Power Rankings

MLS Power Rankings, Week 28: Quakes, Real Salt Lake make their moves

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: SJ +4 spots | LA -4 spots


1


LAST WEEK: 1


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 8


No Jozy, no Seba, four goals. At this point the only question left in TFC’s season is whether the juggernaut will roll all the way to an MLS Cup title.


Previous: Won at LA, 4-0 | Next: vs. MTL on 9/20; at NE on 9/23


2


LAST WEEK: 3


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 17


10 goals in 2 games -- and six from Josef Martinez. It's been a week in the ATL, and there's no signs it'll slow down.


Previous: Won vs. NE, 7-0; Drew vs. ORL, 3-3 | Next: vs. LA on 9/20; vs. MTL on 9/24


3


LAST WEEK: 2


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 8


A draw at Colorado certainly isn't what NYC wanted (or expected) out of that trip, but sitting comfortably at No. 2 in the East, their playoffs hopes are nearly cemented.


Previous: Drew at COL, 1-1 | Next: vs. HOU on 9/23


4


LAST WEEK: 5


HIGH: 4 | LOW: 21


Tony Tchani’s late goal may have helped the ‘Caps hold on to the top spot in the West and keep their unbeaten run intact (six games and counting), but with four of their last six games on the road (at SEA, SKC, NY and POR) those two dropped points could prove costly.


Previous: Won vs. MIN, 3-0; Drew vs. CLB, 2-2 | Next: vs. COL on 9/23


5


LAST WEEK: 4


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15


Seattle fans invented being upset during a 13-game unbeaten streak.


Previous: Drew at DAL, 0-0 | Next: at RSL on 9/23


6


LAST WEEK: 6


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 9


Rolled New England and likely sealed Jay Heaps' fate. MLS results hve been middling of late, but is a third Open Cup in six years on deck? 


Previous: Won vs. NE, 3-1 | Next: vs. LA on 9/24


7


LAST WEEK: 9


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 21


3-0 without Bastian Schweinsteiger? Even if it was against D.C., the Fire have their mojo back.


Previous: Won vs. DC, 3-0 | Next: at PHI on 9/23


8


LAST WEEK: 7


HIGH: 3 | LOW: 14


All eyes should be on Wednesday's US Open Cup, one of the biggest matches in club history, but that draw could mean the Red Bulls will have to travel for the Knockout Round.


Previous: Drew vs. PHI, 0-0 | Next: at CLB on 9/23


9


LAST WEEK: 8


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 14


A loss to RSL dinged Portland a bit in the rankings, but they have a two-word answer to that: Diego Valeri.


Previous: Lost at RSL, 2-1 | Next: vs. ORL on 9/24


10


LAST WEEK: 10


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 19


A late defensive breakdown – stop us if you've heard that one before – cost Columbus. But that was, nonetheless, a damn nice road point in Vancouver.


Previous: Drew at VAN, 2-2 | Next: vs. NY on 9/23


11


LAST WEEK: 12


HIGH: 11 | LOW: 22


Albert Rusnak's not going to win Newcomer of the Year, but he for damn sure should be in the discussion. He's been one of the league's best playmakers over the past couple of months and is a worthy successor to the great Javier Morales.


Previous: Won vs. POR, 2-1 | Next: vs. SEA on 9/23


12


LAST WEEK: 16


HIGH: 10 | LOW: 21


San Jose's win against Houston created an, uh ... seismic shift in the Western standings. If Chris Leitch can figure out how to get this squad playing road soccer they way they do at Avaya, they could be trouble.


Previous: Won vs. HOU, 1-0 | Next: at DC on 9/23


13


LAST WEEK: 11


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 19


The Dynamo, once mighty during this season, continued their slip with another loss at San Jose, making them winless in four matches and pushing them below the playoff line. Ouch.


Previous: Lost at SJ, 1-0 | Next: at NYC on 9/23


14


LAST WEEK: 13


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14


Something’s rotten in Frisco. Will it finally force Oscar Pareja to take a long look at his first-choice XI?


Previous: Drew vs. SEA, 0-0 | Next: at MIN on 9/23


15


LAST WEEK: 15


HIGH: 8 | LOW: 19


Beating Minnesota at home is a must for a team hoping to make the playoffs. Whoops.


Previous: Lost vs. MIN, 3-2 | Next: at TOR on 9/20; at ATL on 9/24


16


LAST WEEK: 17


HIGH: 9 | LOW: 22


Taylor Twellman said it on Sunday's broadcast, and the Power Rankings Politburo agrees with him: This team has solidity throughout the roster. The problem is they don't have high-end, DP-caliber difference-makers in attack, which is why they're outside the playoffs looking in.


Previous: Drew at NY, 0-0 | Next: vs. CHI on 9/23


17


LAST WEEK: 14


HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20


Welp. That marks the end of the Jay Heaps era. We're officially playing for 2018.


Previous: Lost at ATL, 7-0; Lost at SKC, 3-1 | Next: vs. TOR on 9/23


18


LAST WEEK: 20


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20


The Dwyer-Larin partnership is showing some signs of life and Yoshi Yotun is a player. Jason Kreis' goal in the offseason should be to find players to fit around them.


Previous: Drew at ATL, 3-3 | Next: at POR on 9/24


19


LAST WEEK: 21


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 22


We’re starting to learn a little something about what an improved Minnesota might look like in 2018 and it’s a safe bet that Abu Danladi will have a place.


Previous: Lost at VAN, 3-0; Won at MTL, 3-2 | Next: vs. DAL on 9/23


20


LAST WEEK: 19


HIGH: 7 | LOW: 22


The loss against Chicago was a microcosm of DC’s season: They were in the match all along, only to be undone by an unlucky own goal, a lax defensive play and a poor decision on a tackle in the box that resulted in a penalty. This is a team still in need of reinforcements.


Previous: Lost at CHI, 3-0 | Next: vs. SJ on 9/23


21


LAST WEEK: 22


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 22


Dominique Badji continues to impress but looking forward to Stefan Aigner's first start.


Previous: Drew vs. NYC, 1-1 | Next: at VAN on 9/23


22


LAST WEEK: 18


HIGH: 5 | LOW: 22


Who could’ve seen a potential league-worst season coming? If the additions of Sigi Schmid and Jonathan dos Santos couldn’t help the club change course, the issues clearly run deep. And the schedule has no mercy with three road games in seven days at Atlanta, Sporting KC and Houston.


Previous: Lost vs. TOR, 4-0 | Next: at ATL on 9/20; at SKC on 9/24