Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff; words by Alicia Rodriguez.
BIGGEST MOVERS: NE +2; NYC -2
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
The majority of the league's teams had the week off, and the voting panel didn't make major changes. Atlanta remain on top, but with the Red Bulls right on their tail, they'll need to keep winning to keep their spot, in both the Power Rankings and Supporters' Shield chase.
Previous: Idle | Next: at COL on 9/15
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
The Red Bulls have had D.C. United's number this season so far, and with a final Atlantic Cup showdown coming (last in the regular season, anyway), it's a chance for New York to further assert the upper hand in the rivalry and put more pressure on the Five Stripes in the battle for the 'Shield.
Previous: Idle | Next: at DC on 9/16
3
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 21
The only team that might have really wanted to avoid a week off is the red-hot Sounders, far and away the team in the best form in MLS, but still in need of points to fully clinch that MLS Cup Playoffs place. Can they pick up where they left off in a Cascadia Cup clash in British Columbia?
Previous: Idle | Next: at VAN on 9/15
4
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
Sporting took advantage of being in action with a cross-conference win over an overmatched Orlando City. They're putting real pressure on FC Dallas for top seed in the Western Conference and getting Felipe Gutierrez back in the goals column could be a big bonus with the backstretch of the season here.
Previous: Won 1-0 vs. ORL | Next: at SJ on 9/15
5
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 18
Remarkably, FC Dallas remain atop the West but seem to be flying under the radar nationally. A home game against a Crew SC team building a reputation for peaking late will be a great test for both teams.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. CLB on 9/15
6
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 17
LAFC are back in form, but can they finish the season strong? On paper, they should cruise over the Revolution, except New England just handed NYCFC their first home loss and may have finally found some mojo themselves, and are in a far more desperate situation right now.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. NE on 9/15
7
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 22
The Union's resurgence is still pretty new, but given the raised expectations Philly need to get a good result in a playoff six-pointer against Montreal. If they can't, they'll still be ahead of the Impact in the standings, but the lead will be narrow, and nerves will start to jangle.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. MTL on 9/15
8
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 12
Crew SC are still smack-dab in the middle of the playoff places in the Eastern Conference, but the business end of the season is nearly here and a strong run to close the campaign before the playoffs would be great. Can Gregg Berhalter get his side fully in sync for the final two months?
Previous: Idle | Next: at DAL on 9/15
9
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 21
The last time RSL won three in a row, they picked up a single point in their next three. With the Western Conference playoff race really revving up, they will want to avoid another mini swoon as the end of the season approaches.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. MIN on 9/15
10
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 18
The Timbers needed to post a win over the Rapids during the light week, and that's just what they did. The big question is they'll go with the scoring-by-committee strategy that worked last year, or if a striker will get hot late in the season (and could that striker ultimately be Jeremy Ebobisse)?
Previous: Won 2-0 vs. COL | Next: at HOU on 9/15
11
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 23
D.C. are still in it, even though they haven't rattled off a winning streak like they surely hoped. At the same time, getting a draw at Yankee Stadium with a mere 15 players available, with the season on the line, is damn gritty, and United have a huge two-game week here to potentially make up more ground.
Previous: Drew 1-1 at NYC | Next: vs. MIN on 9/12; vs. RBNY on 9/16
12
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 12
No question about it, the team that had the worst week was definitely NYCFC, who picked up one point in a double-game week at home. It feels like David Villa is really rounding into form, but even so, the team is just not quite clicking right now. Poor timing for it to come in September.
Previous: Lost 1-0 vs. NE; Drew 1-1 vs. DC | Next: at MTL on 9/22
13
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 23
The Impact still have a tough schedule to end the year, but can anyone definitively say whether Montreal will reach the playoffs or not? They may not be certain themselves of their prospects at this point.
Previous: Idle | Next: at PHI on 9/15
14
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 20
The Whitecaps appear to be the Rodney Dangerfield of MLS teams this year, but would opinions change if they snap the Sounders' historic winning streak? This is a team that has surged late in past seasons under Carl Robinson, after all.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. SEA on 9/15
15
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 21
The "MLS Cup that could have been" could very well be played on Saturday, when TFC host the Galaxy in a game both teams need points from. After that, a chance for another trophy in the inaugural Campeones Cup.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. LA on 9/15
16
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 16
Welcome to the Dom Kinnear era in LA, however long it may last. Sigi Schmid's departure from the club was a real surprise, not so much based on results but on the timing. Can Kinnear pick up the pieces and push the Galaxy into the playoffs, with just six games to go?
Previous: Idle | Next: at TOR on 9/15
17
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 22
It wasn't exactly beautiful, but a goal against the run of play and some other close calls gave New England full value for their victory against NYCFC. The Revs have one of the hardest schedules remaining, however, so they'll have to keep it up, starting with LAFC in California.
Previous: Won 1-0 at NYC | Next: at LAFC on 9/15
18
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 23
The Loons' long break ends here, with a two-game week and Darwin Quintero potentially returning. The playoff chase is all but over, but Adrian Heath's group could finish well and play spoiler, starting with this week's slate of games.
Previous: Idle | Next: at DC on 9/12; vs. RSL on 9/15
19
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 19
One expects the Dynamo are focusing on the U.S. Open Cup Final at this point, but even if that's the case, they would still like to find some form before then. Up next, a home game against a rebounding Timbers squad.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. POR on 9/15
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 17 | LOW: 23
Tim Howard did what he could in Colorado's loss in Portland, but the Rapids lacked the attacking punch needed to compete with the Timbers. In that regard, it's pretty much the same old thing for this team this year.
Previous: Lost 2-0 at POR | Next: vs. ATL on 9/15
21
LAST WEEK: 21
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 23
In contrast, Orlando City also lost, but once again they put in a good shift and came up narrowly short against a wily SKC side. Changes will still be coming, but there does appear to be something to build upon for the Lions.
Previous: Lost 1-0 at SKC | Next: at CHI on 9/16
22
LAST WEEK: 22
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 23
The Quakes' Georgian and Albanian contingent played pretty well on international duty — can that light a spark for San Jose's final stretch of 2018?
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. SKC on 9/15
23
LAST WEEK: 23
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 23
The Munich trip is in the books and Chicago are back at it, with a winnable match coming against Orlando City at home. This final stretch of the season could determine the course taken by the club moving forward.
Previous: Idle | Next: vs. ORL on 9/16
