CFL Power Rankings: Smilin' Hank will make you cry
Ottawa's 41-year-old QB puts the hurt on Hamilton
Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through Week 17:
1. Calgary Stampeders (Unchanged)
Record: 14-1-1
Streak: Unbeaten in 15
Next: Toronto
This is a relative comment, of course — What the Sam Hill was that? While the defence was playing one of its best games of the season against Montreal, the offence produced a stinker of a first half in front of the home folks. This is what coach Dave Dickenson is facing (classic problem for this team historically) — keeping these guys sharp when their next meaningful game is Nov. 20 in the West final. Defence first: no points allowed until 16 seconds to go in the contest. Just 11 first downs given up, 124 passing yards. Outstanding. Bo Mitchell's attack tied itself in knots with bad penalties, four sacks, and mental mistakes. This one was 2-0 (Habs vs. Flames!) late in the first half, for gosh sakes, before the offence started to find itself. Kicker Rene Paredes went 1-for-3 and still doesn't look healthy.
2. Edmonton Eskimos (Unchanged — bye)
Record: 8-7
Streak: Won 3
Next: at B.C.
Quite a week so far for the Eskimos. First, they were rightly fined for refusing to wear the live mics, and coach Jason Maas was warned if he does it again, he'll be watching the next game from his living room. And then Toronto mayor John Tory chimed in to say the team name has to go. Meanwhile, there is football to be played, as the Green and Gold come off the bye and a three-game victory streak looking at an outside chance of hosting a playoff game. They'll have to win out and have the Bombers collapse. There is that yearly silly argument about whether a club should "tank" and take the playoff cross-over to the East for an "easier" road to the Cup. Careful, cross-over teams are 2-6 trying that. Edmonton is 1-1.
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Unchanged)
Record: 10-6
Streak: Won 2
Next: Bye
May I take this moment to atone for telling CBC Radio at the start of this season the only team that couldn't win the Grey Cup was this one. And hands up everyone who thought Big Blue would be in great shape to host a playoff game? One ... and ... two ... there we go. Winnipeg's key off-season acquisitions both starred in the second of back-to-back victories over B.C. RB Andrew Harris piled up 153 all-purpose yards on 20 touches of the ball (ground and air), while kicker Justin Medlock pounded seven more field goals at B.C. Place to give him 55 this year. Matt Nichols threw for 301 yards and the defence picked off four balls, causing two other fumbles. Have you noticed coach Mike O'Shea is bringing back more of his beloved gadget plays? That's confidence in your players.
4. Ottawa Redblacks (Up from 5)
Record: 7-7-1
Streak: Won 1
Next: Hamilton
Henry Burris's feelings seem hurt, and that's bad news for the rest of the league. Taken out of his starter's slot in Week 8, the 41-year-old had to watch Trevor Harris quarterback the RBs until circumstance put him back in late for a near comeback victory in Week 16. Then there was Hank in Hamilton, showing the world he still has it by leading Ottawa to a key victory in the sloth-like battle for first in the East. Hank scored twice himself (one of them a sparkling 10-yard scamper), threw for one and did not turn the ball over. On the debit side, Ottawa's 478 yards net should have produced more points — they were just 2-for-5 in the red zone (inside the opponent's 20). Chris Milo, who had a tough time the week before, went 3-for-3, including the winning field goal.
5. B.C. Lions (Down from 4)
Record: 9-6
Streak: Lost 2
Next: Edmonton
Chris Rainey took a late kickoff against Winnipeg, tie game, and scooted up the field where his training took over and he cut back underneath one of his blockers and unfortunately ran into that man's shoulder, fumbling the ball. That led to the winning points, but it was only one reason the Lions lost. Four interceptions and one other fumble were the other five. You must not turn the ball over in the late season if a home playoff game is the goal. Jonathon Jennings was 22-for-29, 327 yards, two touchdowns. He also threw a key interception with 2:42 to go by hurrying while under pressure. Tuck it. Run with it. Take it home for dinner. Just don't throw wildly to avoid a sack. There's a full game of good football in these guys, perhaps this week hosting Edmonton.
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Up from 7)
Record: 5-10
Streak: Won 4
Next: Montreal
Chris Jones, stuffed into a hallway corner outside his dressing room after beating Toronto, threw out the old chestnut that winning is habit forming. Clichés, folks, are that because they contain beliefs proven over and over again. So into the room to bring it up with QB Darian Durant, who smiled, nodded, and agreed completely. He should know, having seen both sides. Riders blasted the Argos (defence gave up just 239 yards, most of it when the game was well in hand) for their fourth straight win. When you consider their three losses up to that streak were all by less than a major, you can see things straightening out and a competitive team emerging. Tremendous 221 yards rushing this week, 150 of them from ex-NFLer and former Southern Cal star Joe McKnight. And ... they all met the PM.
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Down from 6)
Record: 6-9
Streak: Lost 3
Next: at Ottawa
One-point defeats in key games are killers, and it doesn't help when a blown call from the replay official may have been the difference. Glen Johnson, head of officiating, told Drew Edwards on the latter's 3DownNation blog that the play in question should have been an Ottawa fumble. (Sidebar, Your Honour: Isn't the point of having video replay so these mistakes don't happen?). Cats were without starting QB Zach Collaros, leaving backup Jeremiah Masoli to make his seventh start of the season (3-4). The offence did well, rushing for 105 yards, passing for 278, though two picks and a fumble hurt. And they need more yards after catch — Ottawa had 205 YAC, Hamilton just 85. Cats' defence allowed far too many yards (478 net) and that's a recipe for a loss, officials or no officials.
8. Montreal Alouettes (Unchanged)
Record: 4-11
Streak: Lost 2
Next: at Saskatchewan
Years ago, a Canadian journalist was so tired of writing the same crap about a losing team that he penned a game-over that consisted of one paragraph and an invitation for the fans to "fill in the rest yourself." Won't go that far, but safe to say the story in Calgary this week was familiar. The defence was terrific, led by Bear Woods and his two sacks and seven tackles, while the offence was dung. QB Rakeem Cato was 13-for-29 (44.8 per cent), 124 yards. He produced six points, on a touchdown with :16 to go. Larks had field position all game thanks to 246 yards in total kick returns by Stefan Logan and could do nothing with it. Time to see if Vernon Adams, Jr., the former Oregon star, has anything to offer before another winter rebuild is upon the Larks. Oh, Als are dumping salary now.
9. Toronto Argonauts (Unchanged)
Record: 5-11
Streak: Lost 5
Next: at Calgary
Down 29-0 early in the fourth quarter and sitting 3rd and 7 on the Rider nine, coach Scott Milanovich decided to kick a field goal. That left the deficit at 26, or three touchdowns with two-point converts AND another field goal. Made no sense. Argos scored again two drives later and added the two points. Every play in that situation, with a playoff spot technically still available, had to be towards a major. A surprising 15K+ showed up for this game, played opposite the Blue Jays' ALCS contest, and running into the home opener for the Toronto Maple Matthews. This is not a football town, but there is a base you can build off with a good team and some hope. Ownership will have to decide if Milanovich and GM Jim Barker can provide that.