The biggest clash of this past week didn’t answer any questions as Ottawa and Calgary played to a 26-26 tie, but it did show that the RedBlacks are no fluke. Last year’s trip to the Grey Cup could be just the beginning for the league’s youngest team.
Heading into the year, Edmonton was considered a good bet to win a second straight championship. But after yielding 81 points in just two games, experts now have Ottawa on top in the latest power rankings at 2-0-1, and they remain the only squad without a loss through the early part of the season.
Toronto is sitting second in the East Division with a 2-1 mark — not bad for a team that was considered a middle of the pack squad and one that would battle to make the playoffs. The Argonauts have won both contests on the road, including last week’s upset over the BC Lions, a victory that has pushed them to the second best team in the CFL after three weeks of play.
The Lions currently lead the West Division with a 2-1 record and, despite a disappointing result against the Argo’s, are third in this week’s power rankings. All of this makes for a team to watch and perhaps the best defensive unit in the game.
Calgary was picked by a handful of experts as the team to beat this season, and despite starting the year 1-1-1, the Stampeders play an exciting brand of football and have the talent necessary on both sides of the ball to win the Grey Cup.
The Eskimos might have won the championship last season, but with a target on their back, Edmonton is struggling to find some early season form. Experience and depth should help as the year moves forward — and averaging 38 points per game won’t hurt. If the coaches can find a way to stop the opposition, there’s no reason to believe this unit won’t be right in the mix at the end of the year.
