BIGGEST MOVERS: Philadelphia +3 spots | POR, VAN, NE -2 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
They looked fatigued against Sporting, which is understandable considering their midweek Open Cup win at LA. Dallas are huge favorites to win their first trophy since 1997, and now the question is if they have enough firepower to make it a double.
Latest result: Drew vs. Sporting KC, 2-2
Last five results: L-W-D-W-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Real Salt Lake (MLS LIVE)
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 9
Left points on the table with another frustrating performance against a short-handed team, but they still finished the weekend atop the conference on points per game and still have the friendliest remaining schedule of any team in the league. The East is theirs to win if they can hold together defensively.
Latest result: Drew at Houston, 1-1
Last five results: W-W-W-W-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Philadelphia (MLS LIVE)
3
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 20
Colorado's ability to grind out results continues to be remarkable, and in Marlon Hairston they have one of the season's break-out stars on their hands. The winger never floats; he's always busy, always finding spots to work in, and that's what makes him dangerous.
Latest result: Drew at LA Galaxy, 1-1
Last five results: W-D-L-W-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Orlando City (MLS LIVE)
4
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 9
Unbeaten in nine, which is the best streak of anybody in the league right now -- so things are mostly fine in LA. A worry, though: They have exactly one win against a playoff team in the last four months.
Latest result: Drew vs. Colorado, 1-1
Last five results: W-W-D-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at NYCFC (ESPN in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
5
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 17
Missing four starters and a new signing due to injury? No big deal for the Red Bulls, who've posted the best PPG in the league since pulling out of their early-season tailspin.
Latest result: Won vs. Montreal, 3-1
Last five results: D-W-D-D-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at D.C. United (ESPN in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
6
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 20
Nobody plays more exciting games than NYCFC. They score a bunch, they concede a bunch, and here they are, still on top of the Eastern Conference -- though with Toronto and New York breathing down their necks. The defense remains a concern, and a potentially fatal flaw.
Latest result: Drew at Columbus, 3-3
Last five results: W-L-W-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. LA Galaxy (ESPN in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
7
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 19
Did Alejandro Bedoya fix everything, just like that? Too hot a take for us, especially considering the way the Revs have struggled. But any 4-0 road win against a conference foe is worth celebrating, and Philly are still well within striking distance of the top of the East.
Latest result: Won at New England, 4-0
Last five results: D-L-L-D-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Toronto (MLS LIVE)
8
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Since going 4-1-0 in April, RSL have limped through late spring and most of the summer with a 5-7-5 performance -- and only one of those wins came against a Western Conference team. They're safe above the red line, but the gap between them and the front-runners is larger than it appears.
Latest result: Lost at Seattle, 2-1
Last five results: D-W-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Dallas (MLS LIVE)
9
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Just four wins in the last four months, and a defense that looks more vulnerable than it did at any point in spring and early summer. Montreal have yet to hit their stride, and it's not clear what their best lineup or formation is.
Latest result: Lost at NY Red Bulls, 3-1
Last five results: L-W-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Chicago (MLS LIVE)
10
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 18
That was a huge, huge point after three straight disappointing road results -- losses from which they should've taken at least one point each. Even so, it once again managed to be a disappointing road result given that they coughed up a late equalizer in an extraordinarily unnecessary way.
Latest result: Drew at Dallas, 2-2
Last five results: L-W-W-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Vancouver (MLS LIVE in US; TSN/RDS in Canada)
11
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 12
A strangely listless performance underscores this fact: Portland haven't had a winning streak of any sort this season. They've been at sea almost all year, and now enter the upcoming two-game set against Seattle having lost three of four. Who can diagnose what the problem is when they look like a different team each week?
Latest result: Lost at D.C. United, 2-0
Last five results: W-L-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Seattle (FS1 in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
12
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 15
You probably didn't realize this, but the Quakes are actually tied for 5th in the West on PPG. They also just picked up their first road win of the season, a new striker who should score some goals, and have maintained an elite defense all year. We're not saying they're going to make the playoffs, but we're saying you'd be foolish to count them out.
Latest result: Won at Vancouver, 2-1
Last five results: W-D-D-D-W
Next MLS match: Friday vs. Houston (UniMás in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
13
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 20
They have looked like the league's best team since the arrival of Nicolas Lodeiro, but even so they've squandered far too many good looks. Regardless, if they keep playing as they have been they'll have a fighting chance of making the playoffs.
Latest result: Won vs. Real Salt Lake, 2-1
Last five results: L-L-D-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Portland (FS1 in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
14
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 17
The offense can be beautiful, but the defense has remained disastrous. Unnecessary fouls, inability to contain on the wings, and slow close-outs through midfield plague this team -- which is why they're below the red line.
Latest result: Drew at Chicago, 2-2
Last five results: D-D-W-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Colorado (MLS LIVE)
15
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 20
D.C. has played really, really well over the last three weeks, but their finishing woes cost them home points. They'll get 90 more minutes this weekend at RFK before playing four of the following five on the road, which is a stretch that'll test everything about this group.
Latest result: Won vs. Portland, 2-0
Last five results: D-L-D-D-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. NY Red Bulls (ESPN in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
16
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 16
That three-game winning streak in May seems like a million years ago. Vancouver have gone just 2-6-4 since then, with a -7 goal differential. The have the West's worst defense and the attack hasn't been good enough to make up for it.
Latest result: Lost vs. San Jose, 2-1
Last five results: D-D-L-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Sporting KC (TSN/RDS in Canada; MLS LIVE in US)
17
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
They are resolute and difficult to break down. They are also desperately in need of a playmaker -- their own Mauro Diaz, Sacha Kljestan or Nicolas Lodeiro.
Latest result: Drew vs. Toronto, 1-1
Last five results: L-D-D-L-D
Next MLS match: Friday at San Jose (UniMás in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
18
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18
This is not the team the Power Rankings Politburo thought they would be. The Revs aren't out of the playoff hunt by any means, but after the performance they put together this weekend, would you pick them to play in November?
Latest result: Lost vs. Philadelphia, 4-0
Last five results: D-W-L-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Columbus (MLS LIVE)
19
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 20
Scored multiple goals for the second time in three games, after doing it just twice in the first 19. That's the closest we could come to finding a silver lining in what was otherwise a miserable week for the Fire.
Latest result: Drew vs. Orlando City, 2-2
Last five results: L-L-D-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Montreal (MLS LIVE)
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 20
Goals from Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram can only do so much in papering over the deficiencies of the defense and deep midfield. No lead is safe.
Latest result: Drew vs. NYCFC, 3-3
Last five results: D-D-D-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at New England (MLS LIVE)
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks were written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).
