The holiday weekend provided some much-needed time off both for myself and for D.C. United, it seems. After a listless performance on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union, D.C. put together one of their most complete performances of the season in a huge win over Atlanta United on Sunday. I had the distinct pleasure (or something) of sitting near their sizable traveling contingent, and it made picking up three points over the Five Stripes all that much more satisfying. It also kept D.C. alive in their hunt for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

*Yes, the Metros have already clinched a playoff spot.

The East has gotten very interesting recently, and especially after last weekend. Columbus won a big matchup against NYCFC, pulling them within five points of the Citizens (Cityzens?). NYC has an extra home game remaining compared to the Crew, but another slip up by New York -- perhaps next Saturday, if they’re taking suggestions -- could give us a decent race for the No. 3 spot in the East. Atlanta and the Metros are starting to run away at the top of the table, while Philadelphia’s strong week has them pushing towards a top-four spot.

Further down, there appears to be a three-team race for the final playoff spot. Montreal is currently six points clear of both New England and D.C., but both clubs have games in hand. Toronto, meanwhile, was manhandled at home by LAFC, which all but ended their slim hopes of sneaking above the red line.

Top of the East

Atlanta: L, 1-3 @ DC
Metros: L, 0-3 @ MTL; W, 1-0 vs. HOU (Wed.)
NYCFC: L, 1-2 @ CREW
Columbus: W, 2-1 vs. NYC

Philadelphia Union

This week: D, 1-1 @ ORL; W, 2-0 @ DC (Wed.)
Last five: D-W-W-W-W
Next five: vs. MTL, @ SEA, vs. SKC, @ CREW, vs. MIN

What a week for the Union. Already winners of three straight heading into Wednesday’s meeting against D.C. United, the Union put D.C.’s high-powered home attack in a stranglehold and earned a 2-0 win on a muggy night at Audi Field. They nearly had six road points in the bag with a late 2-1 lead at Orlando on Saturday, but a last gasp equalizer from Scott Sutter earned the Lions a home point. Still, Philadelphia finds themselves in a great position heading into September. They have a trio of tough away tilts remaining (at Seattle, Columbus, and NYCFC) but have built themselves a bit of a cushion with their recent play.

Montreal Impact

This week: W, 3-0 vs. NYRB
Last five: W-L-W-D-D
Next five: @ PHI, vs. NYCFC, @ DC, vs. CREW, vs. TOR

Montreal picked up a big home win over the weekend, bouncing the Metros 3-0 to stay arm’s length away from the teams below them in the East. Sure, they may not have faced the Metros at full strength -- Tyler Adams didn’t make the trip, and New York rotated a few other players -- but three points are three points. With only six games left, the Impact have precious few chances to add points before the end of October. Looming trips to Philadelphia and D.C. will have a big say in where they end up at the end of the season.

D.C United

This week: W, 3-1 vs. ATL; L, 0-2 vs. PHI (Wed.)
Last five: W-L-L-W-W
Next five: @ NYCFC, vs. MIN, vs. NYRB, vs. MTL, vs. CHI

I’ll admit it; I was down on D.C.’s chances of reaching the playoffs after their subpar performance against the Union on Wednesday. They looked lifeless, and still had a tough schedule ahead of them in September and October. Well, the schedule is still packed, but things look a lot rosier after their huge win over Atlanta on Sunday evening. Despite how the game unfolded, I thought it was one of D.C.’s most organized defensive efforts of the year -- they weren’t perfect, but they executed their game plan en route to their fourth win over the Five Stripes in six games. D.C. will be shorthanded for their upcoming trip to New York, but kick off a stretch of seven (!) consecutive home games afterward. That matchup against Montreal on September 29 is a big one.

New England Revolution

This week: D, 1-1 vs. POR
Last five: D-L-L-L-D
Next five: @ NYC, @ LAFC, vs. CHI, @ TOR, @ ATL

The Revs don’t have many home games left, and dropping points to opponents who have to travel cross country -- after playing mid-week, no less -- is no way to stay in this playoff race. New England now find themselves even further behind in the East, and staring down a gauntlet of talented opponents on the schedule ahead. They travel to New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Atlanta over the next month-plus, with only three home games remaining. If they can stay afloat over this five-game stretch, that October 28 matchup against Montreal might actually mean something.

Toronto FC

This week: L, 2-4 vs. LAFC; L, 0-2 @ POR (Wed.)
Last five: L-L-W-D-L
Next five: vs. LAG, @ NYRB, vs. NE, vs. VAN, @ DC

Traveling cross-country mid-week to play a desperate Portland Timbers side is one thing, but giving up four goals at home? That was probably the final nail in Toronto’s coffin. The reigning MLS champs all but need to run the table at this point to have a chance at the playoffs. Anyone who watched them last year wouldn’t necessarily bet against them -- I was a believer for a while -- but they haven’t proven themselves capable of reaching their 2017 form for even a full game, much less a critical two-month stretch. They’re a dangerous spoiler, though.

Orlando City SC

This week: D, 2-2 vs. PHI
Last five: D-L-L-D-L
Next five: @ SKC, @ CHI, vs. HOU, @ DAL, @ NE

Orlando won’t be making the playoffs, but they showed this weekend that they can spoil the playoff hopes of anyone who catches them on the wrong day. The problem? They don’t really have anyone left to play spoiler to. Only four of their remaining eight games are against Eastern Conference opponents, and three of them -- Chicago, Columbus, and New York -- are nowhere near the red line. The most Orlando will be able to do at this point is ruin someone’s playoff seeding.

Chicago Fire

This week: Idle
Last five: D-L-L-L-L-L
Next five: vs. ORL, @ NE, @ NYC, vs. LAFC, @ DC

The Fire did not play last week, and aren’t really worth mentioning at this point. Of course, they wouldn’t be worth mentioning right now if they were good, either; they are waiting nearly a full month between games (August 23 - September 16).

And the West standings.

Here's how they did last week.

Dallas: W, 4-2 vs. HOU; L, 3-4 @ SJ (Wed.)
LAFC: W, 4-2 @ TOR
Kansas City: L, 1-3 @ SEA
Real Salt Lake: W, 6-2 vs. LAG
Seattle: W, 3-1 vs. SKC
Portland: D, 1-1 @ NE; W, 2-0 vs. TOR (Wed.)
Vancouver: W, 2-1 vs. SJ
LA Galaxy: L, 2-6 @ RSL
Minnesota: Idle
Houston: L, 2-4 @ DAL; L, 0-1 @ NYRB (Wed.)
Colorado: Idle
San Jose: L, 1-2 @ VAN; W, 4-3 vs. DAL (Wed.)