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MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Hes played just five games this year but already Ricky Ray appears to be in mid-season form. The Toronto Argonauts veteran quarterback is third in CFL passing with 1,355 yards despite missing a game due to a knee injury. His 11 TD passes are second only to Saskatchewans Darian Durant (15), and Ray and Durant are the only starters to not throw an interception. But what really stands out is Rays solid 76.4 per cent completion average, which is tops among CFL starters. The 33-year-old Californian has been hot lately, completing 34-of-38 passes (89.5 per cent) for 438 yards with five TDs in his last two starts. "Were just executing pretty well," Ray said following Tuesdays practice. "Obviously the gameplans our coaches give us have been pretty good but were just playing good football all around and thats what happens. "You see a lot of guys have success when all 12 of us are playing together and thats whats happening for us offensively." Thats certainly not good news for the Edmonton Eskimos (1-5), who visit Toronto (4-2) on Sunday. The West Division squad will be minus linebacker JC Sherritt, the CFLs top defensive player last year, who is out indefinitely after recently undergoing successful thumb surgery. "Hes a good player whos all over the field," Ray said of Sherritt. "He makes a difference. "He seems like hes always around the ball, hes just got those football smarts and is always there and makes a lot of tackles. For us, were not too sad about that." After starting the season 1-2, the defending Grey Cup champions have won three straight and outscored their opponents 111-44 over that span. The offence has done its part as Argos starters have completed 55-of-63 passes (87.3 per cent) for 691 yards and eight TDs with no interceptions in those games. Ray was a sensational 19-of-20 passing for 286 yards and two TDs in Torontos 35-19 win over Winnipeg on July 19 before suffering a knee injury. Backup Zach Collaros stepped in and completed 21-of-25 passes for 253 yards and three TDs in a 38-12 victory over B.C. on July 30. Ray returned and hit 15-of-18 passes for 152 yards and three first-half touchdowns in staking Toronto to a 31-3 half-time lead over Montreal on Thursday. He sat the second half after re-aggravating his knee injury. Ray says theres a simple explanation for this success -- familiarity. Ray and most of his offensive teammates are playing their second season under head coach Scott Milanovich. The six-foot-three, 210-pound Ray struggled initially as he learned Milanovichs offence after being dealt to Toronto following nine seasons in Edmonton. After returning from a knee injury Oct. 19, Ray surpassed the 300-yard passing plateau in three of his final five starts, including a 399-yard performance in Torontos 27-20 road win over Montreal in the East Division final. And Ray was a big reason why Toronto captured the 100th Grey Cup, finishing the CFL playoffs completing 69-of-97 passes for 869 yards and five TDs with just one interception. Toronto has a new offensive co-ordinator in Marcus Brady but hes very familiar with Milanovichs offensive approach and schemes. The two worked together as assistants in Montreal before Milanovich took the Argos head job. And it shows, as Torontos offence is tied for second overall with Calgary in TDs with 21 (one behind league-leading Saskatchewan) and is third in scoring (32.3 points per game). The Argos also boast the CFLs second-leading aerial game (305 yards per game) and are third in net yards (377 per game). The passing game is a huge part of Torontos offensive success as it leads the CFL in completions (150) and completion percentage (75.8 per cent). By comparison, the Argos ground game is ranked second-last overall, averaging 86.7 yards per game. But in Canadian football an offences success usually begins under centre and Milanovich, a former quarterback, has nothing but praise for Rays play. "Hes playing great football and really has been for about the last 10 games hes played," Milanovich said. "Were just trying not to talk about it too much and let him go out there and continue to do what hes doing. "I think its comfort level with the offence and his progressions . . . hes really feeling and seeing what the offence is giving him. Hes comfortable back there, obviously were protecting well for him, which is huge, and Marcus is doing a nice job calling the game." Theres also an obvious rapport between Ray and his receivers. Chad Owens, the CFLs outstanding player last year, is again leading the league in receiving with 43 catches for 470 yards and a TD. Canadian Andre Durie has 29 receptions for 370 yards and a touchdown while former Eskimo Jason Barnes -- who was released, then re-signed by Toronto last season -- has 16 receptions for 238 yards but a team-high four touchdown grabs. "Its a lot easier when youve been through it one time before," Barnes said. "Everybody understands not only their position but other positions as well so it helps out with our spacing and cohesiveness." Owens agrees. "We were in this system last year and a majority of the same guys are back," he said. "Ricky is comfortable, he understands it and besides that hes just an unbelievable quarterback. "I cant say enough about his poise, how he is in the pocket and his ability to deliver the ball on time and in the perfect spot." And with both Dontrelle Inman and Canadian Spencer Watt both nursing leg injuries, rookie John Chiles has contributed nine catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Inman might play against Edmonton and Watt could return soon as well, creating an interesting situation for Milanovich. "All good problems to have and they tend to take care of themselves through injury and other factors," he said. "That becomes a pretty good six-receiver package that maybe you have look into. "Well try to find a way to get all of them on the field, they deserve it." Predictably Ray downplayed Sundays game saying it wont mean nearly as much to him as his first meeting against the Eskimos or even last years East Division semifinal game against Edmonton. Barnes agreed, sort of. "Its another game for us," he said. "But at the same time I know me and Rick always love beating our former team so Im looking forward to it." NOTES: The New England Patriots released former Winnipeg defensive end Jason Vega on Tuesday . . . Montreal signed defensive end Anwar Stewart to its practice roster. The 37-year-old helped the Alouettes win three Grey Cups in 10 seasons with the club and was the CFLs top defensive player in 04. Stewart is also Montreals all-time leader in sacks with 66 but played with Calgary last season. The Als added Canadian receiver Ismael Bamba to their roster, signed defensive end Eze Ibiorato to the practice roster, released receiver Youssy Pierre and put Canadian defensive end Ameet Pall on the nine-game injured list. Authentic Sports Jerseys . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Wholesale Sports Jerseys .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. https://www.discountsportsjerseyscheap.com/ .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Sports Jerseys Sale . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Sports Jerseys From China . PAUL, Minn. ARLINGTON, Texas -- The salsa is back, and the New York Giants finally finished when the Dallas Cowboys failed to stop the clock in the final seconds.Eli Manning threw for three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score to Victor Cruz in his first game in nearly two years, and the Giants beat the Cowboys 20-19 Sunday.The Giants (1-0) won the debut of coach Ben McAdoo after 12 years and two Super Bowl titles under Tom Coughlin while spoiling the first game for Dallas Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.Cruz, who missed most of 2014 with a knee injury and all of last season with a bad calf, broke free in the end zone for a 3-yard TD with 6 minutes remaining, prompting his trademark salsa dance.You couldnt even describe what was going through my body, said Cruz , who had four catches for 34 yards. Wanted obviously to do the dance. Im sure Ive got that down pat.Everybody just pulled for me each and every day, each and every week as we got closer to Week 1. And to score a touchdown. You just couldnt make up a story any better than that.Because of Tony Romos back injury, Prescott and Elliott were the first rookie quarterback-running back combo to start an opener for the Cowboys since Roger Staubach and Calvin Hill in 1969.The game ended with Dallas in position for a roughly 57-yard field goal, but Terrance Williams didnt get out of bounds after a catch and the clock ran out before Prescott could spike the ball.Dan Bailey had four field goals, matched his career long at 56 yards and had another one from 54.The guy was trying to make a play, Prescott said of Williams. You never want to knock a guy trying to make a play.Randy Bullock, kicking because of Josh Browns one-game suspension, made the extra point for the lead after an earlier missed PAT.New York beat Dallas in an opener for the first time in nine tries.The Giants defense, fortified in free agency, held Dallas after the go-ahead score. Then the Giants emphasized the run to use most of the clock, quite a contrast to last season when questionable clock managemment contributed to six losses late in regulation or in overtime in a 6-10 season.ddddddddddddElliott was held to a 2.5-yard average (51 yards on 21 carries), although he had his first touchdown, and the only one for Dallas. Prescott was 25 of 45 for 227 yards.Manning was 19 of 28 for 207 yards, including a 45-yarder to Odell Beckham Jr. set up the first TD.ANOTHER ROOKIE FIRSTNew York receiver Sterling Shepard, the son of late former NFL receiver Derrick Sheppard, scored his first touchdown against one of his dads former teams. The second-round pick made a leaping catch over Dallas rookie Anthony Brown for a 9-yard score.LOSING WITHOUT ROMO AGAINThe Cowboys fell to 1-12 without Romo since the first of two broken collarbones last season in Week 2. Dallas lost the first seven without its four-time Pro Bowler on the way to a 4-12 finish. Romo broke a bone in his back in a preseason game at Seattle. He probably wont be back until mid-October at the earliest.DEZ DIDNT CATCH ITCowboys receiver Dez Bryant had an apparent 24-yard touchdown catch from Prescott overturned on review in the first half when the replay showed the ball coming loose as he landed and slid out of bounds in the end zone. Of course, the sequence sparked an immediate Dez caught it/Dez didnt catch it reaction on Twitter. The catch that wasnt in Green Bay in the playoffs two seasons ago will apparently live forever.INJURIESNew York linebacker J.T. Thomas III was carted off with a sprained knee at halftime after getting hurt on a kickoff return on the final play of the first half. He didnt return. ... Dallas cornerback Orlando Scandrick, who missed all of 2015 with a knee injury, was out part of the first half with a hamstring injury. He returned and had a sack in the second half.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler ' ' '