Dave’s Week One CFL Power Rankings:

CFL Football Riders Top Stories

The best part about a ranking is that it can always be debated. Therefore, I submit my ranking of Canadian Football League Teams after week 1 of the regular season. Feel free to agree or disagree and I will apologize in advance Rider fans.

Week One Canadian Football League Power Rankings:

1 – Toronto Argonauts (1-0 – LW 39-34 win vs. Hamilton. This Week @ BC)

The Argos completed the 2012 season atop the CFL when they hoisted the Grey Cup after a dominant victory over Calgary. First glance in week one would show that the Argos needed a little good fortune and a dropped pass by a Hamilton fullback to steal a win in their home opener. Upon further review, the Argos got the win without a kicker on their roster after Swayze Waters was injured in the first half of the contest. His absence forced Head Coach Scott Milanovich into some tough decisions and the double-blue into a field position game that they couldn’t win. They were able to persevere, albeit by the skin of their teeth, and that character and determination keeps their top ranking in my books. They’ll have a tough time to keep it with a game in Vancouver this week.

2 – Calgary Stampeders (1-0 – LW 44-32 win vs. BC. This Week @ SK)

The defending West Division Champs proved that they were worthy of that title despite some in BC that called their upset of the Lions in the West Final last year a fluke. The Stamps were dominant on both sides of the ball opening up an early lead and cruising to an impressive win. Full steam ahead for the Stamps who will look to take the outright lead of the west with a win in Regina on Friday.

3 – Montreal Alouettes (1-0 – LW 38-33 win @ WPG. This Week vs. WPG)

The ALs perhaps got ahead of themselves in the CFL curtain raiser last week in Winnipeg. After soaring out to a 14-nothing lead the Als had to hold off the hard charging Bombers and in typical Anthony Calvillo fashion marched the ball and scored when they needed it in a game that shouldn’t have been this close. There is loads of room for improvement for Montreal which will be interesting to see against the Bombers in a week 2 rematch.

4 – BC Lions (0-1 – LW 44-32 loss @ CGY. This Week vs. TOR)

The Lions slow start was their undoing against Calgary. I still REALLY like Travis Lulay leading the Lions offense. If he can get some more time from his offensive line, production from Andrew Harris on the ground and some chemistry with his new look receiving corp BC will be fine offensively. Defensively something was missing in the first half. Second-Year Head Coach Mike Benevides seemed to address it at halftime. If the Lions can emulate their second half for an entire 60 minutes their spot on this list will improve rapidly.

 

5 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1 – LW 39-34 loss @ Toronto. This Week vs. EDM)

The Achilles heel for the Tabbies all of last season was their defence. Allowing 39 points in week one won’t sit well with the Kent Austin lead bunch. The offense is still clicking on all cylinders like they were last year, though. Hamilton just needs to get some defensive momentum to establish some confidence. That could come early as week 2 when they host the Eskimos in their home away from home at Guelph University.

6 – Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0 – LW 39-18 win @ Edmonton. This Week vs. CGY)

Ok, ok, ok hold on Rider fans. Yes the win, and a win at Commonwealth Stadium to boot, is a great accomplishment for the group. However, Edmonton who are in a full rebuild mode shot themselves in the foot time and time again and essentially handed the Riders the win with the late first half pick-six for Rey Williams. There are still concerns with the pass rush, run defence and kicking game that need to be sorted out before the Riders can move up the list. Hey it’s week one! The rankings are far from being in stone.

7 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1 – LW 38-33 loss vs. Montreal. This Week @ MTL)

Credit where credit is due; Quarterback Buck Pierce stayed relatively healthy thanks to a revamped protection scheme. Secondly, the Bombers showed some character and moxy in bouncing back from their early 14-nothing deficit to the Alouettes, more so than all of last year. Winnipeg’s defense left something to be desired and they will need to be much better in the hostile confines of Percival Molson Stadium this week if the Bombers want to move up.

8 – Edmonton Eskimos (0-1 – LW 39-18 loss vs. Saskatchewan. This Week @HAM)

Although they won’t admit it the Eskimos are in a full blown rebuilding mode. There are some great pieces there; they just haven’t found a way to make them fit together. You have to admire Head Coach Kavis Reed falling on the sword for the team after the botched play call at the end of the first half that cost his team a pick-six and more likely the game. Very similar to the too-many men penalty that the Riders took and cost them a Grey Cup when he was the Special Teams Coordinator. There is some work to be done in the Alberta capital but this is the first week and anything can happen.

 

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