Heading into the seventh week of the CFL season, the Edmonton Eskimos are still undefeated while the winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats might be getting worse. But making a bold move up the rankings are the never-give-up Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Here’s how the league’s nine teams stack up based on recent form.
| Rank | Team | Previous | |
| 1 |  |
Edmonton lost kicker Shawn Whyte to injury and started going for it on third down. They actually played better as the offence was more effective and killed more time on the clock to preserve its lead. The Esks only had four possessions in the second half versus B.C. and they scored on three of them. Jason Maas has built one of the league’s most dynamic offences. They also get points for having Grammy winning artist Sean Paul perform at half-time. |
1 |
| 2 |  |
Don’t write off the Calgary Stampeders just yet. They don’t have the best record in the league but they have looked the most impressive when they’re on. Case in point, their domination of the Tiger-Cats. Calgary set the record for greatest margin of victory and tied the record for most touchdowns in a game in their 59-point win at McMahon Stadium. Canadian QB Andrew Buckley got in the game and was 10-for-10 with 106 yards passing and one TD to fellow Calgary Dino alum Anthony Parker. |
3 |
| 3 |  |
The Lions missed a chance to share top spot in the league with Edmonton. Now they’re in a dog fight to hold off Winnipeg and Calgary for second in the West. They can take solace from the fact that both of their losses came against Edmonton, the league’s best team. Despite the ensuing QB controversy, their offensive MVP has been their RB. Jeremiah Johnson has TDs in all six games. |
2 |
| 4 |  |
I’m still not sure how the Blue Bombers managed to come back against Montreal, scoring 13 points in the final 1:40 of the game. It started with an amazing onside kick by Justin Medlock. It ended with a terrific effort by Andrew Harris to stay up and punch the ball in the end zone on the final play of the game. Winnipeg is starting to embody its head coach as a team that is well prepared, excels on special teams and never gives up on a play or a game. |
5 |
| 5 |  |
Ricky Ray set yet another passing record, becoming the Argonauts’ all-time leading passer. Ray is one of the few CFL players that is going to be in the ring of honour for two different franchises. Ray has passed for 300-plus yards in all six games and is an early MOP candidate out of the East. With four TDs this week, he’ll have yet another club record and pass Condredge Holloway as the clubs all-time leading TD passer. However, Toronto has yet to win a game against a West opponent and faces Calgary on short rest this week. |
4 |
| 6 |  |
Duron Carter is back. Or at least the talk of his demise was premature and over exaggerated. Carter made three highlight reel catches on contested balls and energized the Riders’ comeback win over Toronto. Carter caught nine passes for 131 yards and two TDs. Carter had only 156 yards receiving in the first four weeks of the season. Now that he has his groove back and Kevin Glenn has been his accurate self, the Riders offence looks as scary as advertised this off-season. |
8 |
| 7 |  |
There is never a good excuse for blowing a 12-point lead with two minutes left in the game. But two minutes is an eternity in the CFL. The Alouettes were given a raw deal when Chris Ackie was flagged for unnecessary roughness when Matt Nichols ducked towards him to brace for contact. Given all the conversation about CTE and football recently, it is to be expected that officials are cautious in terms of helmet-to-helmet hits. But it’s tough to see Noel Thorpe’s defence have to stay on the field and give up more yard due to a play that wasn’t dirty and is impossible to legislate out of the game. |
6 |
| 8 |  |
The only East team to be happy this week was Ottawa. Ottawa got a much-needed break after a gruelling schedule to start the season and subsequently watched the other three teams in its division lose on the road to Western opponents. Ottawa has a big game against Winnipeg at home in what is expected to be a sell-out crowd on Friday night |
7 |
| 9 |  |
I mean, they lost 60-1. Next up is the only undefeated team in the league. Not much more needs to be said. Things are not good in steel town. |
9 |
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