MLS Power Rankings, Week 22: Struggling Colorado Rapids continue free fall while Galaxy stand pat

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<strong>1</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 1</p>

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<p>Sloppy defensive display vs. the Quakes, but the attack continues to hum right along &ndash; they&#39;ve scored multiple goals in four of their last five. <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/gyasi-zardes" target="_blank">Gyasi Zardes</a>&#39; development has been the key, as there&#39;s not a hotter striker in the league right now (8 goals in his last 9 starts).</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-08-la-galaxy-vs-san-jose-earthquakes/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. San Jose, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-W-W-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Columbus (7:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>2</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 3</p>

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<p>Let&#39;s give it up for <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/chad-barrett" target="_blank">Chad Barrett</a>, who&#39;s found late-career relevance as a do-everything attacker. When he came on for <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/lamar-neagle" target="_blank">Lamar Neagle</a>, the game changed, and Seattle walked away with three points.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-10-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-houston-dynamo/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Houston, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-L-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Real Salt Lake (2:30 pm; NBCSN)</li></ul>

<strong>3</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 2</p>

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<p>Hard to remake a midfield on the fly, especially against as good a playmaker as <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/pedro-morales" target="_blank">Pedro Morales</a>. The Chilean DP ripped Sporting up.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-10-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-sporting-kansas-city/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Vancouver, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-W-D-L</li><li><strong><strong>This Week</strong>: </strong>Saturday vs. Toronto (8:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>/TSN2)</li></ul>

<strong>4</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 5</p>

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<p>They&#39;re now unbeaten in eight, and in <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/fabian-castillo" target="_blank">Fabian Castillo</a> have one of the most terrifying attackers in the league. You&#39;ve got to run a second man at him or he&#39;s going to create a chance.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-fc-dallas-vs-colorado-rapids/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Colorado, 3-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-D-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at San Jose (10:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>5</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p>

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<p>Ripped D.C. apart with their precision and movement, as well as some ruthlessness on set pieces. And with <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/sebastian-jaime" target="_blank">Sebastian Jaime</a> on the way and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/alvaro-saborio" target="_blank">Alvaro Saborio</a> healing up, there&#39;s more firepower coming soon.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-real-salt-lake-vs-dc-united/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. D.C. United, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-W-D-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Seattle (2:30 pm; NBCSN)</li></ul>

<strong>6</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 4</p>

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<p>Looked listless and disorganized without <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/perry-kitchen" target="_blank">Perry Kitchen</a> running things in the midfield. United&#39;s rebuild has been excellent, but they still lack the depth of other top teams.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-real-salt-lake-vs-dc-united/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Real Salt Lake, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-W-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. Colorado (8 pm; Univ Dep.)</li></ul>

<strong>7</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 7</p>

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<p>Suddenly all that idiotic &quot;TFC are better without <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/michael-bradley" target="_blank">Michael Bradley</a>!&quot; talk has stopped. Huge test in KC &ndash; who eat two-man central midfields alive &ndash; coming on Saturday.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-columbus-crew-vs-toronto-fc/recap" target="_blank">Won at Columbus, 3-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-L-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Kansas City (8:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>/TSN2)</li></ul>

<strong>8</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 8</p>

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<p>Broke their string of draws with as convincing a win as anyone put together this weekend. Only the solid form of the teams above them kept the &#39;Caps from moving up..</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-10-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-sporting-kansas-city/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Kansas City, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five:&nbsp; </strong>D-D-D-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Chivas USA (10:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>/TSN)</li></ul>

<strong>9</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 9</p>

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<p>Unbeaten in five and just one loss in their last night. The Union are finally above the red line and are a good bet to stay there, but need to start having more of the ball &ndash; they&#39;ve been down around 30 percent each of the last two weeks, and made a feeble Montreal team look pretty dangerous.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-philadelphia-union-vs-montreal-impact/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Montreal, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-W-D-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Friday at Houston (9 pm; NBCSN)</li></ul>

<strong>10</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 12</p>

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<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/diego-valeri" target="_blank">Diego Valeri</a> has picked this team up and put them on his shoulders &ndash; nobody in the league is playing better soccer than him at the moment.<br><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-portland-timbers-vs-chivas-usa/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Chivas USA, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-W-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at New England (7:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>11</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 10</p>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Redbulls.png" style="width: 85px; height: 68px;">

<p>Got a pretty good defensive performance on the road and down several key defenders, but no BWP to bail them out this time. They&#39;ll use the bye week to get some rest, which is something they&#39;ve talked about all season.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-10-chicago-fire-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Chicago, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-D-D-W-L</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game: </strong>Aug. 23 vs. Montreal</li></ul>

<strong>12</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 13</p>

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<p>They were on the back foot all game, but still came away with a gigantic point down in LA. Of course there&#39;s still tons of work to be done, as the Quakes remain eight points out of the final playoff spot with just 14 games to go.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-08-la-galaxy-vs-san-jose-earthquakes/recap" target="_blank">Drew at LA, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-D-W-W-D</li><li><strong><strong>This Week:</strong></strong>Saturday vs. Dallas (10:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>13</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 11</p>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/rapids.png" style="width: 85px; height: 107px;">

<p>One win in their last seven, three straight losses, a defense that keeps leaking and an attack that&#39;s having trouble building anything from the run of play. The Rapids don&#39;t look like a playoff team right now.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-fc-dallas-vs-colorado-rapids/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Dallas, 3-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-L-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at D.C. United (8 pm; Univ Dep.)</li></ul>

<strong>14</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 14</p>

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<p>Gut-punch loss. Fighting back twice, getting a gift of a goal, but conceding such a soft winner ... that&#39;s one that could hurt for a long, long time.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-columbus-crew-vs-toronto-fc/recap" target="_blank">Lost vs. Toronto, 3-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-W-D-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. LA (7:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>15</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 16</p>

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<p>Since moving <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/jeff-larentowicz" target="_blank">Jeff Larentowicz</a> back to central defense, the Fire have given up one goal in three games. Somehow this team is only two points out of a playoff spot and have the fewest losses in the Eastern Conference.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-10-chicago-fire-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. New York, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-D-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (6:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>/TSN2/RDS)</li></ul>

<strong>16</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 15</p>

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<p>Played Seattle really, really tough for about 75 minutes before coming unglued in central defense &ndash; a consistent theme this season. Time is running out for them to fix it.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-10-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-houston-dynamo/recap">Lost at Seattle, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-D-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Friday vs. Philadelphia (9 pm; NBCSN)</li></ul>

<strong>17</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 17</p>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Chivas.png" style="width: 75px; height: 99px;">

<p>Chivas are starting to Chivas. Fourth straight loss, three of them by multiple goals, with only one goal of their own during that stretch.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-portland-timbers-vs-chivas-usa/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Portland, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-L-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Vancouver (10:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE/</a>TSN)</li></ul>

<strong>18</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 18</p>

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Losses by the Crew and Red Bulls certainly helped New England. The real question the Power Rankings Politburo wants answered is, &quot;Can the Revs help themselves?&quot;&nbsp;<br><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Did not play</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-L-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Portland (7:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)<br></li></ul>

<strong>19</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 19</p>

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<p>The attack looked dangerous vs. the Union, especially when <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/dilly-duka" target="_blank">Dilly Duka</a> came in on the second half. The defense is still a bit of a fixer upper.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-09-philadelphia-union-vs-montreal-impact/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Philadelphia, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five:&nbsp; </strong>L-L-L-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Chicago (6:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>/TSN2/RDS)</li></ul>