MLS Power Rankings, Week 3: Texas shuffle has FC Dallas on top

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<strong>1</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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dallas_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/mauro-diaz" target="_blank">Mauro D&iacute;az</a> is a wizard. And <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/fabian-castillo" target="_blank">Fabi&aacute;n Castillo</a> is starting to look like a DP-caliber attacker. Oscar Pareja&#39;s homecoming is, thus far, living up to the hype.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-fc-dallas-vs-chivas-usa" target="_blank">Won vs. Chivas USA, 3-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Portland (8:30 pm,&nbsp;<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/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: 1</p>

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<p>You&#39;re probably angry, if you&#39;re a Houstonian, that your team dropped during a bye week. We feel ya, but it was a soft No. 1 ranking considering the two wins came over two of the weaker early-season teams thus far.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at Vancouver (7 pm, TSN 2,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>3</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 3</p>

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<p>That midweek trip to Cruz Azul, with a makeshift backline, was a 90-minute nightmare. Bounced back with a blood-and-guts win over San Jose, which featured the first goal by a Sporting forward in nearly 10 hours of game action.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-sporting-kansas-city-vs-san-jose-earthquakes" target="_blank">Won vs. San Jose, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at Colorado (6 pm,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>4</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>Still one of the elite teams in the league, even if Saturday&#39;s home draw with LA left us wanting. It&#39;s very clear that they drop a notch when <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/joao-plata" target="_blank">Joao Plata</a> is sidelined.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-real-salt-lake-vs-la-galaxy" target="_blank">Drew vs. LA, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Toronto FC (9:30 pm, TSN 2,&nbsp;<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: 8</p>

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<p>For about 65 minutes they were glorious, attacking from all angles and switching play through midfield at will. Held on for dear life over the last 25, though &ndash; both a good sign (that they can do it) and bad (that they had to).</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-columbus-crew-vs-philadelphia-union" target="_blank">Won vs. Philadelphia, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at Seattle (10 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>6</strong>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p>

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<p>The Power Rankings Politburo is unimpressed by Seattle&#39;s overall form, but six points out of nine to start the year &ndash; including three on the road &ndash; is just fine. This team&#39;s still finding itself, but they&#39;re picking up results along the way.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-23-montreal-impact-vs-seattle-sounders-fc" target="_blank">Won at Montreal, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Columbus (10 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>7</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: 11</p>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/toronto_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Jury&#39;s still out on <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/gilberto" target="_blank">Gilberto</a>, but both <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/jermain-defoe" target="_blank">Jermain Defoe</a> and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/michael-bradley" target="_blank">Michael Bradley</a> have been worth every penny thus far. The defense continues their &quot;bend-don&#39;t-break&quot; policy, which has been good (enough) for now.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-toronto-fc-vs-dc-united" target="_blank">Won vs. D.C. United, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at Real Salt Lake (9:30 pm, TSN 2,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>8</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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/philadelphia_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Beat by a set piece &ndash; starting to be a worry &ndash; and a golazo, which can happen on the road. Turned up the pressure for the final 25 minutes, and could (should?) have had the equalizer. They look the part of a playoff team, but need to start burying their looks.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-columbus-crew-vs-philadelphia-union" target="_blank">Lost at Columbus, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at Montreal (4 pm,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.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: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Switched to a 4-2-3-1 for this one to shore up the midfield a bit. It worked, as the Fire didn&#39;t get many clear runs at New York&#39;s backline, but that solidity came at the expense of an attack that was a bit off.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-23-chicago-fire-vs-new-york-red-bulls" target="_blank">Drew at Chicago, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Sunday vs. Chivas USA (3 pm, UniMas)</li></ul><ul></ul>

<strong>10</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: 7</p>

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<p>On paper, this really should be the best team in the league. But something about them so far is leaving us cold &ndash; there doesn&#39;t seem to be any spark out there. LA fans shouldn&#39;t be worried yet, but they should be wary.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-real-salt-lake-vs-la-galaxy" target="_blank">Drew at Real Salt Lake, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Next MLS Game:&nbsp;</strong>Sunday, April 6 at Chivas USA (3 pm, UniMas)</li></ul>

<strong>11</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: 14</p>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Tour de force from <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/dillon-powers" target="_blank">Dillon Powers</a> in central midfield. The Rapids don&#39;t have a million ways to beat you, but what they do &ndash; release runners into space &ndash; they do at a very high level.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-colorado-rapids-vs-portland-timbers" target="_blank">Won vs. Portland, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Sporting KC (6 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>12</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/vancouver_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 110px;">

<p>The &#39;Caps are still figuring out who they are with the ball. They seem to want to be a possession-based team that uses the ball to control the game &ndash; think RSL. But the results right now are better when they open it up and play for the counter with speed.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-new-england-revolution-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-fc" target="_blank">Drew at New England, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Houston (7 pm ET, TSN 2,&nbsp;<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: 12</p>

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<p>Got to give credit to the defense and depth for holding it together on a murderous road trip. But when do the forwards start putting away some of the quality looks they&#39;ve gotten? <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-wondolowski" target="_blank">Wondo</a> has been especially guilty thus far.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-sporting-kansas-city-vs-san-jose-earthquakes" target="_blank">Lost at Kansas City, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. New England (10:30 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>14</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: 5</p>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/portland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 74px;">

<p>Do we think the Timbers are the 14th-best team in MLS? Not for the long haul. But for right now, they&#39;re going out there searching for answers, and finding very few.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-colorado-rapids-vs-portland-timbers" target="_blank">Lost at Colorado, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at FC Dallas (8:30 pm,&nbsp;<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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chicago_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Still under construction, but in <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/benji-joya" target="_blank">Benji Joya</a> and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/harrison-shipp" target="_blank">Harry Shipp</a> the Fire have young, talented building blocks. We think this team is going to chop and change the roster a bunch, but those two will be constants.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-23-chicago-fire-vs-new-york-red-bulls" target="_blank">Drew vs. New York, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at D.C. United (4 pm, NBCSN)</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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Were mostly outclassed in Dallas, but unlike past versions of Chivas, it feels like these early-season growing pains are actually a rung on a ladder. In the past, they&#39;ve just been foreshadowing.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-fc-dallas-vs-chivas-usa" target="_blank">Lost at Dallas, 3-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Sunday at New York (3 pm, UniMas)</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/newengland_150.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: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Officially opened the season by getting shut out in three straight. And now they&#39;re on the road at San Jose &ndash; a very solid defensive team. Things could get ugly fast for the Revs.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-15-philadelphia-union-vs-new-england-revolution/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Vancouver, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at San Jose (10:30 pm,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imapact-logo-3.png" style="width: 75px; height: 87px;">

Knew it was going to be an uphill climb without <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/marco-di-vaio" target="_blank">Marco Di Vaio</a>. They&#39;ve dug themselves a pretty good hole, and it doesn&#39;t get any easier with this weekend&#39;s trip to Philly.&nbsp;<br><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-23-montreal-impact-vs-seattle-sounders-fc" target="_blank">Lost vs. Seatte, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at Philadelphia (4 pm,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</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>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dc_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;">

<p>Nothing&#39;s working for D.C. just yet. Too early to panic, and Saturday doesn&#39;t qualify as a &quot;must win.&quot; But it&#39;s definitely a &quot;must score.&quot;</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-22-toronto-fc-vs-dc-united" target="_blank">Lost at Toronto FC, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Chicago (4 pm, NBCSN)</li></ul>