3MW Week 5 Power Rankings

1 – Montreal - They still own the best record and they are still the class of the CFL at this point.  One loss on the road out west won’t change that. They lead the league in most points for, fewest scored against and they get a chance to right the ship against Toronto at home this Friday.

2 – Hamilton - These kitties are for real.  As Eskimos reciever Kamau Peterson stated on his Twitter: “The days of the basement dwelling ticats are over. Big week for us, gotta get ready…cuz they will be.”

3 – Calgary - The Stamps offense so far has not quite gotten on track despite what some (me included) thought last week.  Worse yet there are rumblings that infighting is starting to wreak havoc in the Calgary dressing room… and that was during a two game winning streak!

4 – Edmonton - Outstanding win at home against Montreal takes the sting out of two humiliating losses that happened prior, but it’ll take more than just one big win at home to convince us all is well in Esks world.

5 – Saskatchewan - Week four was a loss that really had no place in happeneing after staking a 20+ point lead after the first quarter, but week five was a win that seemed very unlikely with 2 minutes left in the game.  It does look like Darrian Durant saved his starting job for now.  Another solid effort against the Lions will cement it.

6 – Winnipeg - The Bombers didn’t exactly wow any one with their win in Toronto and the fact they were handed seven turnovers and still needed a last second missed field goal to escape with the win does seem kind of unreal.

7 – B.C. - Honestly Lions fans it really isn’t that bad for your team.  At the very least (barring a trade to someone else of course) you won’t have to see your team’s defense being trampled on by DeAndra’ Cobb anymore!

8 – Toronto - We know the Lions have a worse record.. but we counter that with seven simple arguments: TURNOVERS!!  Seven turnovers is horrible! You’d expect that from a high school team, not a pro football club!  Add to the fact Argo fans are still waiting to see a win at home…

Riders strike late and hang on for last minute win

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The recap from TSN.ca

The turning point: The Stampeders had a six point lead and the ball at about midfield with a little over two minutes to go and could have easily locked up the game with a first down to either kill more time or get kicker Sandro DeAngelis closer for a field goal that would have given the Stamps a nine point lead.  Coach John Hufnagel though called two very conservative running plays that gained all of four yards.  Sandro – who was a perfect nine for nine on the season in FG attempts up to that point – then lined up on the right hash mark for a 49 yard field goal attempt that was somewhat wind aided, but pushed it wide left.  The Riders Weston Dressler ran it out of the endzone and to the Stamps 45 yard line giving them excellent field position.  Two plays later Sask QB Darrian Durant hit Chris Getzlaf with a 65 yard TD pass and run to put the Riders up by one with a little over a minute left in the game.  Calgary couldn’t muster a first down in the next two drives they were given and it was game over.

The game ball goes to: Before the game Roughriders coach Ken Miller said that unless it was obvious that QB Durant had a hot hand, he was going to put in backup QB Steven Jyles in after four or five series and despite an early TD pass from Durant he did just that, but Jyles was mostly ineffective in the second quarter and Durant was put back in at the start of the second half. Good call by Miller as Durant went 17 of 28 passing for three touchdowns and one INT.

Random game thoughts: Stamps linebacker Odell Willis picked up another sack for his league leading 7th of the season. Amazing when you consider he wasn’t even in the lineup for week one  …  Riders WR Andy Fantuz was a late scratch forcing Chris Getzlaf into the starting lineup, obviously Chris stepped up big time with five catches for a total of 101 yards and 2 TDs  …  Joffrey Reynolds ran for 112 yards off of 14 rushing attempts.

Final grades
Riders Offense: B-
Riders Defense: B
Riders Special Teams: C

Stamps Offense: B-
Stamps Defense: B-
Stamps Special Teams: C+