CFL Power Rankings Week 12: A switch at QB pays off for Ticats

In part two of Sportsnet’s two-part sit-down interview, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie clarifies his position on concussions, CTE and CFL player safety.

Heading into the 12th week of the CFL season, the once-undefeated Edmonton Eskimos have lost three straight while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats finally got a win under new head coach June Jones after making Jeremiah Masoli their starting QB.

Here’s how the league’s nine teams stack up based on recent form.

Rank Team Previous
1

How has Calgary handled the toughest stretch in their schedule? The Stampeders have won six straight games. Those wins have been by a combined score of 211-77. They are far and away the best team in the league and look more dominant in all phases than they were last year.

2017 record: 8-1-1

 1
2

Edmonton is the second-best team in the league. Problem is they are also the second-best team in their own province. Edmonton has lost six straight Labour Day Classics to their provincial rivals. The last five losses have come without Edmonton ever having a lead in the game. It seems a while ago Edmonton was the last undefeated team in the league at 7-0. The Esks have five days to regroup before the rematch.

2017 record: 7-3

 3
3

Winnipeg’s five-game winning streak full of remarkable late game comebacks has come to an end. If the Blue Bombers lose the return game versus Saskatchewan they’d not only lose place in the standings, they’d lose the season series with the Riders and thus the tiebreaker.

2017 record: 7-3

 2
4

The Riders finally look like a Chris Jones defence. The biggest beneficiary of the mentorship by Jones is Ed Gainey who had another two picks. On offence, the Riders’ resurgence has been because of Kevin Glenn. Glenn has almost 1,000 yards passing, eight TDs and only two interceptions in his last three games. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Kevin Glenn should be getting consideration for MOP. Saskatchewan has beaten three Western Division rivals by double digits.

2017 record: 5-4

 5
5

Don’t take this ranking as disrespect to the Lions. They are a good football team who has dealt with injuries at key positions. Yet they still have a better record than anyone in the East. Despite playing in the tougher division they are only seven points behind first-place Calgary in the standings.

2017 record: 5-5

 4
6

The defending Grey Cup champion Redblacks are back in top spot in the division after racking up their third consecutive victory. The biggest difference of late is their defensive execution. Against Montreal, Ottawa had five sacks and gave up just 12 first downs. Ottawa has already won the season series versus Montreal.

2017 record: 4-6-1

 7
7

Toronto hasn’t won a Labour Day Classic in five years. It has now given up its stranglehold on the top of the East Division. Luckily, the Argos have a bye before they host a beat-up Eskimos team.

2017 record: 4-6

 6
8

After being dominated by Ottawa 32-4, the Montreal versus Ottawa rivalry game displayed two teams going in diametrically opposite directions. Montreal has dropped three straight to fall to 3-7. The Als are winless on the road, which is where they will play five of their last eight games. If it wasn’t for Hamilton, Montreal would be the worst team in the league.

2017 record: 3-7

 8
9

Well who knew all Hamilton needed to do was change their coach and QB. The June Jones era started off with a win. Jeremiah Masoli gets the W in his first start. Hamilton’s last win before going in the tank was with Masoli at QB. Expect the Zach Collaros trade rumours to heat up this week.

2017 record: 1-8

 9

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