Stamps a clear No. 1 in CFL Power Rankings

The Stampeders have run away from the rest of the league and are the obvious favourites to win the Grey Cup. QB Bo Levi Mitchell has been the best in the league, so too has RB Jerome Messam, and adding WR DaVaris Daniels to the receiving corps has made Calgary even more dangerous.

Key Injuries: C Pierre Lavertu (neck), WR Bakari Grant (knee).

The Lions won three straight to finish the season -- getting two against Saskatchewan helps -- and they are certainly a worthy challenger for the Stamps in the West. QB Jonathon Jennings emerged as a star, RB Jeremiah Johnson added a hard-running component and Emmanuel Arceneaux and Bryan Burnham lead the receiving corps. Can they get more out of Shawn Gore? The veteran slotback has one catch for six yards over the past two games. 

Key Injuries:  DB T.J. Lee (Achilles), WR Nick Moore (knee), DB Steven Clarke (knee), DE Jabar Westerman (lower leg).

The Eskimos won five of six down the stretch and head to the East on the crossover. Mike Reilly led the league in passing, both John White and Shakir Bell were effective running the ball and the duo of Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker is tops in the league. Mix in veteran Chris Getzlaf and rookie Brandon Zylstra and Reilly has the weapons to make Edmonton a dangerous team in the postseason.

Key Injuries: G Danny Groulx, T Tony Washington, SB Cory Watson.

The Bombers won three of four down the stretch, including two against B.C., which is pertinent considering they are going to meet up in the West Semi-Final. QB Matt Nichols had a breakout season, but he's not at the same level as the other top quarterbacks in the league. He does, however, have plenty of support. RB Andrew Harris is one of the best and the receiving corps is deep and solid when healthy, with Weston Dressler, Darvin Adams, Clarence Denmark, Ryan Smith and Tori Gurley giving them ample depth.

Key Injuries:  C Jeff Keeping, WR Ryan Smith, CB Chris Randle, T Patrick Neufeld, DB Macho Harris, DB C.J. Roberts, DB Brendan Morgan

Can the Redblacks pull it together in the postseason? They are the top team in the East, which doesn't mean a whole lot, but QB Henry Burris has been productive since resuming the starting job, Mossis Madu and Travon Van have been able to keep the running game going, and Ernest Jackson, Greg Ellingson and Brad Sinopoli are good receiving options, though none are as dangerous as the injured Chris Williams.

Key Injuries: RB William Powell (Achilles), DE Aston Whiteside (knee), WR Chris Williams (knee), T SirVincent Rogers (ankle), DL Landon Cohen, DB John Boyett.

It's been an entirely uneven season for the TiCats, so they are a longshot to really mount a serious push for the Grey Cup, but QB Zach Collaros could give them a puncher's chance. RB C.J. Gable played well down the stretch, but the receiving corps has been decimated by injuries to Luke Tasker, Chad Owens and Andy Fantuz, leaving Terrence Tolliver and Kevin Elliott as the most proven targets for Collaros. As playoff teams go, they seem to be the unlikeliest of contenders.  

Key Injuries: DB Craig Butler, DB Johnny Sears, CB Demond Washington, SB Chad Owens, WR Luke Tasker, T Jeremy Lewis, WR Brandon Banks (suspension).

I was probably a little too optimistic about the Riders' chances coming into the season, expecting that a healthy Darian Durant and a new coaching staff could set them straight, but there was a lot of roster turnover and there may be more to come. WR Naaman Roosevelt was their one legitimate star performer, but that's not enough, so Chris Jones has work to do in the offseason if the Riders are going to get better.

 

Montreal struggled offensively all year and, by season's end, they had dumped dangerous receiver Duron Carter, and had turned over the quarterback position to rookie Vernon Adams Jr. This is how the Jim Popp era ends in Montreal, as the former GM and coach exits after more than 20 years. His track record as GM was strong, but the Alouettes tended to struggle (22-36) when Popp was coaching -- perhaps a function of him taking over as coach when the Alouettes didn't have a very good club. In any case, the slate will be wiped clean and the organization will have a new look next season.

In a year that Toronto hosts the Grey Cup, surely they had higher hopes than this. QB Ricky Ray is nearing the end of the line, yet he was clearly Toronto's best option when healthy, and while RB Brandon Whitake was very productive, by season's end, the Argos had cut loose a bunch of receivers, so they are going to have to do some work to pull together a competitive roster for next season. Receivers Kenny Shaw and Diontae Spencer could have some value moving forward, but there are a lot of holes to be filled before next season.