1. Calgary Stampeders (7-1-0; LW: 1; Defeated British Columbia 48-35 in Week 9; W5)

The Stampeders took advantage of Saskatchewan’s struggles and widened their lead in the West Division. The Lions put up some resistance – largely thanks to three interceptions by Henry Burris – but Burris responded by throwing two touchdowns and doing enough to put B.C. away. The Stampeders are sitting pretty right now.

2. Montreal Alouettes (6-2-0; LW:3; Defeated Winnipeg 39-17; W1)

Montreal had an impressive victory over the Bombers. What made it impressive is that they were without Anthony Calvillo for the second half. The problem is: if Calvillo is out for a long period of time, will Montreal be able to maintain its strong play.

3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3-0; LW: 2; Lost to Edmonton 17-14; L1)

Was their loss to Edmonton a fluke? The Riders had better hope so. If they can’t beat a 1-6-0 team, they are going to have trouble catching Calgary for first in the West. Maybe a Labour Day matchup against Winnipeg is just what they need to get their groove back.

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-4-0; LW: 5; Defeated Toronto 16-12; W3)

It wasn’t pretty, but the Tiger-Cats victory in Toronto was crucial. They finally proved they could beat a team either than Winnipeg and pulled much closer to Toronto in the East Division. A win over the Argonauts this week is crucial for them.

5. Toronto Argonauts (5-3-0; LW: 4; Lost to Hamilton 16-12; L1)

After beating Montreal, Toronto surprised some people by losing to Hamilton. They failed to take a big lead over Hamilton in the East. Now, they have the tough task of traveling to Hamilton. Their offence will have to be much better in that game.

6. Edmonton Eskimos (2-6-0; LW: 7; Defeated Saskatchewan 17-14; W1)

The Eskimos pulled off the ugly upset over Saskatchewan last week. Their offence was nothing to write home about but their defence finally stood out. The question still remains: who will get the start at quarterback?

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6-0; LW: 6; Lost to Montreal 39-17; L4)

When you fail to beat a Montreal squad that lost Calvillo for the entire second half, there is something wrong. Winnipeg has kind of been like Edmonton. They will play a close game after close game but always come out on the losing end. If it doesn’t change soon, they can forget crossing over.

8. British Columbia Lions (1-7-0; LW: 8; Lost to Calgary 48-35; L7)

Wow, this team is just awful. That’s really all there is to say.

Biggest rise: Montreal, Hamilton and Edmonton +1

Biggest drop: Saskatchewan, Toronto and Winnipeg -1

1. Calgary Stampeders (6-1-0; LW:3; Defeated Edmonton 56-15 in Week 7)

The Stampeders come in at number one for the first time in these power rankings. This is thanks their  “massacre” of the Eskimos this past week. While the offence obviously had its moments, it was once again the ever-impressive defence of Calgary that shined. They limited Arkee Whitlock to only 35 rushing yards, Edmonton’s quarterbacks to under 200 yards passing and generated four sacks, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Calgary will look to build on this performance after its bye week.

2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-2-0; LW: 2; Defeated British Columbia 37-13 in Week 7)

Much like with the Stampeders, the Riders defence is impressive. They forced five sacks and two interceptions against the Lions, putting constant pressure on Jarious Jackson. They only real area of concern for Saskatchewan going forward will be to find consistency on offence. They clearly have the talent, but sometimes they don’t dominant defences like they could. Darian Durant is throwing more interceptions as well then he did to start off the season. With three sacks this week, Jerrell Freeman may be the pass rusher the Riders are looking for.

3. Montreal Alouettes (5-2-0; LW: 1; Lost to Toronto 37-22 in Week 7)

Montreal takes a big slide after their shocking loss to Toronto. After playing inconsistent football for the last couple of weeks, things finally collapsed for the Alouettes. A decent game from Anthony Calvillo was not enough to offset a return touchdown by Ryan Christian and two receiving touchdowns by Chad Owens, a player who was with Montreal earlier this season. After Avon Cobourne had over 100 rushing and receiving yards in the previous meeting between each team, he was held to under 30 rushing and receiving yard in this game. The question is: How will Montreal respond to this loss?

4. Toronto Argonauts (5-2-0; LW: 4; Defeated Montreal 37-22 in Week 7)

The Argonauts jumped into a tie with the Alouettes for first after their shocking victory over Montreal. A big day from Christian, Owens and Cleo Lemon vaulted the Argonauts to victory. Who would have thought the Argonauts, who have missed the playoffs for two years in a row, would be tied with Montreal at this point? A lot of credit has to go to Jim Barker. Still, Toronto can’t be ranked ahead of Montreal just yet. The Alouettes did beat them badly in the first meeting.

5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-4-0; LW: 5; Defeated Winnipeg 39-28 in Week 7)

After two close victories against the Bombers in the last two weeks, Hamilton is in a good position. They are now in sole possession of third in the East Division, within striking range of Montreal and Toronto, and have won the season series against Winnipeg. The Tiger-Cats are finally playing like we all thought they would. Kevin Glenn is dissecting opposing defences, Arland Bruce III has emerged as one of the league’s best receivers and the defence is doing its part. The Tiger-Cats will need to win against Toronto if they really want to turn their season around.

6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-5-0; LW: 6; Lost to Hamilton 39-28)

Lately, it has been close but no cigar for the Bombers. After three close losses, the team now finds themselves in a big hole. With the crossover possibility very realistic right now, there is no reason to give up hope. However, Winnipeg needs to win games now. To do this, it might mean starting Steven Jyles, who has really stepped up under centre. A game against Montreal this week could really make or break Winnipeg’s chances in the East.

7. Edmonton Eskimos (1-6-0; LW: 7; Lost to Calgary 56-15)

I wouldn’t rank them below the Lions right now, but it is tempting after such a brutal loss. Despite the scoreline, Edmonton really did have chances in this game. But, turnovers and penalties snuffed out whatever opportunities they might have had early on. If Ricky Ray doesn’t come back, the Eskimos will have to hope Jason Maas or Jared Zabransky can get the job done. The Eskimos really don’t have a bad roster, but if they don’t start winning soon, it won’t matter.

8. British Columbia Lions (1-6-0; LW: 8; Lost to Saskatchewan 37-13)

BC is still a mess. They have three quarterbacks, none of which have got the job done, their running game only enjoys brief flickers, star players like Paris Jackson are struggling and the run defence is terrible. Wally Buono has been known to work some magic in his time, but he would have to be a pretty good magician to work his way out of this disaster.

Biggest Rise: Calgary +2

Biggest Drop: Montreal -2

1) Montreal Alouettes (5-1-0; LW: 1; Defeated Saskatchewan 30-26 in Week 5)

Saskatchewan made it close, but Montreal held on for a huge victory last week. Anthony Calvillo was solid, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while Kerry Watkins and Jamel Richardson both caught a touchdown pass. However, Calvillo’s injury is still the main concern. Calvillo injured his hand in the fourth quarter of the game. If he misses any game action, the Alouettes could drop some games.

2) Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-2-0; LW: 3; Lost to Montreal 30-26 in Week 5)

While the Riders lost to Montreal, they showed that when they turn it on they are hard to stop. The problem is the Riders don’t always play a full 60 minutes. Darian Durant attempted 62 passes in the game, throwing for 445 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, amazing considering he was fighting an illness. Saskatchewan has the talent to be the best team in the league. Now, they just need to turn more drives into touchdowns.

3) Calgary Stampeders (5-1-0; LW: 2; Defeated British Columbia 27-22 in Week 5)

The Stampeders drop a spot in this week’s rankings, largely because they failed to dominate a very week BC team. Besides their impressive victory over the Riders this season, Calgary hasn’t been winning pretty. Winning is all that matters, but the Stampeders could have lost a couple more games this season. Calgary needs to get Joffrey Reynolds involved in the running game, as he has not had a 100-yard game since Week 1.

4) Toronto Argonauts (4-2-0; LW: 4; Defeated Edmonton 29-28 in Week 5)

Cleo Lemon finally had the breakout game fans of the Argonauts were looking for. Lemon went 23/34 for 292 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But, the big story in Toronto continues to be Cory Boyd. Boyd had 25 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns last week and leads the league in rushing. With Lemon playing better, Boyd being himself and the defence keeping Toronto in games, the Argonauts have a chance to win each week.

5) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-4-0; LW: 7; Defeated Winnipeg 29-22 in Week 5)

Hamilton picked up a huge victory last week. Kevin Glenn (24/41, 371 yards, three touchdowns and one interception) and Arland Bruce III (11 catches, 197 yards and one touchdown) continue to shine for the Tiger-Cats. Just imagine how good the offence could be if running back DeAndra’ Cobb would pick up his game. It will be important for Hamilton to continue their solid play on the road against Winnipeg this week. This game will decide the series winner.

6) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-4-0; LW: 5; Lost to Hamilton 29-22 in Week 5)

There are two ways to look at how Steven Jyles has done replacing injured quarterback Buck Pierce. On the one hand, his numbers have been solid – this week he went 24/35 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. On the other hand, Winnipeg is 1-2-0 under his reign. Jyles had a chance to drive the Bombers for the game-winning score in each of the previous two games but failed to do so. The numbers are nice, but Winnipeg is in desperate need of a victory.

7) Edmonton Eskimos (1-5-0; LW: 6; Lost to Toronto 29-28 in Week 5)

Just when the Eskimos finally win a game, they lose to the Argonauts. Keep in mind, Toronto isn’t terrible anymore, but to lose at home has got to hurt. The offence was decent, but didn’t do enough to earn the victory. But, the biggest disaster in Edmonton is their awful run defence. After giving up 183 rushing yards to Toronto, the Eskimos are allowing 164 rushing yards a game.

8. British Columbia Lions (1-5-0; LW: 8; Lost to Calgary 27-22)

This is basically the quarterback situation in BC with Casey Printer injured. There is Travis Lulay, who has averaged around 147 yards passing during the last two weeks, is having accuracy issues. Next on the depth chart is Jarious Jackson, who came in for Lulay last week, and just tosses the ball deep down the field every play. That doesn’t look promising. If the Lions don’t get their running game going again, they are in big trouble.

Biggest Rise: Hamilton, +2

Biggest Drop: Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton -1

1) Montreal Alouettes (4-1-0; LW: 1; Defeated Toronto 41-10 in Week 5)

With both Montreal and Toronto entering their matchup 3-1-0, the winner would sit in first in the East Division. After trouncing the Argonauts by more than 30 points, it is clear Montreal belongs on top. Running back Avon Cobourne finally had a breakout game, rushing for over 100 yards and two touchdowns while earning over 100 receiving yards. With their offence playing well, especially in the second half, Montreal’s defence didn’t have to do much. They held Toronto’s explosive running back Cory Boyd to only 53 yards rushing and held quarterback Cleo Lemon under 150 yards and less than a 50% completion percentage.

2) Calgary Stampeders (4-1-0; LW: 2; Defeated Winnipeg 23-20 in Week 5)

It was not the prettiest win for Calgary, but they managed to stave off the Bombers. Calgary struggled in the running game, but Henry Burris was solid. After throwing eight interceptions in the four previous weeks, Burris threw for 340 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions against Winnipeg. With slotback Ken-Yon Rambo back in the fold, the Stampeders are set on offence. Still, Calgary has not really played up to their potential consistently this season.

3) Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1-0; LW: 3; Defeated Hamilton 37-24 in Week 5)

The Riders are winning ball games, but it isn’t pretty. Saskatchewan was forced to attempt seven field goals in their game against Hamilton as the offence stalled. Perhaps the biggest concern for the Riders is their pass defence, which gave up 425 passing yards against the Tiger-Cats, including 272 yards to Arland Bruce III. A game in Montreal this week will reveal if Saskatchewan are contenders or pretenders.

4) Toronto Argonauts (3-2-0; LW: 4; Lost to Montreal 41-10 in Week 5)

Toronto got a big wakeup call in Montreal last week. The offence struggled to move the ball and the defence was shredded. The Argonauts have been winning games this season by keeping the score close and stealing the game away in the fourth quarter. But, if teams start building big leads on Toronto, their offence is going to need to improve fast.

5) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-3-0; LW: 5; Lost 23-20 to Calgary in Week 5)

The Bombers didn’t get the win in Week 5, but at least Steven Jyles continues to be a solid quarterback for them while Buck Pierce is injured. He was 17/30 for 227 yards and one touchdown. Winnipeg’s run defence has been solid lately, as they have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in three weeks. The Bombers are slowly putting the pieces together to be a contender.

6) Edmonton Eskimos (1-4-0; LW: 8; Defeated British Columbia 28-25 in Week 5)

The Eskimos finally got a W. After playing fairly solid football for the first four weeks of the season, it was long overdue. All of Edmonton’s star players, quarterback Ricky Ray, running back Arkee Whitlock and receiver’s Fred Stamps and Kelly Campbell, stepped up for Edmonton. The Eskimos clearly have the talent on their roster, but can they build upon their first win or will they revert to their old ways?

7) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-4-0; LW: 7; Lost 37-24 to Saskatchewan in Week 5)

The Tiger-Cats are really struggling. They failed to beat a Saskatchewan squad who played a terrible game against them. DeAndra’ Cobb just isn’t the same running back as last year and Hamilton’s talented front seven isn’t stopping team’s from putting up a lot of points against them. If Hamilton doesn’t start winning soon they are going to be in for a long season.

8) British Columbia Lions (1-4-0; LW: 6; Lost 28-25 to Edmonton in Week 5)

Travis Lulay is struggling at the quarterback position. He only threw for 134 yards in BC’s loss to Edmonton with two interceptions. Even if Casey Printers comes back for BC, it is hard to see them improving much this season. With slotback Paris Jackson’s struggles and the horrid run defence on the Lions, BC is going to have a hard time clawing their way back in the West Division.

Biggest Rise: Edmonton +2

Biggest Drop: British Columbia -2

1) Montreal Alouettes (3-1-0; LW: 2; Defeated Hamilton 37-14 in Week 4)

Montreal cemented themselves atop the East Division with an easy victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. It wasn’t a flawless effort, as Montreal was forced to attempt eight field goals in the game and, but defeating one of their eastern rivals by that much is never a bad thing. The Alouettes will look to end the fairytale run of the Toronto Argonauts this week as the two teams square off in Montreal.

2) Calgary Stampeders (3-1-0; LW: 4; Defeated Saskatchewan 40-20 in Week 4)

After playing average football through the first three weeks of the season, posting a record of 2-1-0, the Stampeders showed they are capable of exploding. Calgary used a complete effort to stun the Riders. The defence put constant pressure on Durant and forced three interceptions, Henry Burris and the offence finally utilized the long ball and the Stampeders dominated the field position battle. The only question for Calgary is: Was their performance against Saskatchewan a fluke, or a sign of things to come?

3) Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-1-0; LW: 1; Lost 40-20 to Calgary in Week 4)

Talk about a wakeup call. In their loss to Calgary, Durant reverted to his ways from last season as he threw three interceptions. Furthermore, the defence failed to generate pressure on Burris and just didn’t have the same flare as usual. The Riders had been a fairly dominate team up to this point, but had some weaknesses exposed last week. Will these weaknesses be exploited by other teams, or was it merely a bad game for the Green and White?

4) Toronto Argonauts (3-1-0; LW: 3; Defeated British Columbia 24-20 in Week 4)

The Argonauts are 3-1-0, tied for first in the East with Montreal. No, don’t pinch yourself, this it not a dream. After another ugly victory, the Argonauts have a chance to jump into sole possession of first place with a win over the Alouettes. On offence, Cory Boyd has been the saviour for the Argonauts. He leads the league in rushing with 431 rushing yards. The defence and special teams have been making some key plays at big moments for Toronto this season.

5) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-2-0; LW: 8; Defeated Edmonton 47-21 in Week 4)

With Winnipeg’s saviour Buck Pierce injured heading into their game against Edmonton, fans expected the worse. To make matters worse, Edmonton, the “best 3-0 team ever”, was hungry for a win. However, it was the Bombers who picked up the much needed victory. Jyles performed admirably, going 14/22 with 267 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Winnipeg’s defence really shined, forcing three turnovers. The Bombers scored 21 points off said turnovers.

6) British Columbia Lions (1-3-0; LW: 7; Lost 24-20 to Toronto in Week 4)

BC is playing uninspired football. Travis Lulay, who replaced the injured Casey Printer for the Lions, was decent but threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. One of these was brought back 41 yards for a touchdown by Byron Parker, giving Toronto the lead for good. Running back Jamal Robertson’s productivity isn’t improving and BC’s run defence is still struggling.

7) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-3-0; LW: 5; Lost 37-14 to Montreal in Week 4)

After posting an impressive 28-7 victory over the Bombers in Week 4, Hamilton showed that they are still not ready to contend for first in the East. There are so many areas of concern for the Tiger-Cats. DeAndra’ Cobb is not aggressive when carrying the ball anymore, quarterback Kevin Glenn has been inconsistent and Arland Bruce III isn’t the same big-play receiver this season. The defence needs to improve.

8) Edmonton Eskimos (0-4-0; LW: 6; Lost 47-21 to Winnipeg in Week 4)

Well, the Eskimos may be the “best 4-0 team ever”, but this is of little comfort to their fans. Edmonton’s latest debacle, a 47-21 trouncing at the hands the Bombers, was ugly. Ricky Ray struggled throwing to interceptions and the Eskimos allowed 21 points off of turnovers. If the Eskimos couldn’t beat a team with an inexperienced quarterback starting, who can they beat?

Biggest Rise: Winnipeg, +3

Biggest Drop: Saskatchewan, -2; Hamilton, -2; Edmonton, -2

1) Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-0-0; Last Week: 1; Defeated Edmonton 24-20 in Week 3)

Their Week 4 victory against Edmonton wasn’t pretty, but the Riders perserverd again. Saskatchewan is still a dangerous team to play. Their offence has cooled down since posting 54 points in Week 1, but the scary thing is their are so many weapons they can use. They obviously have a talented receiving core, but no one expected running back Wes Cates to have such a stellar campaign. He leads the league in rushing.

2) Montreal Alouettes (2-1-0; Last Week: 4; Defeated B.C. 16-12 in Week 3)

Montreal survived their brutal West Division road trip. The defending Grey Cup champions have not played as well as they did last season, but stating the season on the road for three games is not easy. They almost bested the Riders and then earned victories in Edmonton and BC, places they have historically struggled to win. A home date against Hamilton this week will be a good test for the Alouettes.

3) Toronto Argonauts (2-1-0; Last Week: 5; Defeated Calgary 27-24 in Week 3)

Who expected Toronto to be tied for top spots in the East? They have yet to win handily over any opponent, but the Argonauts are finding ways to get it done. Cory Boyd has emerged as a star running back and the defence is keeping Toronto in ball games. If Cleo Lemon had help ignite the passing attack the Argonauts could be a very dangerous team.

4) Calgary Stampeders (2-1-0; Last Week: 2; Lost 27-24 to Toronto in Week 3)

Turnovers killed Calgary last week. Henry Burris threw four interception, effectively killing the Stampeders’ chances to pull out a road victory. Calgary’s offence has a lot of problems. They are not stretching the defence deep and need to better utilize running back Joffrey Reynolds. A win against Saskatchewan could turn things around.

5) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-2-0; Last Week: 8; Defeated Winnipeg 28-7 in Week 3)

Last week, the Tiger-Cats finally played like everyone thought they would. Kevin Glenn led the offence to four touchdowns and the defence stymied Winnipeg’s offence. The question is: was their performance a fluke? We will find out this week as they travel to Montreal.

6) Edmonton Eskimos (0-3-0; Last Week: 7; Lost 24-20 to Saskatchewan in Week 3)

The Eskimos could very well be 2-1-0, but they only have themselves to blame for being 3-0. Dropped passes, turnovers and bad penalties have doomed them for the first three weeks. The Eskimos have a good chance to get back on track this week in Winnipeg. They have the potential to be one of the top teams in the West.

7) British Columbia Lions (1-2-0; Last Week: 6; Lost 16-12 to Montreal in Week 3)

BC is a mess. Casey Printers is not generating enough offence and the play of the offensive line is a major concern. Jamal Robertson has cooled down after his strong start. Paris Jackson has been a major dissapointment this season.

8) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-2-0; Last Week: 3; Lost 28-7 to Hamilton in Week 3)

The Bombers could be in a lot of trouble now that Buck Pierce is injured. Steven Jyles will be hard pressed to match his success. Running back Fred Reid will need to carry the offence. As it is, Winnipeg’s defence needs to play better. They have allowed around 30 points in every game this season.

Biggest Rise: Hamilton, +3

Biggest Drop: Winnipeg, -5

Week 2 of the CFL season is in the books. This past week there weren’t as many exciting games as in Week 1. Surprisingly, the Toronto-Winnipeg game turned out to be one of the most entertaining games of the week. The Argonauts stunned Winnipeg 36-34 thanks to a 117-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown by Chad Owens. Calgary escaped with a victory in Hamilton, the Riders continued their impressive play in B.C. and Montreal earned an ugly victory over the Eskimos.

By the way, did anyone catch CFL.ca’s power rankings this week, ouch!

My main problem with them is that they are based so much on stats. A team should not be measured on stats, but how well they are playing. Sometime these goes hand and hand, but not in the cases of CFL.ca’s power rankings. On CFL Daily Dose, our power rankings are based on how well a team is playing in general.

1) Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0-0; Last Week: 1; Defeated BC 37-18 in Week 2)

The Green and White showed the league that their defence isn’t a lost cause in Week 2. Though the team posted 54 points in a victory over Montreal in Week 1, their defence allowed 51. The Riders forced four sacks against BC’s inexperienced offensive line, two of these coming from defensive end Brent Hawkins. With Saskatchewan’s offence and defence playing solidly, they will be a tough team to beat.

2) Calgary Stampeders (2-0-0; Last Week: 5; Defeated Hamilton 23-22 in Week 2)

Calgary’s wins haven’t been pretty, but they are 2-0. They have found a way to win and that’s the important thing. While Henry Burris and Joffrey Reynolds have performed well on offence, it has been the play of Calgary’s defence that has been the most surprising. The Stampeders are allowing under 20 points a game and 51 rushing yards. An away game against Toronto and a home meeting with Saskatchewan in the next two weeks will show what Calgary is made of.

3) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-1-0; Last Week: 3; Lost 36-34 to Toronto in Week 2)

The Bombers are a fun team to watch. The main reason for this is quarterback Buck Pierce. Pierce has 657 passing yards, five touchdown passes and only one interception. What’s even more impressive is the fact that he is Winnipeg’s leading rusher with 192 yards. Combined with Fred Reid, Terrence Edwards and Terrence Jeffers-Harris, the Bombers are a solid offensive team. The defence did cool down a bit in a Week 2 loss to Toronto.

4) Montreal Alouettes (1-1-0; Last Week: 2; Defeated Edmonton 33-23 in Week 2)

Montreal found a way to win against Edmonton, but they should have lost the game. Had Kelly Campbell and Fred Stamps not dropped touchdown passes for Edmonton the game would have been finished much earlier. The defending Grey Cup champions seem to have lost some swagger from last season. Their defence has some major holes, as they are allowing 481 passing yards, 179 rushing yards and 27 points a game.

5) Toronto Argonauts (1-1-0; Last Week: 8; Defeated Winnipeg 36-34 in Week 2)

Well, the Argonauts have some fight in them after all. Toronto built up a 16-0 lead over the Bombers in Week 2, then kept pace with Winnipeg as they tried to mount a comeback. The Argonauts finally developed a running game, as Cory Boyd had 109 yards in the game. The big thing for Toronto was, they had no turnovers in the game. The Argonauts have a chance to make a statement with a home game against Calgary this week.

6) British Columbia Lions (1-1-0; Last Week: 4; Lost 37-18 to Saskatchewan in Week 2)

No matter how good Jamal Robertson is, no matter how good Casey Printers is, the Lions are going nowhere if there offensive line doesn’t improve. Printers, and Travis Lulay who took over later in the game, had no time to throw all game long in Week 2. BC’s defence didn’t have its best game last week, but the offensive line is a bigger concern for now.

7) Edmonton Eskimos (0-2-0; Last Week: 7; Lost 33-23 to Montreal in Week 2)

You’ve got to like what you saw out of Edmonton in Week 2. The Eskimos’ passing attack was much more solid. Kelly Campbell and Fred Stamps both had well over 100 receiving yards. Unfortunately, they both dropped a sure touchdown pass that could have wrapped up the game. If the Eskimos cut down on the penalties and hold onto the football they could move back up the standings.

8) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-2-0; Last Week: 6; Last 23-22 to Calgary in Week 2)

No one expected Hamilton to start this badly, especially with an opening game against Winnipeg and a home game against Calgary in their first two games. The main problem for Hamilton is their running game. DeAndra’ Cobb only has 59 yards and no touchdowns so far, after his solid 2009 campaign. The Tiger-Cats haven’t been scoring enough points, though returner Marcus Thigpen has been doing his best to help.

Biggest Rise: Calgary and Toronto +3

Biggest Drop: Montreal and BC -2

Check CFL Daily Dose each week for our CFL power rankings.

It was certainly a memorable opening week in the CFL. Montreal and Saskatchewan delivered one of the most exciting regular season games ever. Winnipeg proved they are no slouches and the B.C. earned a big road victory over Edmonton. Each week, CFL Daily Dose will share their power rankings. There is no complicated formula that goes along with these rankings.

1) Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0-0, Last Week: N/A)

Saskatchewan’s epic 54-51 double overtime victory over Montreal in Week 1 proved a couple things. Mainly, their offence is stacked with talent and they are not going to falter even when they are behind by a lot of points. Their defensive secondary struggled last week, but they were facing one of the best receiving cores in the league.

2) Montreal Alouettes (0-1-0, LW: N/A)

They lost in Week 1, but the defending Grey Cup champions didn’t exactly look terrible in the lose. At times, Anthony Calvillo picked Saskatchewan’s defence apart. The offence will have to go back to the running game more, as Avon Cobourne only had 10 carries. One area concern for the Alouettes is the defence. The Riders had 478 passing yards and 179 rushing yards on them last week.

3) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0-0, LW: N/A)

Where did the Bombers come from! With almost no one really giving them a chance in Week 1, Winnipeg stunned the CFL by topping Hamilton by 20 points. The offence and defence were both solid for the Bombers. If Buck Pierce continues his resurgence under centre, Winnipeg will go far this season.

4) B.C. Lions (1-0-0, LW: N/A)

Jamal Robertson is a tank! In his first regular season game with the Lions, the running back racked up 168 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. The rest of their offence wasn’t overly impressive, but they didn’t have any turnovers. The real impressive thing in the game was the performance of B.C.’s defence. They caused five turnovers and limited Edmonton to ten points at home.

5) Calgary Stampeders (1-0-0, LW: N/A)

A win is a win, but Calgary could have done much better at home against the woeful Toronto Argonauts. Toronto was actually marching to tie the game before Malik Jackson returned a fumble for a touchdown. Henry Burris, Joffrey Reynolds and Romby Bryant had solid games, but the Stampeders need to be more consistent on offence.

6) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1-0, LW: N/A)

Hamilton is better than they played in Week 1, but it definetly was a surprising loss. Their big guns, Arland Bruce III, De’Andra Cobb and Arland Bruce, were held in check. Remember, the Tiger-Cats did lose to Toronto in Week 1 last season and finished the season second in the East. Marcus Thigpen was exceptional in the return game, picking up two touchdowns.

7) Edmonton Eskimos (0-1-0, LW: N/A)

That certainly wasn’t the start Edmonton’s fan were looking for or expecting. The Eskimos only put up 10 points at home in their season opener. Ricky Ray had decent stats, but he really failed to stretch the defence. The Eskimos had a solid run defence in 2009, but couldn’t stop Robertson from running all over them.

8) Toronto Argonauts (0-1-0, LW: N/A)

They didn’t do as poorly as some expected, but that might be a testament to how average Calgary is this season. Cleo Lemon was average under centre, throwing 192 yards a touchdown and an interception. The lack of the running game has got be a concern for the Argonauts.

As the off-season has raged on in the Canadian Football League, teams have been positioning themselves to try and dethrone the Montreal Alouettes, last year’s Grey Cup champions. Some teams, like the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger Cats have were aggressive during the free agency period, others like the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders remained relatively conservative, while the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers decided to clean house.

When all is said and done, who has currently positioned themselves in the best position heading into next season?

1) Montreal Alouettes (2009 record: 15-3-0, won the Grey Cup)
The defending Grey Cup champions are once again going to be the team to beat next season. The Alouettes only suffered one big loss so far in the off-season. Coveted defensive lineman Keron Williams was signed by the B.C. Lions. Still, the majority of Montreal’s talented roster remains in check. There were rumours that players like Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon would retire, Kerry Watkins would be snapped up by another team, and head coach Marc Trestman would bolt to the NFL. These never transpired.

2) Saskatchewan Roughriders (2009 record: 10-7-1, lost in the Grey Cup)
With the additions of wide receiver Prechae Rodriguez and multi-dimensional running back Dominique Dorsey, the Riders will have all the tools they need on offence as they look to avenge their Grey Cup loss to Montreal. The Riders do have some question marks on defence. Who will start at the two defensive ends position? Who will step in for the retired Eddie Davis?

3) Hamilton Tiger Cats (2009 record: 9-9-0, lost in East Semi-Final)
Based on their off-season moves, Hamilton has made one thing clear. They are not a one-year wonder. Through free agency and trades, The Tiger Cats made some solid acquisitions. They added wide receiver Maurice Mann, kicker Sandro DeAngelis, offensive lineman Jason Jimenez and defensive backs Jason Shivers and Will Poole. With the question marks in Toronto and Winnipeg, Hamilton has the best chance to challenge Montreal for first in the East Division.

4) Calgary Stampeders (2009 record: 10-7-1, lost in West Final)
The Stampeders raised some eyebrows when they traded away Jermaine Copeland, their leading receiver, for receiver P.K. Sam. While Calgary wanted to get younger in the receiving core, they may miss Copeland’s leadership. The Stampeders did ensure that all-star running back Joffrey Reynolds will be carrying the ball next season. Calgary is hoping that age won’t finally catch up with him. Besides there Grey Cup campaign in 2008, the Stampeders have been rather inconsistent lately. With the majority of the teams in the West facing adversity, however, Calgary should be competitive.

5) British Columbia Lions (2009 record: 8-10-0, lost in East Final)
The Lions were one of many teams to lose players to the NFL this off-season. B.C. lost starting defensive end Ricky Foley and starting running back Martel Mallett. They lost middle linebacker Jojuan Armour to retirement. To off-set some of these losses, the Lions brought in defensive lineman Keron Williams and cornerback Davis Sanchez. Of course, whether the Lions are successful or not next season will depend on the play of erratic quarterback Casey Printers.

6) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2009 record: 7-11-0, missed the playoffs)
The Mike Kelly era is over and the Paul LaPolice era begins. The former Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive coordinator will look to improve an ailing Bombers squad. LaPolice brought coaches Kavis Reed and Jamie Barresi, as well as quarterback Steven Jyles with him from Saskatchewan. The same problems still remain in Winnipeg. While they have a decent roster on paper, they still do not have a proven quarterback.

7) Edmonton Eskimos (2009 record: 9-9-0, lost in West Semi-Final)
Complacency can be a good thing, but for the Eskimos it was a bad thing. Edmonton sat back and did little to improve their defence, or add a much needed receiver. The Eskimos did pick up all-star defensive back Chris Thompson in a trade, but to do so they gave up their most dynamic receiver in Maurice Mann. With questions marks in the defence, no proven threat in the receiving core, and an aging Ricky Ray, Edmonton may be fighting for a cross over berth next season.

8) Toronto Argonauts (2009 record: 3-15-0, missed the playoffs)
Toronto is simply a mess. Instead of hiring talented offensive coordinator Scott Milanovich as their head coach, Toronto chose Jim Barker. Besides trading for Jermaine Copeland, the Argonauts have not done much this off-season. They mostly just brought back former players like Jordan Younger and Byron Parker. One thing is for sure, it is impossible to rank a team with no quarterbacks on their roster any better than last.