3DownNation power rankings: injury-ravaged Riders plummet after loss

Seriously, what in the world did we all just witness?

Week 6 of the CFL season is in the books and it will be remembered as one for the ages, with all four games decided by a single score and three of them featuring electric finishes. With stunning upsets and devastating injuries dominating the headlines, that has seriously shaken up the league hierarchy.

3DownNation’s power rankings are created by having eleven of our contributors rank each team from No. 1 to No. 9 independently, then averaging out the scores. The previous week’s rankings are in brackets.

Enjoy the rankings and feel free to roast us on Twitter for anything you think we got wrong.

Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

1. Toronto Argonauts (1)

Just when you thought Chad Kelly couldn’t look any more impressive, he goes out and throws for 351 yards and three touchdowns — including two to David Ungerer III — while rushing for another major in a star-making performance. The first-year starter easily went shot for shot with the Alouettes and has the undefeated Argos looking like favourites to repeat as Grey Cup champs, with a punishing run game and dangerous pass rush ready to back him up.

Photo courtesy: Jeff Vinnick/B.C. Lions

2. B.C. Lions (3)

The Lions enjoyed a Week 6 bye and still saw their stock in the West Division rise thanks to Winnipeg’s stumble. Vernon Adams Jr. is trending towards a season of over 5,500 passing yards with a healthy trio of thousand-yard receivers at his disposal and Mathieu Betts is still on pace to shatter the CFL’s sack record, though plenty of football is left to be played.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2)

When you are the league’s reigning dynasty, people don’t punish you too harshly for the occasional stubbed toe. Still, the powerhouse Bombers might as well have lopped off one of their phalanges when they surrendered a 19-point fourth-quarter lead en route to an overtime loss to the lowly Redblacks. Despite a 354-yard performance from Zach Collaros and six sacks from the defence, Mike O’Shea’s team looked out of gas late and let a rookie quarterback run all over them.

Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards/Saskatchewan Roughriders

4. Calgary Stampeders (5)

The Stamps were beginning to flounder in the West Division ahead of Week 6, but they are back on the upswing after Rene Paredes’ 50-yard game-winner in Regina. Despite the too-close-for-comfort scoreline, Brent Monson’s defence put forth a smothering effort and quarterback Jake Maier had his best game of the season, throwing for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while actually attempting to stretch the field. With new weapons like Tommylee Lewis emerging, this feels like a potential turning point.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

5. Montreal Alouettes (6)

The Larks lost a shoot-out with Chad “Machine Gun” Kelly, but their valiant effort against the league’s only undefeated team defied most people’s expectations. The protection in front of Cody Fajardo continues to cause concern, but the team finally appears to have found a viable number three receiver in the pint-sized Tyler Snead, who hauled in a hat-trick of touchdowns in his second CFL game. Despite being one of three East Division teams sitting at 2-3, the Alouettes enter their bye as the clear second-place favourite.

Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards/Saskatchewan Roughriders

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4)

Thanks to a logic-defying Tevin Jones Hail Mary catch and two return touchdowns from the great Mario Alford, Saskatchewan was within a whisker of winning this game despite a poor offensive performance. Nevertheless, they fall dramatically in these rankings because of what else they lost — quarterback Trevor Harris. The 37-year-old suffered a tibial plateau fracture early in the fourth quarter and will be out long-term, leaving the already injury-ravaged Riders in the hands of backup Mason Fine.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

7. Ottawa Redblacks (8)

Left for dead after Jeremiah Masoli’s injury last week, the Redblacks looked as bad as you’d expect in the first half against Winnipeg. Then Frankenstein’s monster awoke in the form of rookie Dustin Crum, who threw for 261 yards and ran for 74 more — almost all in the second half — while calling his own number on the two deciding touchdowns. The pure elation from Ottawa’s bench after the overtime clincher was incredible to witness and proves this team isn’t out of it yet.

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7)

The Tiger-Cats successfully the league’s basement dweller on Thursday thanks to 167 yards from scrimmage from running back James Butler, but the victory came at a cost. With Bo Levi Mitchell already on the six-game injured list with a bad adductor, veteran backup Matthew Shiltz was forced out of this game late with what looked like a painful lower-body injury. The status of both quarterbacks going forward has yet to be revealed, but rookie Taylor Powell may soon be making his first start if neither can play through the pain.

Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

9. Edmonton Elks (9)

Misery might love company but the Elks are all alone as the laughingstocks of the CFL, having successfully tied a 70-year-old North American pro sports record for the longest consecutive home losing streak at 20 games. It was an embarrassing, penalty-filled display from a once proud organization and they once again pulled quarterback Taylor Cornelius, though he seems set to keep his starting job nevertheless. The same is true for head coach and general manager Chris Jones, who president Victor Cui seems to be financially stuck with despite the first 0-6 start in franchise history.