CFL Rankings: Week 3

Last week's ranking in parentheses

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4) Talk about a statement win. The Riders rallied from an early deficit to take down the defending West Division champion Stampeders in their home opener last week. Darian Durant appears to be at the top of his game while the Rider defense has punished its first two opponents. Next up is a tough matchup with the Boatmen in Toronto on Thursday.

2. B.C. Lions (3) That's more like it. The Lions looked every bit like the dominant squad most expected them to be this season in last week's win over the Argos. While the offense still hasn't kicked into high gear, the defense came up with a huge bounce-back effort off that ugly showing in Calgary to open the season. We'll see if Travis Lulay can shine against a tough Eskimos defense in Edmonton this Saturday.

3. Toronto Argonauts (1) There's no reason to get too down on the Argos off one bad game but that's not to say there isn't reason for concern. Toronto has a very green defense this year, and that's been evident in its first two games. Slow starts have been troublesome and things won't get any easier against a high-powered Riders offense this week.

4. Calgary Stampeders (2) It pains me to drop the Stampeders to fourth in the rankings, as I do believe they're a legitimate Grey Cup contender but off a discouraging loss in Saskatchewan and with Drew Tate banged up, things aren't looking all that rosy. With that being said, they might be catching the struggling Alouettes at precisely the right time this week. A trip to Montreal is never easy, but the Stampeders should be up to the challenge.

5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7) The Bombers hold steady in the fifth spot this week. They answered the bell in Montreal last Thursday, with their defense returning to the form that saw them terrorize the league two years ago. It might be asking a little much for them to deliver back-to-back road wins, but another favorable matchup awaits in Hamilton this Saturday.

6. Montreal Alouettes (5) It's important not to put too much stock in one result, especially at this early point of the season. But things haven't gone particularly well for the Als in the first two games of the Dan Hawkins era. I'm not sure Anthony Calvillo has ever looked as frustrated with his offense, whether due to play-calling or otherwise. Montreal hasn't lost its first two home games since way back in 2007.

7. Edmonton Eskimos (8) Mike Reilly looked much sharper in his second game at the helm of the Eskimos offense while the defense dominated in a rain-soaked win in Hamilton last Sunday. That was a much-needed victory following an embarrassing opening week no-show against the Riders. Edmonto takes a step back up in class this week, hosting the Lions on Saturday night.