SBI MLS Power Rankings (Week 18)

1. (2) COLORADO RAPIDS (10-2-7)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Sporting KC, 1-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. FC Dallas on Saturday

OUTLOOK: The Rapids haven’t lost in 14 games, and performances like Saturday’s show exactly why. The Rapids grind out results each and every week, a scary prospect come playoff time. It’s long past time to stop wondering if the Rapids are for real. Now, it’s time to wonder just how far they can go when the playoffs do begin.

2. (1) FC DALLAS (12-6-4)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 5-0, to Seattle Sounders on Wednesday; Defeated Chicago Fire, 3-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Colorado Rapids on Saturday

OUTLOOK: A shorthanded side took a thumping on Wednesday, but FC Dallas bounced back in a major way with a resounding win on Saturday. Mauro Diaz and Fabian Castillo looked virtually unstoppable, easing a bit of panic after yet another lopsided defeat. It’s an odd trend for FC Dallas, who tends to lose big when they are not on their game.

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4. (5) NEW YORK CITY FC (9-6-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Montreal Impact, 3-1, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: at New York Red Bulls on Sunday

OUTLOOK: Quite a performance from NYCFC, who bounced back from a loss in a perfect way. Led by Frank Lampard, David Villa and rookie Jack Harrison, NYCFC has won five of their last six, surging into the East’s top spot. A derby match awaits, one that will serve as yet another test of just how far this NYCFC team has come this season.
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5. (9) PORTLAND TIMBERS (7-6-8)

LAST WEEK: Tied Montreal Impact, 1-1, on Wednesady; Defeated Seattle Sounders, 3-1, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday

OUTLOOK: After sealing a point against the Impact, the reigning champions truly shined on Saturday against the Sounders. Diego Valeri was an absolute star, and the Timbers are now unbeaten in nine straight matches heading into a heavyweight clash with the Galaxy this weekend.

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6. (6) PHILADELPHIA UNION (8-6-6)

LAST WEEK: Tied New York Red Bulls, 2-2, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: at Montreal Impact on Saturday

OUTLOOK: The Union scored two goals merely moments apart to erase a two-goal deficit against one of their local rivals. It was a gutsy performance from a team that looked destined for defeat, and it could be one that proves vital in the tight Eastern Conference race. Just three points behind NYCFC with a game in hand, the Union are very much in the thick of things in conference play.

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7. (4) REAL SALT LAKE (8-6-6)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday; Tied New England Revolution, 0-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Friday

OUTLOOK: A poor week from RSL, a team that is suddenly winless in five straight matches. RSL hasn’t lost at home yet this season, but three straight draws at Rio Tinto Stadium leave the club in danger of falling back towards the pack in the West.

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8. (10) NEW YORK RED BULLS (8-9-4)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Orlando City, 2-0, on Wednesday; Tied Philadelphia Union, 2-2, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. New York City FC on Sunday

OUTLOOK: One of the New York Red Bulls’ most thorough performances of the season was immediately followed up by one of their most frustrating. The defender Supporters’ Shield winners collapsed in a matter of minutes, leaving the team with just one point from Sunday’s match. The Red Bulls’ form has been indifferent since a June 22 loss to Real Salt Lake, as the Eastern Conference powerhouse has gone just 1-2-3 over that stretch.
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9. (7) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (8-10-4)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Chicago Fire on Wednesday; Lost, 1-0, to Colorado Rapids on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Seattle Sounders on Sunday

OUTLOOK– Sporting KC squandered their chance at points on Wednesday, falling to the lowly Fire in a game that should have at least yielded a draw. The loss to the Rapids was then expected, as Sporting KC dug themselves a bit of a hole this week. A tough bounceback game awaits, as CenturyLink Field remains a difficult venue, even with the Sounders’ struggles.
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10. (7) MONTREAL IMPACT (6-5-8)

LAST WEEK: Tied Portland Timbers, 1-1, on Wednesday; Lost, 3-1, to NYCFC on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Another frustrating week for the Union, who managed only one point from a pair of games. Even if it was against a pair of contenders, the Impact would have liked to have performed a bit better. The absence of Ignacio Piatti loomed large and Didier Drogba looked a bit out of sorts, but the duo, and the Impact, will be fine in the long run.

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11. (12) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (8-8-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Real Salt Lake, 2-0, on Wednesday; Tied Orlando City, 2-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday; vs. Orlando City on Saturday

OUTLOOK: After an inspired performance against RSL, the Whitecaps’ defense let them down once again on Saturday in a 2-2 draw with a chaotic Orlando City team. It’s been an up-and-down two months for the Whitecaps, who remain in contention in the West despite their struggles.

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12. (11) TORONTO FC (6-7-6)

LAST WEEK: Tied Columbus Crew, 1-1, on Wednesday; Lost, 2-1, to San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. D.C. United on Saturday

OUTLOOK: TFC is struggling without several of their stars, earning just one point from a pair of winnable games. Saturday’s loss will hurt most of all, as TFC failed to take advantage of a nine-man Earthquakes side to earn any sort of return.

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13. (14) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (6-6-7)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Toronto FC, 2-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Real Salt Lake on Friday

OUTLOOK: Gutsy. Down to nine men, the Earthquakes somehow found a way to grind out a win by scoring a short-handed game-winner. It was the Earthquakes’ first win since May 11, and it may be one of the most unlikely in team history, even for a team with a reputation for stealing results despite improbable odds.
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14. (13) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (5-7-8)

LAST WEEK: Tied Real Salt Lake, 0-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Chicago Fire on Saturday

OUTLOOK: The league’s draw kings stepped up to the plate to earn yet another tie, but the Revs will feel like it should have been a three-point affair. Kei Kamara was ruled for a controversial foul that overruled a goal, preventing the Revs from winning two straight games for only the second time this season.
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15. (15) D.C. UNITED (5-7-7)

LAST WEEK: Tied Columbus Crew, 1-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Toronto FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK: D.C. United got a bit fortunate on Saturday. An incorrectly-judged red card forced the Crew to 10 men, and D.C. United took full advantage of the mistake to earn a point. Can’t fault them for doing just that, but better performances will be needed going forward if D.C. hopes to make some noise in the East.

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16. (17) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (6-11-2)

LAST WEEK: Defeated FC Dallas, 5-0, on Wednesday; Lost, 3-1, to Portland Timbers on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Sporting KC on Sunday 

OUTLOOK: The Sounders put forth their most impressive performance of the season on Wednesday, dismantling a shorthanded FC Dallas team with what could have been a turnaround result. However, without Clint Dempsey, the Sounders slumped in a loss to the Timbers, as concerns remain at CenturyLink Field.
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17. (16) ORLANDO CITY (4-5-10)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to New York Red Bulls on Wednesday; Tied Vancouver Whitecaps, 2-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Columbus Crew on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Orlando City is reeling, and the firing of Adrian Heath has done little to right the ship in the short term. The Lions were hapless in Wednesday defeat, although Saturday’s effort did show a bit of progress from a team in danger of falling well out of the playoff picture.
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18. (19) COLUMBUS CREW (3-7-9)

LAST WEEK:  Tied Toronto FC, 1-1, on Wednesday; Tied D.C. United, 1-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Orlando City on Saturday

OUTLOOK: A pair of draws were far from the results the Crew needed, but Saturday’s draw in particular will be one that stings for quite awhile. An unjust red card to Harrison Afful  reduced the Crew to 10 men, and the defense collapsed to allow a goal a few minutes later. The Crew haven’t won since May 28, although Saturday’s match against a struggling Orlando City presents the ideal time to begin a turnaround.
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19. (20) CHICAGO FIRE (3-8-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Sporting KC, 1-0, on Wednesday; Lost, 3-1, to FC Dallas on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at New England Revolution on Saturday 

OUTLOOK– The Fire have alternated wins and losses over their last four games in what is, in some ways, a sign of progress. Still, the Fire in the basement in the East, and Saturday’s loss to FC Dallas served as yet another reminder of how the Fire are away from contention, especially given their road woes.

20. (18) HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-9-6)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to LA Galaxy on Friday

THIS WEEK: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday 

OUTLOOK: The Dynamo attack remains woeful, and it showed again on Friday. Shutout in three of their last five, the Dynamo continue to struggle on the attacking side of things, and their single win since late May is very indicative of just how poor the Dynamo are at separating themselves.

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