Power Rankings

MLS Power Rankings, Week 2: How high did Houston and Atlanta climb?

Power Rankings 2017 - DL image

Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks were written by the editorial staff.

BIGGEST MOVERS: Atlanta +7 spots | RSL -7 spots


1


LAST WEEK: 1


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 3


With CCL approaching, Dallas went with the kids ... and they delivered a road point in a tough venue. No naming names, but at least a few folks around #MLSDigital might as well throw on Pomykal jerseys ...


Latest result(s): Drew at Sporting KC, 0-0


2


LAST WEEK: 3


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 11


Beating Minnesota was one thing. Going on the road to topple an intra-conference rival? That's the sign of a team that could be going places this year.


Latest result(s): Won at LA Galaxy, 1-0


3


LAST WEEK: 4


HIGH: 3 | LOW: 4


RBNY didn't look great, and they're not scoring the number of goals we've gotten used to from them over the past two years. But they've now got six points from two games, have conceded just once, and are top of the East. So no complaints out of Harrison, OK?


Latest result(s): Won vs. Colorado, 1-0


4


LAST WEEK: 2


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 4


The Giovinco injury was concerning in the moment, but with Greg Vanney saying he's OK, Toronto can take away positives from two road draws.


Latest result(s): Drew at Philadelphia, 2-2


5


LAST WEEK: 8


HIGH: 5 | LOW: 8


We just witnessed the 2017 version of NYCFC at their very best: Villa scoring, new acquisitions contributing and defenders shutting it down. Now can they keep it up?


Latest result(s): Won vs. D.C. United, 4-0


6


LAST WEEK: 5


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 6


They were probably going to drop until that late rally at the Big O, but that big rally shows exactly why the Sounders are going to be tough to beat all year. They have a ton of different looks and different attackers they can throw out onto the field, and we expect it all to come good sooner than later even as the defense struggles.


Latest result(s): Drew at Montreal, 2-2


7


LAST WEEK: 12


HIGH: 7 | LOW: 19


Is Week 2 too early for a bandwagon? Maybe – OK, probably – but back-to-back home wins against the Sounders and Crew SC fueled by an attacking trio just begging for a nickname have raised more than a few eyebrows. Cubo + Wilmer Cabrera = goals, while the form of Romell Quioto and #lapanteraAlberth Elis (3 goals combined) ought to have US national team fans a little worried.


Latest result(s): Won vs. Columbus, 3-1


8


LAST WEEK: 6


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 10


They completed 59 percent of their passes and generated a whole lotta nothing going forward, but it's nice to have Tim Howard back, isn't it? As was the case last season, they'll be on the right side of those 1-0 scorelines more often than not.


Latest result(s): Lost at NY Red Bulls, 1-0


9


LAST WEEK: 7


HIGH: 7 | LOW: 9


Only reputation is keeping this team in the top ten. Let's see them score some goals before putting them among the Western Conference elite.


Latest result(s): Drew vs. Dallas, 0-0


10


LAST WEEK: 17


HIGH: 10 | LOW: 17


They'll face much stiffer tests this year (though maybe not worse conditions), but any day you score six goals is a good day.


Latest result(s): Won at Minnesota, 6-1


11


LAST WEEK: 15


HIGH: 11 | LOW: 21


They're officially not "boring" this year, especially with Anibal "Golazo" Godoy racking up highlights on both ends and the TAM acquisitions all producing.


Latest result(s): Won vs. Vancouver, 3-2


12


LAST WEEK: 14


HIGH: 8 | LOW: 14


"Absorb and Break" is beautiful when the Impact do it – especially when Ignacio Piatti plays like he did on Saturday. Feel free to still be concerned about the central defense's lack of ability in the air, though. We certainly are.


Latest result(s): Drew vs. Seattle, 2-2


13


LAST WEEK: 10


HIGH: 5 | LOW: 13


The social game remains strong, but the games that count in the standings have left us with plenty of questions. Galaxy fans will hope those get answered as guys get healthy.


Latest result(s): Lost vs. Portland, 1-0


14


LAST WEEK: 16


HIGH: 12 | LOW: 16


Haris Medunjanin looks like a great pick-up in defensive midfield, but can they rely on their strikers to score consistently?


Latest result(s): Drew vs. Toronto, 2-2


15


LAST WEEK: 9


HIGH: 7 | LOW: 15


DC were simply overrun at Yankee Stadium by a better team. Those Week 2 bruises could heal quickly by this weekend with Crew SC’s leaky defense heading to RFK.


Latest result(s): Lost at NYCFC, 4-0


16


LAST WEEK: 21


HIGH: 16 | LOW: 21


Now’s the time to start rooting for Chicago so later, you can say you always did. Seriously, watch out for their midfield this season.


Latest result(s): Won vs. Real Salt Lake, 2-0


17


LAST WEEK: 18


HIGH: 17 | LOW: 18


Weather meant their match against the Revs wound up postponed until September, but a season-opening win means the Lions are still holding on to some good-feeling momentum.


Latest result(s): Postponed 


18


LAST WEEK: 11


HIGH: 11 | LOW: 18


They need a difference maker to come up big in the worst way. If DPs Joao Plata (out with hip injury vs. Fire), Yura Movsisyan and Albert Rusnak can’t produce, RSL could be in for a long season.


Latest result(s): Lost at Chicago, 2-0


19


LAST WEEK: 13


HIGH: 13 | LOW: 19


Slow starts aren’t fatal. Ask the Red Bulls. Jonathan Mensah was supposed to be the answer at center back, and he still could be once he returns from a red-card suspension. Gregg Berhalter’s tinkered with the midfield mix, but he hasn’t found it yet. The good news? Creating chances doesn’t seem to be a problem for Crew SC.


Latest result(s): Lost at Houston, 3-1


20


LAST WEEK: 20


HIGH: 16 | LOW: 20


The Revs didn’t get to play this past weekend, and they fell to the Rapids during their season opener. It has to get better from here, right?


Latest result(s): Postponed


21


LAST WEEK: 19


HIGH: 19 | LOW: 21


Well. That one was fun for about 30 minutes. When the 'keeper is out here getting carded to put you down a man for 75 minutes, probably not your day. But two forward goals!


Latest result(s): Lost at San Jose, 3-2


22


LAST WEEK: 22


HIGH: 22 | LOW: 22


The five spot in Portland was humbling. Sunday’s blizzard blowout against fellow MLS first-timers Atlanta United was closer to humiliating. Something has to change in the back – either the performance or the personnel – because setting the wrong kind of defensive records will only lead to more bad days. Two games does not a season make, but Minnesota appear to have an uphill battle on their hands.


Latest result(s): Lost vs. Atlanta, 6-1