DO THE REVS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?

DO THE REVS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?

It's absolutely astonishing, that with as bad as the Revs have played this season, after Labor Day we are just 2 points out of a playoff position, with 6 games remaining on the season (3 Home, 3 Away), also with the possibility of collecting a US Open Cup trophy.

Like him or not, feel he should still be in the position or not, Heaps also has got the team playing a formation that has looked better over the past couple of games. That was a tight game in NYC, and the Colorado game should've been higher than 2-0. A win (which seems unlikely) in the US Open Cup could do wonders for their confidence as well, going into the stretch.

We also look to be getting healthy at the right time to make a playoff run, with the return of Koffie, Femi, and potentially even Kouassi at some point.

We seem poised to make a run at the playoffs.

Realistically looking at the schedule;

Sat Sep 10 H NYCFC (Currently 1st in E, 44pts)
sat Sep 17 A Montreal (Currently 5th in E, 37pts)
Sun Sep 25 A Columbus (Currently 10th in E, 26pts)
Sat Oct 01 H Sporting KC (Currently 5th in W, 38pts)
Sun Oct 10 A Chicago (Currently 9th in E, 26pts)
Sun Oct 23 H Montreal (Currently 5th in E, 37pts)

Do you think we make the playoffs?


Personally, I know DC seems the easier catch, making up 2pts with 1 game in hand on us, but it looks like if we are going to do it, it's more likely going to be Montreal.

They may have 2 games in hand on us, but we play 2 games against them head-to-head, and host them on the final day (if it's relevant). We'd essentially have to win those two games to catch them, so that would erase anything they gain from their games in hand (which are against Orlando and Philadelphia, not exactly easy wins, either).

We also have 2 seemingly easily winnable games against Columbus and Chicago (even though it doesn't always translate to it), whereas all their matches are against tough teams, including their rivals. We're actually the "easiest" team that Montreal faces left, so if they lose both those games to us, it would put their chances of making the playoffs at serious risk.

DC has a very similar schedule with us, with a lot of winnable games, a game in hand, and they have 2 head-to-head matches with Orlando City, which should be key in the playoff race. Yes, we could also catch them or Orlando, whoever wins out from those, but I think DC have more points they're going to earn than Montreal given their schedule.

But, if we win those 4 games (CLB, MON, CHI, MON), regardless of what occurs against NYCFC & Sporting KC (which I think we can get 1 point out of), I think we make it.

Montreal has had some rough results lately (including getting blown out by Chicago), and I think they could be had. With them at 37 points currently, if we beat them twice that would bring us to 36pts. We would only have to catch 1 point up on them from the remaining games, with us playing NYC, CLB, KC, CHI, and them playing PHI, NYRB, SJ, ORL, TOR.

I can see us getting 7 pts from those 4 matches, and Montreal getting 6 or less points from those 5 matches (like going 1-2-2). That would put us in a tie, and fortunately for us, the first tie-breaker is "Number of Wins". Currently we have 7, and they have 9. In that scenario, us beating them twice would take us to 9, and then it's a matter of taking our 2 wins over Chicago and Columbus, and hoping they don't win twice in their other five matches.

It's going to be tough, but it looks like there's still a chance.

 

You only say that from experience.

 

Any win all year (every Revs year) is a tall order. It's definitely not a likelihood.

I'm just operating under the assumption that;
A) The team has found some form lately in this "new" formation
B) Several streaky players seem ready to snap out of scoring droughts
C) We're getting healthy with talented re-enforcements who can contribute
D) Under Heaps we tend to have long ups and downs, we look to be on the way to an upside after the down

Of course getting blown out by NYCFC, or dropping points to Montreal could certainly change all that in a heartbeat.

It's not like DC or Orlando are immune to choking, either.

But, yes, any seasoned Revs fan is a glass is all the way empty kind of guy. Until they show it, no reason to get worked up for it.

 

Great news, I guess.

But, as I age, I'm becoming more and more of a homer. This really only means something if the Revs are in it. I think I've only seen portions of the last 7 MLS Cups Revs weren't in, and don't remember much from them.

 

I agree, in concept.

I mean, I'm gonna root them on. But, I hate how MLS playoff system promotes mediocrity and doesn't force teams to improve. Teams like the Revs are able to get by on the occasional playoff appearance, without having really improved the team.

With that said, I think they have done work to improve the team this year. I love the Kamara signing, I think Koffie is an improvement for this team over Jones. I hope Kouassi can come in and mix things up with his pace and physical ability as well.

So I do hope they get hot, and go on one of those Wild Card team to Championship style runs.

In the long run, though, perhaps missing the MLS playoffs provides the impetus to say, alright time to clean house with the Burns, Heaps, etc. thing. I doubt it, though.