BIGGEST MOVERS: Portland +7 spots | New England -7 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 17
They lost, and then they bounced back. It's what this team has done repeatedly over the course of the season. Since late June, they're 13-5-1, and any loss or draw they've suffered has been followed by a win.
Latest result: Lost at Toronto, 2-1; Won vs. Philadelphia, 4-1
Last five results: L-W-W-L-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Chicago
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Dallas are 13-5-5 with a +15 goal differential when Mauro DÃaz starts. When he doesn't, they're 4-5-1 and -3. As long as he's healthy, they're the Western Conference favorites.
Latest result: Won vs. Vancouver, 2-0; Won at Real Salt Lake, 1-0
Last five results: L-W-D-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. San Jose
3
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 15
We've been up and down on Columbus all year. Up because of their irresistable attack; down because of their leaky defense. So that 2-0 win in Toronto - halting the Reds' four-game winning streak - was huge for more than just the three points.
Latest result: Won at Toronto, 2-0
Last five results: W-W-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. D.C. United (FS1)
4
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Certain members of the Power Rankings Politburo dropped them out of the Top 10. Other members apparently think it's still 2014. Landon Donovan and Marcelo Sarvas aren't walking through that door.
Latest result: Lost vs. Portland, 5-2
Last five results: D-L-W-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Sporting KC (ESPN)
5
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 20
Two straight 1-0 road wins to clinch a playoff berth. Montreal's success doesn't just come down to "Drogba & Piatti." They're much more solid and compact defensively than they were two months ago.
Latest result: Won at New England, 1-0
Last five results: W-L-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Toronto (TSN2, RDS)
6
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
Got handled by Columbus, but they clinched a playoff berth on Wednesday with a pretty cagey (and occasionally spectacular) win over RBNY.
Latest result: Won vs. NY Red Bulls, 2-1; Lost vs. Columbus, 2-0
Last five results: W-W-W-W-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Montreal (TSN2, RDS)
7
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
Out-possessed San Jose but weren't able to turn that into consistent danger. They have two home games this week to figure things out, but it still looks like this group is running on fumes.
Latest result: Lost at San Jose, 1-0
Last five results: W-L-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Colorado; Sunday vs. LA Galaxy (ESPN)
8
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
Switch up the tactics, switch up the direction of the season. Diego Chara's positional discipline and precision as a lone d-mid has Portland playing their best soccer of the year.
Latest result: Won at Real Salt Lake, 1-0; Won at LA Galaxy, 5-2
Last five results: L-W-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Colorado
9
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
A dominant display and their second straight win. They're 9-5-2 when Fabian EspÃndola plays and 6-7-1 when he doesn't. Fabi's healthy now, so don't go writing off D.C. despite their summertime blues.
Latest result: Won vs. Chicago, 4-0
Last five results: D-L-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Columbus (FS1)
10
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
They keep not losing, which has been good enough to keep them over the red line - but just barely. Right now their lack of chemistry is pretty glaring, and the midfield's inability to generate any offense is a big, big problem.
Latest result: Drew at Houston, 1-1
Last five results: D-W-D-D-D
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Real Salt Lake
11
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
First the injuries mounted, and now it's the losses. Vancouver have won only once since the end of August, and it's starting to feel like that Canadian Championship win was the high point of their season.
Latest result: Lost at Dallas, 2-0
Last five results: L-L-D-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Houston (TSN2)
12
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20
Mathematically, they still have a chance, though they'd have to make up an eight-goal differential on the Revs. It ain't gonna happen, but the groundwork has been laid for a serious run in 2016.
Latest result: Won vs. NYCFC, 2-1
Last five results: W-W-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Philadelphia
13
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20
They have a nine-game unbeaten run. They have a five-game losing streak. They have a six-game winning streak. And now they're on a four-game winless skid. Which Revs team will show up at Yankee Stadium this weekend? How about in the postseason? We've got no idea.
Latest result: Lost vs. Montreal, 1-0
Last five results: W-L-D-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at NYCFC
14
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 18
Gutted out a season-preserving (for one more week) win. Now all they have to do is go beat Dallas on the road and hope that Sporting, Seattle or Portland choke. We don't particularly like the Quakes' chances.
Latest result: Won vs. Sporting KC, 1-0
Last five results: D-L-W-D-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Dallas
15
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 17
They need a go-to No. 9 in the worst way this offseason, but what was striking about this week's performances was the lack of rhythm or tempo coming out of midfield. It's either laconic or frenetic, and neither of those has really worked.
Latest result: Lost vs. Portland, 1-0; Lost vs. Dallas, 1-0
Last five results: W-L-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Seattle
16
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18
Does Cubo Torres for Luis Gil make sense?
Latest result: Drew vs. Seattle, 1-1
Last five results: L-W-W-L-D
Next MLS match: Sunday at Vancouver
17
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
Give them credit: They fought for a result. It didn't happen, but this team could've given up once they were eliminated from playoff contention.
Latest result: Lost at Orlando City, 2-1
Last five results: W-W-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. New England
18
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
That was disappointing. Jim Curtin had to send a message by taking out high-priced imports Cristian Maidana and Steven Vitória at halftime. Let's see if he keeps sending it in the season finale.
Latest result: Lost at NY Red Bulls, 4-1
Last five results: L-W-D-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Orlando City
19
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20
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Latest result: Lost at D.C. United, 4-0
Last five results: L-L-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. NY Red Bulls
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
All they can do now is ruin somebody else's season. Can they rise to the challenge?
Latest result: None
Last five results: D-L-L-L-L
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Sporting KC; Sunday at Portland
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).
