Week 34 started off with a midweek match between Sporting Kansas City and the Colorado Rapids, but it was Sunday where all the fireworks popped and the playoff brackets became set in stone. Decision Day saw all of the Eastern Conference matches kick off at the same time and, subsequently, all of the Western Conference matches do the same thing. The only exception to that was the match between the New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire, which was moved to 7pm to play alongside the Dallas-San Jose contest for Supporters Shield implications. The entire afternoon was filled with drama, with MLS fans checking out the game in their area and pulling up others on their laptops while checking other scores on their phones. And the picture wasn't clear until the final whistles of the late contests.
In the end, Kansas City, Portland, Seattle and New England all punched their tickets to the postseason, while San Jose and Orlando were left to ponder what could have been. The New York Red Bulls beat Chicago to secure the Supporters Shield on goal differential ahead of FC Dallas. Still, the season was easily one of the most competitive in the history of the league, with several teams occupying the top spot in the Supporters Shield standings and the playoffs not decided until the final seconds of the season.
In the final Power Rankings, your Shield winners are in the top spot, while Chicago has officially been given the deed to the basement. With the incredible 5-0 loss at Columbus, our beloved Black & Red drop to 12th position. All of the playoff teams are in the top 12 spots this week.
So, now it's your turn. Is Red Bull the team to beat? Who do you not want to see in the playoffs right now? Is United slotted just right or are you more bullish on their chances? You know the drill...hit the comments and state your case!
|
Rank
|
Team
|
LW
|
Points
|
GP
|
Comment
|
|
1
|
New York Red Bulls |
2
|
60
|
34
|
Held off Chicago to win the Supporters Shield for the 2nd time in 3 season.
|
|
2
|
FC Dallas |
1
|
60
|
34
|
Did their job against San Jose, but came up a few goals short in the Shield race.
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
53
|
34
|
Absolute bo-beasting of United at home to secure the 2nd seed and bye.
|
|
4
|
11
|
53
|
34
|
Thumped Houston at home to secure the bye in the West.
|
|
|
5
|
|
8
|
53
|
34
|
They are entering the playoffs on fire after stomping Colorado.
|
|
6
|
|
7
|
51
|
34
|
Held off Toronto to gain the 3 seed and host…Toronto again.
|
|
7
|
|
10
|
51
|
34
|
Stomped RSL and will host a wildcard game.
|
|
8
|
|
4
|
51
|
34
|
They’re reeling as they enter the playoffs and now will be on the road for the knockout round.
|
|
9
|
|
9
|
50
|
34
|
Swept NYC out of their own park to secure a date in DC in the knockout round.
|
|
10
|
|
13
|
49
|
34
|
Lost to Montreal, which gives them the 6th seed in the East.
|
|
11
|
Sporting Kansas City
|
12
|
51
|
34
|
Lost to Colorado midweek, but beat LA to grab the last West playoff spot.
|
|
12
|
|
5
|
51
|
34
|
Implosion. They do that on Wednesday and the season will surely be done.
|
|
13
|
|
6
|
47
|
34
|
Came up just short of the playoffs in losing to Dallas.
|
|
14
|
|
14
|
44
|
34
|
Lost to Philly and their first season ends with them on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
|
|
15
|
|
15
|
41
|
34
|
They end the season getting trounced by Seattle.
|
|
16
|
|
16
|
42
|
34
|
Rolled over and let Vancouver take them to the cleaners.
|
|
17
|
Colorado Rapids
|
18
|
37
|
34
|
Beat SKC midweek but then got torched by a hot Portland team.
|
|
18
|
|
19
|
37
|
34
|
Win their last game of the season against Orlando, spoiling their playoff dreams.
|
|
19
|
|
17
|
37
|
34
|
It was a first season to forget in the Bronx for the Citizens.
|
|
20
|
Chicago Fire
|
20
|
30
|
34
|
Undisputed worst team in MLS this season.
|