Safimod’s 2019 Power Rankings – Week 2 Edition

Safimod’s 2019 Power Rankings – Week 2 Edition

Published: Monday, Jun 24th 2019, 2:06pm

By: Stephen Safinuk (@Safimod)

1 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-0) (LW: 2)

2 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) (LW: 1)

3 – Edmonton Eskimos (2-0) (LW: 3)

4 – Ottawa REDBLACKS (2-0) (LW: 7)

5 – Calgary Stampeders (0-1) (LW: 4)

6 – Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-2) (LW: 6)

7 – BC Lions (0-2) (LW: 5)

8 – Montreal Alouettes (0-1) (LW: 9)

9 – Atlantic Schooners (LW: Unranked)

10 – Laval Rouge Et Or (LW: Unranked)

11 – Toronto Argonauts (0-1) (LW: 8)

 

Simply put, you can’t lose your season opener by a fifty burger and expect to stay in the top 9 of my power rankings. Everything that could go wrong for the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday night, did. Its rare you see a team get so soundly beat in all 3 phases of a football game, especially at home, but here we are. The Argos are going to need to right the ship quick, as they head to Regina for a Canada Day battle against Cody Fajardo and the suddenly offensively gifted Roughriders. More on them later.

Much like Toronto dropped to 11^th for losing by 50, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats move up to 1^st in my rankings on the back of their dominating victory. It’s not often I move a team out of the #1 spot on a bye week, but it’s Winnipeg, so I’ll gladly do it.

Raise your hand if you had the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa REDLACKS sitting at 2-0 and leading their divisions after week 2? Now put your hand down, because if it’s up – you are a filthy liar. The Edmonton Eskimos made the BC Lions offensive line look like swiss cheese on Friday night, sacking Mike Reilly 7 times. Reilly once again showed why many consider him the toughest player in the CFL, but if he continues to take hits like he did on Friday night, it may be a short season for Reilly and the Lions.

The Lions drop from 5 to 7 this week. Those numbers are kind of ironic, seeing as Mike Reilly was sacked 7 times and hit illegally (RTP) an additional 5 times. Through two weeks, teams have learned that they don’t need to respect the run against the Lions. Through 2 games, they have rushed 13 times (not including Reilly rushes) for a grand total of 33 yards. I don’t know much about a balanced offence, but that ain’t it chief.

The Riders stick around at 6^th this week, coming off a 44-41 loss to the Ottawa REDBLACKs. 2 of the supposed better defenses in the CFL apparently stayed home on Thursday night, leaving Vegas oddsmakers confused. This was expected to be one of the lowest scoring games in year, and instead Cody Fajardo and Dominique Davis lit it up for 4 quarters. Points off turnovers (10 points) and special team’s gaffes (long returns and missed PAT) were the difference in this one. Week 2 last season, the Riders defense gave up 40 to the REDBLACKs in week 2. That defense turned out ok.

Speaking of the REDBLACKS. I take back everything bad I said about Dominique Davis. A lot of people were knocking Nic Marshall after this game, but a lot of the plays where he got beat were Dominique Davis putting the ball in a place where only his guys could catch it. On the money all game long and deserves all the credit after putting up 44 points against a top defense.