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: DC +4; DAL, SKC -4
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 4
Four games winless for LAFC, but in context they've drawn three of those and missed Carlos Vela for all but about 120 minutes in that stretch. Still, if the Black & Gold want to be flying going into the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, they need to string a few wins together or the nerves will continue to mount.
Previous: 1-1 draw at PHI | Next: vs. TOR on 9/21
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 18
NYCFC finished the week with four points, a good haul as they look like they will be the class of the East. If they can grab a road win in Dallas, the in-form squad will only continue to gear up for what could be a deep run in the playoffs this season.
Previous: 1-1 draw vs. TOR; 2-1 win vs. SJ | Next: at DAL on 9/22
3
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20
The Union backed up their pregame talk at LAFC with a performance that went toe-to-toe with the league leaders, although they fell short of grabbing three points with Vela not quite 100 percent. Five points behind NYCFC with four games to play, they could still catch the Cityzens if they pick up most or all points available.
Previous: 1-1 draw vs. LAFC | Next: at RBNY on 9/22
4
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
The Sounders bounced back from a very shorthanded week with a battling home win over the Red Bulls. The No. 2 seed is still very much up for grabs in the West, but given the players stepping up their games at times, the Sounders look like the favorites to wrap it up.
Previous: 4-2 win vs. RBNY | Next: vs. DAL on 9/18; at DC on 9/22
5
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 19
On the bright side, laying an egg before the playoffs could be the wakeup call Atlanta need ahead of the postseason, but it's pretty concerning the chatter coming out of the loss was Frank de Boer and players alike admitting the team looked off in training before playing Columbus. Whoops!
Previous: 3-1 loss vs. CLB | Next: at CIN on 9/18; vs. SJ on 9/21
6
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 15
One of the good things from double-game weeks is if teams lose midweek, they can wipe away the bad vibes if they regroup and win on the weekend. That's exactly what happened for Minnesota, who are definitely feeling more good than bad even though they grabbed half the points available for the week. The lesson: Finish strong.
Previous: 2-0 loss at HOU; 3-1 win vs. RSL | Next: at POR on 9/22
7
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 24
It was all bad vibes for San Jose, however, who lost two games, both on the road, although they played quite well at times in both games. Good thing they have no expectations, because their playoff spot is now under suspicion in a jam-packed Western Conference.
Previous: 1-0 loss at RSL; 2-1 loss at NYC | Next: at ATL on 9/21
8
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 24
We gave some teams a pass of sorts for missing a bunch of players last week, and a variety of circumstances led to the Timbers dressing just five on their bench in a home loss to D.C. United. Their game in hand will be made up this week as they have a double-game week, and the pressure is on them.
Previous: 1-0 loss vs. DC | Next: vs. RBNY on 9/18; vs. MIN on 9/22
9
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 20
If Minnesota are jubilant after a 3-point double-game week, it's the reverse for RSL, winning a tight game midweek but dropping the matchup against the Loons on the weekend. Next up, a tough match against New England on the road, and RSL's home/road splits this season are stark this season.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. SJ; 3-1 loss at MIN | Next: at NE on 9/21
10
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 21
Good week for TFC, who are slowly climbing up the Eastern Conference standings and playing like they can get a result in any game. They'll need that, since they have a road swing against LAFC up next in league play, after a midweek Leg 1 of the Canadian Championship, and their playoff spot isn't quite wrapped up.
Previous: 1-1 draw at NYC; 3-2 win vs. COL | Next: at LAFC on 9/21
11
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 14
What a week for the Galaxy. They can certainly feel hard done by the finish in their loss to the Rapids, but they finally channeled their rage into the next game, busting out for a touchdown over Sporting. The question, as always, is if this is the real Galaxy or not. Stay tuned.
Previous: 2-1 loss at COL; 7-2 win vs. SKC | Next: vs. MTL on 9/21
12
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 23
The Revs have only won one in their last seven games, and dropping points from a winning position in Orlando puts them in a precarious spot, sitting just above the playoff line. There's definitely elements of a successful team in place, but can they put it together in time this season?
Previous: 3-3 draw at ORL | Next: vs. RSL on 9/21
13
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 20
D.C. United are the only team in the league to have won their last two games, and while they seem to be on the rise, there's still skepticism from the voting panel they can actually be a force this season. A home game coming up on the weekend against the Sounders should be a good test for both teams.
Previous: 1-0 win at POR | Next: vs. SEA on 9/22
14
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 24
Well, the perfect record under Robin Fraser ends, but a 3-1-0 start is certainly nothing to sniff at. Can they bury Sporting's playoff hopes? If they can, their spoiler role for the season will continue.
Previous: 2-1 win vs LA; 3-2 loss at TOR | Next: at SKC on 9/21
15
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 15
FC Dallas had a penchant for occasional blowout losses under Oscar Pareja, and that trend seems to continue under his successor, too. Given a 7-2 scoreline elsewhere in the league on the weekend, they might take some solace from not conceding in the second half against Chicago, but FCD's room for error is vanishing quickly.
Previous: 4-0 loss at CHI | Next: at SEA on 9/18; vs. NYC on 9/22
16
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 24
It's official: the Crew appear to be Atlanta's bogey-team now, after clinching a regular-season sweep with a pretty commanding win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Remarkably, they have a sliver of hope for the playoffs, but they need to be perfect and get a lot of help, but it's a decent turnaround on a season that was dead not long ago.
Previous: 3-1 win at ATL | Next: at VAN on 9/21
17
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 24
Even despite sitting below the playoff line most of the season, even when putting up disappointing result after disappointing result, the Fire may have just enough room to pull out a Houdini routine and reach the postseason. They're still far from qualified, but if they make it, they'd complete an ultimate rope-a-dope on their season.
Previous: 4-0 win vs. DAL | Next: at CIN on 9/21
18
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 21
The Red Bulls did suffer a road loss in Seattle, and it was always going to be a tough game. But they have a huge week ahead, with games against teams above the playoff line on tap. If they can get four or six points, they'll feel much better. If not? Another week of worry for RBNY.
Previous: 4-2 loss at SEA | Next: at POR on 9/18; vs. PHI on 9/22
19
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 21
Too little, too late for Orlando as they dropped home points yet again, even though they battled back for a draw. They also have hope alive, but given the lack of playoff pedigree, plus just three games remaining, it seems like it's going to be another short season in Central Florida unless they can pull off a miraculous run to slide in.
Previous: 3-3 draw vs. NE | Next: at HOU on 9/21
20
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 21
Sporting have won 7-1 this season, and now they've lost 7-2, too. They also still mathematically have hope, but it's just not coming together, and one imagines barring a miracle they'll lick their wounds and aim to come back stronger in 2020.
Previous: 7-2 loss at LA | Next: vs. COL on 9/21
21
LAST WEEK: 22
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 23
In the grand scheme of things, the Whitecaps' game against the Dynamo wasn't a big match, but getting a last-minute home win offered considerable release at BC Place, something fully on display for all the Vancouver partisans involved. Three games left to finish strong ahead of another rebuild for next year.
Previous: 2-1 win vs. HOU | Next: vs. CLB on 9/21
22
LAST WEEK: 21
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 22
Montreal's home loss to woeful Cincinnati seems to have shown the balance for a perpetually inconsistent team seems to have tipped to "poor" more than anything. His health played a role in the team's struggles, but if this is how Ignacio Piatti leaves MLS without the playoffs (or a Canadian Championship), it would be a shame.
Previous: 1-0 loss vs. CIN | Next: at LA on 9/21
23
LAST WEEK: 23
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 24
The Dynamo were legit in their home win over Minnesota, which makes their lackluster performance against the Whitecaps in Vancouver all the more frustrating. Perhaps it's the perpetual pull of MLS, that any team can still get a win, but what could have been for this Houston team if they hadn't fractured midway through the campaign.
Previous: 2-0 win vs. MIN; 2-1 loss at VAN | Next: vs. ORL on 9/21
24
LAST WEEK: 24
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 24
Speaking of any team winning in MLS, FC Cincy have started their furious rally to pass off the wooden spoon.
Previous: 1-0 win at MTL | Next: vs. ATL on 9/18; vs. CHI on 9/21
