3DownNation CFL power rankings: Stampeders get cut back down to size

Week 10 of the CFL season is officially in the books and it seems like none of the teams on the playoff bubble have figured out their identities quite yet.

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 courtesy: Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca

1) Toronto Argonauts (2)

After a one-week hiatus, the Argonauts surged back to the top of the power rankings thanks to career days from their quarterback and top wide receiver. Chad Kelly put his ankle injury in the rearview by passing for a whopping 417 yards and four touchdowns, while DaVaris Daniels kindly collected three of those scores and 180 yards through the air.

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

2) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)

All the talk this week will centre around the health of star quarterback Zach Collaros, who exited this week’s game in the second quarter with what looked to be a head injury. However, the Bombers still survived a punch to the face from the lowly Elks and backup Dru Brown dazzled in the comeback, throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

3) B.C. Lions (3)

The Lions restored their roar with a dominant performance over Calgary, hoping their opponent without a touchdown at BC Place for the fourth time this year. However, the real story was the return of Vernon Adams Jr., who shook off his knee injury for a sensational 322-yard, four-touchdown outing.

Photo courtesy: Gary Lavoie/Montreal Alouettes

4) Montreal Alouettes (4)

The Alouettes were without the services of starting quarterback Cody Fajardo, stud running back William Stanback, and veteran defensive tackle Almondo Sewell, but Jason Maas still stuck it to the team that fired him last offseason. Backup Caleb Evans did what he had to and the defence stepped up big, blowing out Saskatchewan without allowing a touchdown.

Photo courtesy: Ottawa Redblacks

5) Ottawa Redblacks (7)

How does a three-win team rise in the power rankings after losing another game? Your guess is as good as ours, but it probably has something to do with giving the top-ranked club a run for their money. The Redblacks didn’t look out of place in a shootout with the Argos and Dustin Crum appeared to finally find his form as a passer.

Photo: David Mahussier/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

6) Saskatchewan Roughriders (6)

A short week and a boatload of recent travel have earned the Riders some grace for their latest stinker of a performance, but the team didn’t escape unscathed. Quarterback Mason Fine came up lame early in the contest and could miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring pull, while Jake Dolegala looked completely ineffectual in relief. Things are so bad in Sask that they traded with Hamilton on Sunday to acquire journeyman backup Antonio Pipkin — yikes!

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

7) Calgary Stampeders (5)

Simply boring their opponent to death may have earned the Stampeders one upset this season, but it wasn’t going to generate a second this week. Quarterback Jake Maier was inaccurate while never throwing the ball down the field and the team’s defensive secondary was as wide open as the prairies, resulting in a beatdown at the hands of B.C.

Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

8) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8)

The Ticats took a break from the action in Week 10 but their absence was anything but quiet. The team parted ways with long-time offensive coordinator Tommy Condell last Monday and promoted former Toronto Argonauts head coach Scott Milanovich as his replacement. The move may not spark an instant turnaround in Steeltown, but it has certainly increased the level of intrigue moving forward.

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

9) Edmonton Elks (9)

Canadian quarterback Tre Ford provided the spark many expected in his first start of the season, but Edmonton still managed to squander a 22-point lead against the Bombers and lose for the 22nd straight time at home. Conservative play-calling from new offensive coordinator Jarious Jackson certainly played a factor in this defeat, just don’t tell Chris Jones that.