MLS PowerScore ™ Rankings — Week 22

Sorry, I’m still sick (see: last post), so I don’t have the energy to say much.  So, here’s my quick thoughts: This is one of those rare times during the season when all the teams have played an equal number of games (in this case, 21).  As it stands, the Eastern Conference sends 5 teams to the playoffs easily, with Houston, RSL, and Dallas sneaking in from the Western.  I don’t see that changing.  The league is seriously unbalanced this year, and I think that whoever is seeded fifth in the East will have a good chance to knock off the winner of the West in the first round.  You read it here first.

1.  Columbus (LW = 2) (PS = 6.94)

For the first time since the beginning of the season, Columbus looked like an actual championship contender against Real Salt Lake.

2.  Chicago (3) (6.83)

Chicago continues to win away from home, getting the result it deserved against a terribly lackluster Galaxy team lacking much of its starpower.

3.  New York (5) (6.36)

New York is coming up strong.  It makes you wonder what Osorio feeds his teams in the second half of the season.

4.  Houston (1) (6.23)

Is the lopsided defeat to New York a sign of a real problem or just a bump in the road?

5.  New England (4) (6.11)

New England broke it’s two-game losing streak, but stays down because they still haven’t entirely returned to form.

6.  DC United (6) (5.48)

I asked last week if DC could find some consistency.  The answer appears to be, “No.”

7.  San Jose (7) (4.96)

San Jose currently has the longest unbeaten run in MLS.  For real.

8.  FC Dallas (8) (4.78)

FC Dallas let two points slip away on the road against Kansas City.

9.  Kansas City (10) (4.14)

Things are starting to look bleak for teams like KC trapped at the bottom of the superior Eastern Conference.

10.  Real Salt Lake (9) (4.00)

If the season ended today, RSL would make the playoffs.  I don’t think they will, but I can’t seem to find a team likely to make a run to overtake them.

11.  Toronto (12) (3.84)

Maurice Edu > Wade Barrett.

12.  Colorado (11) (3.54)

At least Colorado has won a game in the past month or so…

13.  Chivas USA (13) (3.16)

… unlike Chivas, which needs to play in the CONCACAF Champions’ League like I need a hole in my head …

14.  Los Angeles (14) (3.15)

… and Los Angeles, which needs more than Eddie Lewis to turn the season around.

Tags: MLS, Power rankings, PowerScore