3Down Power Rankings: Riders tumble

Even with 18 players on the injured list and many of them starting calibre, Edmonton staved off a late surge from the only winless team in the CFL to remain the lone undefeated squad.

The top four teams are unanimously ranked in the same order by the 3Down crew. After that, rankings begin to vary.

1. Edmonton Eskimos (last week 1)

“Next man up” has really been embraced by Edmonton. Every single position – except quarterback – has had a starter suffer an injury, yet the team keeps on winning.

2. Calgary Stampeders (last week 2)

As Bo Levi Mitchell said on TV, Calgary made beating Toronto look “too expletive easy”. 101 points in two games means the 2016 CFL MOP and the Stamps offence is in high gear.

3. B.C. Lions (last week 3)

Chris Williams made an impact in his Lions debut and it’s clear that B.C. owns the most lethal receiving corps in the league. The question now becomes which quarterback – Jonathon Jennings or Travis Lulay – will be distributing the football?

4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (last week 4)

The Bombers put up 10 straight late game points to record another comeback victory. Let’s not forget: football is a 60-minute game. Just because a team is leading with a small amount of time left doesn’t mean they were “supposed” to win. Full credit to Mike O’Shea and his troops for never wavering and playing hard until zeros were on the clock the last two outings.

5. Toronto Argonauts (last week 5)

All eyes on are on Ricky Ray and his throwing shoulder. The 38-year-old took a vicious shot from Michael Kashak that had teammates bracing for some possible time without him.

6. Montreal Alouettes (last week 8)

Even though the Als sat idle with a bye week, Montreal moved up the rankings. A crucial home-and-home set with Toronto looms.

7. Ottawa Redblacks (last week 7)

The Redblacks have five defeats by 13 points, but a loss is a loss and in pro football margins are going to be close. Ottawa needs to find a way to close.

8. Saskatchewan Roughriders (last week 6)

This sums up the Riders’ showing in B.C.:

Maybe Chris Jones need to take his damn sun glasses off so he can see what a disaster he's running on the field. #CFL #Riders

— Chad H (@blazer_85) August 6, 2017

9. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (last week 9)

It wasn’t 60-1 in Edmonton so there’s that. June Jones should inject some runnin’ and shootin’ into Hamilton’s offence and Phillip Lolley takes over on defence.