with 40 yards. These final games will tell the Als if they have a pivot they can build around, or they have to keep looking. Cato was coming off his best pro outing (four touchdowns) but couldn't build on it. At least you could say the team is more disciplined under interim coach Jacques Chapdelaine — just two penalties all day. You need more than that, especially when the lack of offence forced the defence onto the field for almost 37 minutes.
9. Toronto Argonauts (Unchanged)
Record: 5-10
Streak: Lost 4
Next: Saskatchewan
After Argos cut four receivers this week, replacing them with no one you've ever heard of, QB Drew Willy was sent out to create something against the best team in the league. With what weapons? It's the same on defence. As a former player pointed out to me this week, there are no linebackers, no defensive backs, and no way to stop an attack. Willy was 12-for-14 in the first half, for only 119 yards. Calgary's Mitchell completed just three more but it was for 250 yards. There are no excuses left, this is a terrible team in need of major changes. The fans are unhappy. Unhappy fans are bad for a franchise. A fascinating name has popped up — Marc Trestman, who's suddenly out of a job. He'd be expensive, but management salary doesn't count against the cap.