This is the best Canadian Football League game of the week on paper, as the 2-0 Edmonton Eskimos visit the 1-0 Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night.

Edmonton has looked impressive in two wins to open the season against Montreal and British Columbia, outgaining them by a combined 490 total yards. QB Trevor Harris has thrown for 655 passing yards and six touchdowns without an interception, while the Eskimos’ defense has been a big surprise. It was expected to be a totally rebuilt unit entering the season, but the group has stepped up, allowing just 48 combined points and 263 total yards. It is led by a defensive line that has been getting into the backfield and disrupting the passing game.

The defensive line playing this well has masked all the personnel changes and injuries at linebacker and in the secondary. The key difference versus Winnipeg in comparison to BC and Montreal is its offensive line is elite and better equipped to handle the vaunted Edmonton pass rush.

QB Matt Nichols was good in Winnipeg’s road win at BC in Week 1, the Blue Bombers have the best running back in the CFL in Andrew Harris, and a strong ground attack is not something Edmonton had to fear against either BC or Montreal. The Eskimos are still dealing with a cluster of injuries on defense, which will be harder to overcome against a better opponent.

The Winnipeg defense should be strong this season, and it was in the victory over BC. The Eskimos certainly had their way with a bottom-tier Alouettes’ defense and a Lions defense with seven new starters on it. Winnipeg is off a bye and should be fully fired up for its home opener. The Eskimos have impressed so far, but this is a step up in class facing the team I expect to win the West and be in the Grey Cup.

The play: Winnipeg, -5.