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Jul 7, 2015

East is rising in CFL Power Rankings

After the West Division ran roughshod over the East in 2014, it appears -- at least through two weeks -- that some change could be coming.

Calgary Stampeders v Montreal Alouettes

After the West Division ran roughshod over the East in 2014, it appears -- at least through two weeks -- that some change could be coming.

Even so, the Calgary Stampeders are clinging to top spot in the Power Rankings for at least one more week.

What? They got stomped in Montreal last week, you say. This is true, I respond, they did. Glad we're on the same page.

But, two games hardly tells the whole story of a team, and the Stampeders had as much credit as any team coming into the year. That doesn't mean that they get to ride it forever but, without overwhelming challengers, they hold No. 1 for the time being.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were this week's big movers, going from six to three, after a lopsided win at Winnipeg.

A couple teams dropped two spots this week -- the B.C. Lions after falling flat in the fourth quarter at Ottawa, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who found a way to lose despite accumulating 577 yards in total offence against Toronto.

 

  

Calgary Stampeders

This Week: 1 | Last Week:1 | Record: 1-1

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    35
  • PA
    52
  • DIFF
    -17
  • YDS/GP
    337.0
  • YDSA/GP
    357.5

Riding on the coattails of last year's success isn't going to cut it and, so far, Calgary hasn't looked very championship-worthy. Two games is not the entirety of a team's value, but if they turn in another dud tin Week Three, at home against Toronto, there won't be much choice but to move on and wait until the Stampeders' play fits their lofty ranking.

Key Injuries: DT Corey Mace (foot).

Toronto Argonauts

This Week: 2 | Last Week: 3 | Record: 2-0

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    68
  • PA
    51
  • DIFF
    +17
  • YDS/GP
    425.5
  • YDSA/GP
    423.0

It says something about the topsy-turvy nature of the CFL season through two weeks that the second-ranked team is coming off a game in which they allowed 577 yards in total offence at Saskatchewan. At the same time, fill-in QB Trevor Harris has been terrific, completing more than 83% of his passes in two Argos wins.

Key Injuries: QB Ricky Ray (shoulder), SB Andre Durie (knee).

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

This Week: 3 | Last Week: 6 | Record: 1-1

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    75
  • PA
    50
  • DIFF
    +25
  • YDS/GP
    387.5
  • YDSA/GP
    303.0

Put it to the Blue Bombers early and could put it in cruise control after building a 38-7 second-quarter lead. The injured list is still a concern, particularly as it relates to the running game but, all in all, an imrpessive showing.

Key Injuries: RB C.J. Gable (hand), WR Luke Tasker (knee), DT Brian Bulcke (knee), DT Linden Gaydosh (Achilles), RB Mossis Madu (shoulder), DE Eric Norwood (lower body).

B.C. Lions

This Week: 4 | Last Week: 2 | Record: 0-1

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    16
  • PA
    27
  • DIFF
    -11
  • YDS/GP
    313.0
  • YDSA/GP
    437.0

Coming off a Week One bye, the Lions were mediocre through three quarters at Ottawa, yet held the lead, before collapsing in the fourth quarter, gaining a total 21 yards in three possessions. Need to be much better at home against Saskatchewan in Week Two.

Key Injuries:  WR Lavelle Hawkins (arm).

Edmonton Eskimos

This Week: 5 | Last Week: 4 | Record: 0-1

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    11
  • PA
    26
  • DIFF
    -15
  • YDS/GP
    259.0
  • YDSA/GP
    484.0

With a week off, the Eskimos aim to bounce back from their Week One loss with a home game against Ottawa on Thursday Night Football. 

Key Injuries: RB John White (Achilles), G Simeon Rottier (knee), WR Shamawd Chambers (knee), QB Mike Reilly (knee), WR Wallace Miles.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

This Week: 6 | Last Week:5 | Record: 1-1

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    56
  • PA
    78
  • DIFF
    -22
  • YDS/GP
    366.5
  • YDSA/GP
    477.0

After getting destroyed at home by Hamilton, it would be easy to send the Bombers right down the ladder, but with word that QB Drew Willy is expected to play this week -- after leaving early against the TiCats -- Winnipeg gets a bit of a rankings reprieve.

Key Injuries:  None.

Ottawa RedBlacks

This Week: 7 | Last Week: 8 | Record: 2-0

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    47
  • PA
    32
  • DIFF
    +15
  • YDS/GP
    407.0
  • YDSA/GP
    255.0

This may be conservative, inching the RedBlacks up one spot after a second straight impressive win, but just as two games don't tell the entire story for Calgary at the top, it doesn't tell the whole story for Ottawa on the way up. If they can get the job done at Edmonton this week, that will be more convincing.

Key Injuries: WR Marcus Henry (undisclosed).

Montreal Alouettes

This Week: 8 | Last Week: 9 | Record: 1-1

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    45
  • PA
    31
  • DIFF
    +14
  • YDS/GP
    297.0
  • YDSA/GP
    354.0

Who would have guessed that the Alouettes' third-string QB, Rakeem Cato, would seamlessly step into the lineup and deliver an easy home win against the Grey Cup champs? Is it a one-shot deal, or is Cato for real?

Key Injuries: WR Eric Deslauriers (finger), DB Andrew Lue (hamstring), DE Aaron Lavarias (arm), WR James Rodgers (undisclosed), QB Dan LeFevour (shoulder), QB Jonathan Crompton (shoulder), LB Kyries Hebert (ankle).

Saskatchewan Roughriders

This Week: 9 | Last Week: 7 | Record: 0-2

TEAM STATS

  • PF
    66
  • PA
    72
  • DIFF
    -6
  • YDS/GP
    542.0
  • YDSA/GP
    418.5

This is a tough landing spot for the Riders. Even though they are 0-2, both losses have been very close, and while losing starting QB Darian Durant was bad news in Week One, Kevin Glenn orchestrated an offence that piled up 40 points and 577 yards against Toronto. The ways things have gone through the first two weeks, there are still some big rankings changes likely before teams start to settle in.

Key Injuries:  SB Weston Dressler (undisclosed), QB Darian Durant (Achilles).

Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca