EASTERN CONFERENCE 1. PHI - 51PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 vs LAFC 9/22 @ NYRB 9/25 @ San Jose 9/29 @ Columbus 10/6 vs NYCFC 2. NYCFC- 50PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 4 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/7 vs New England 9/11 vs Toronto 9/14 vs San Jose 9/22 @ FC Dallas 9/25 vs Atlanta United 9/29 @ New England 10/6 @ Philadelphia 3. ATL - 48PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 vs Columbus 9/18 @ FC Cincinnati 9/21 vs San Jose 9/25 @ NYCFC 9/29 @ Montreal 10/6 vs New England 4. DCU- 42PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 2 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/15 @ Portland 9/22 vs Seattle 9/29 @ NYRB 10/6 vs FC Cincinnati 5. NYRB - 41PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/15 @ Seattle 9/18 @ Portland 9/22 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs DC United 10/6 @ Montreal 6. NER - 39PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 2 HOME - 4 AWAY 9/7 @ NYCFC 9/14 @ Orlando 9/21 vs RSL 9/25 @ Portland 9/29 vs NYCFC 10/6 @ Atlanta 7. TFC - 38PTS - 28GP - 8GR(6MLS) - 2 HOME - 4 AWAY 9/7 @ FC Cincinnati 9/11 @ NYCFC 9/15 vs cRapids 9/18 @ Montreal (CC) 9/21 @ LAFC 9/25 vs Montreal (CC) 9/29 @ Chicago 10/6 vs Columbus 8. MTL - 37PTS - 30GP - 6GR(4MLS) - 3 HOME - 1 AWAY 9/14 vs FC Cincinnati 9/18 vs Toronto (CC) 9/21 @ LA Galaxy 9/25 @ Toronto (CC) 9/29 vs Atlanta 10/6 vs NYRB 9. ORL - 34PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 3 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/7 vs LAFC 9/14 vs New England 9/21 @ Houston 9/29 @ FC Cincinnati 10/6 vs Chicago 10. CHI - 34PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 2 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/14 vs FC Dallas 9/21 @ FC Cincinnati 9/29 vs Toronto 10/6 @ Orlando 11. CLB - 31PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 1 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 @ Atlanta 9/21 @ Vancouver 9/29 vs Philadelphia 10/6 @ Toronto WESTERN CONFERENCE 1. LAFC - 62PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/7 @ Orlando 9/14 @ Philadelphia 9/21 vs Toronto 9/25 vs Houston 9/29 @ Minnesota 10/6 vs cRapids 2. SEA - 46PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/7 @ cRapids 9/15 vs NYRB 9/18 vs FC Dallas 9/22 @ DC United 9/29 @ San Jose 10/6 vs Minnesota 3. MINN - 45PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 @ Houston 9/15 vs RSL 9/22 @ Portland 9/25 vs Sporting KC 9/29 vs LAFC 10/6 @ Seattle 4. SJE - 44PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 2 HOME - 4 AWAY 9/11 @ RSL 9/14 @ NYCFC 9/21 @ Atlanta 9/25 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs Seattle 10/6 @ Portland 5. RSL - 43PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 vs San Jose 9/15 @ Minnesota 9/21 @ New England 9/25 vs LA Galaxy 9/29 vs Houston 10/6 @ Vancouver 6. FCD - 43PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 @ Chicago 9/18 @ Seattle 9/22 vs NYCFC 9/29 @ cRapids 10/6 vs Sporting KC 7. LAG - 42PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 @ cRapids 9/15 vs Sporting KC 9/21 vs Montreal 9/25 @ RSL 9/29 vs Vancouver 10/6 @ Houston 8. POR - 40PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 6 HOME - 1 AWAY 9/7 vs Sporting KC 9/15 vs DC United 9/18 vs NYRB 9/22 vs Minnesota 9/25 vs New England 9/29 @ Sporting KC 10/6 vs San Jose 9. SKC - 37PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 2 HOME - 4 AWAY 9/7 @ Portland 9/15 @ LA Galaxy 9/21 vs cRapids 9/25 @ Minnesota 9/29 vs Portland 10/6 @ FC Dallas
WOW. FUKC looks to be done. that is one tough way to finish the season. If they can come back and make the playoffs with that schedule more power to them but I put them in the TOAST category. I really expected Portland to be above RSL by now. Only one road game left but that schedule is nothing to sneeze at. They do have 3 Eastern Conference teams on there but who knows. That game with RSL might just be the thing that fires them up down the stretch. LAG with a very favorable schedule. If they are really a good team they should finish with 12 plus points to end the season. FCD has one less game but a relatively tough schedule so they could fall pretty far pretty fast. RSL the same could be said as FCD. If RSL makes the playoffs I would wager it will be from 5-7 place. Minnesota and SJ both have tough schedules with Minnesota's just easier enough to make me think they finish in the top 4. SJ has one tough schedule. Maybe the toughest to end the season. Seattle is right the in the middle of the pack as far as schedule so I would bet they finish in the top 4 as well. LAFC probably picks up 12-15 points out their remaining games which might be low. RSL is in a pretty good position to make the playoffs if only because there are teams above and below with harder schedules. I have no idea what happens but as I said I think RSL finishes closer to 7 than 1.
I agree with @goobx1 . That SJE schedule is a monster. I foresee them as the team on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Philly took 3 points I was not expecting - their win over Atlanta was solid and a sign that maybe this team is more legit than I think. They're still Philly, though, so who knows... NYCFC is poised to take the top seed. They have games against Philly and Atlanta that will essentially decide the top of the East. Their upcoming three game home stand is going to be massive. If they max out at 9 points its hard to not see them as the 1 or 2 seed. Atlanta was the USOC team to slip up (more on that later) and it surprised me. They have a run of games that they should max out on points, as well, even with a trip to Cinci. I'm curious to see how they manage this stretch. DC's remaining schedule is brutal. We need them to go get points from Portland on 9/15. Getting points off Seattle on 9/22 would be huge for us, as well. In fact, DC is the team out East we should become big fans of for this reason. The Red Bulls lost at home to the cRapids. It was one of the biggest head scratchers of the weekend. Like DC, they have games with the Timbers and Sounders that are big for the West. So... go Red Bulls? The six teams battling it out for the last two spots in the East are just seeing who can suck the least. The Revs remaining, schedule is possibly the hardest in the league. TFC is on the road a ton and has the Canadian championship left to play. Montreal has a lot of home games, but against some stiff competition (we need them to take points off LAG). Orlando is Orlando - zero confidence in them making any run. Chicago might have a chance but have so few games left that they have no room for error. And Columbus... I dont think they'll do anything. Out West - what the hell LAFC? You can't beat a short rest Minn team? Thanks a lot... They have such an easy schedule on paper that I wonder if it works against them. That isn't going to prep them for the playoffs well. Seattle didn't look convincing against LAG. They found a win, but IMO that game deserved a draw. Neither team wanted to defend for the last 20 mins. We need the cRapids to find form again this weekend against them. Not holding my breath there Minnesota has a rough schedule but just took 3 points nobody had them taking. I don't know what to expect from this team. Our 9/15 matchup has the makings of defining both teams playoff spots. Like many have said here, San Jose has a brutal run to finish the season. We need them to fall apart over the next few weeks (especially against us) but then steal points in the last two games. Dallas has a medium difficult schedule. Historically speaking they would fall apart now. But I'm not sure if this FCD team will be that way. That 9/18 Seattle game is going to be big for both teams. The Gals should max out on points for the next 3 games. Setting them up to be in good form when they visit the RioT. The best thing for the rest of the West would be for them to finish in a spot that matches them up with LAFC as early in the playoffs as possible.
EASTERN CONFERENCE 1. NYCFC- 53PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 vs Toronto 9/14 vs San Jose 9/22 @ FC Dallas 9/25 vs Atlanta United 9/29 @ New England 10/6 @ Philadelphia 2. PHI - 51PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 vs LAFC 9/22 @ NYRB 9/25 @ San Jose 9/29 @ Columbus 10/6 vs NYCFC 3. ATL - 48PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 vs Columbus 9/18 @ FC Cincinnati 9/21 vs San Jose 9/25 @ NYCFC 9/29 @ Montreal 10/6 vs New England 4. DCU- 42PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 2 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/15 @ Portland 9/22 vs Seattle 9/29 @ NYRB 10/6 vs FC Cincinnati 5. NYRB - 41PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/15 @ Seattle 9/18 @ Portland 9/22 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs DC United 10/6 @ Montreal 6. TFC - 41PTS - 29GP - 8GR(6MLS) - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 @ NYCFC 9/15 vs cRapids 9/18 @ Montreal (CC) 9/21 @ LAFC 9/25 vs Montreal (CC) 9/29 @ Chicago 10/6 vs Columbus 7. NER - 39PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 @ Orlando 9/21 vs RSL 9/25 @ Portland 9/29 vs NYCFC 10/6 @ Atlanta 8. MTL - 37PTS - 30GP - 6GR(4MLS) - 3 HOME - 1 AWAY 9/14 vs FC Cincinnati 9/18 vs Toronto (CC) 9/21 @ LA Galaxy 9/25 @ Toronto (CC) 9/29 vs Atlanta 10/6 vs NYRB 9. ORL - 35PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 2 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/14 vs New England 9/21 @ Houston 9/29 @ FC Cincinnati 10/6 vs Chicago 10. CHI - 34PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 2 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/14 vs FC Dallas 9/21 @ FC Cincinnati 9/29 vs Toronto 10/6 @ Orlando 11. CLB - 31PTS - 30GP - 4GR - 1 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 @ Atlanta 9/21 @ Vancouver 9/29 vs Philadelphia 10/6 @ Toronto WESTERN CONFERENCE 1. LAFC - 63PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 3 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/14 @ Philadelphia 9/21 vs Toronto 9/25 vs Houston 9/29 @ Minnesota 10/6 vs cRapids 2. SEA - 46PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 3 HOME - 2 AWAY 9/15 vs NYRB 9/18 vs FC Dallas 9/22 @ DC United 9/29 @ San Jose 10/6 vs Minnesota 3. MINN - 45PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 @ Houston 9/15 vs RSL 9/22 @ Portland 9/25 vs Sporting KC 9/29 vs LAFC 10/6 @ Seattle 4. SJE - 44PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 2 HOME - 4 AWAY 9/11 @ RSL 9/14 @ NYCFC 9/21 @ Atlanta 9/25 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs Seattle 10/6 @ Portland 5. RSL - 43PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 vs San Jose 9/15 @ Minnesota 9/21 @ New England 9/25 vs LA Galaxy 9/29 vs Houston 10/6 @ Vancouver 6. POR - 43PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 5 HOME - 1 AWAY 9/15 vs DC United 9/18 vs NYRB 9/22 vs Minnesota 9/25 vs New England 9/29 @ Sporting KC 10/6 vs San Jose 7. FCD - 43PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/14 @ Chicago 9/18 @ Seattle 9/22 vs NYCFC 9/29 @ cRapids 10/6 vs Sporting KC 8. LAG - 42PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/11 @ cRapids 9/15 vs Sporting KC 9/21 vs Montreal 9/25 @ RSL 9/29 vs Vancouver 10/6 @ Houston 9. SKC - 37PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/15 @ LA Galaxy 9/21 vs cRapids 9/25 @ Minnesota 9/29 vs Portland 10/6 @ FC Dallas
Small set of games this last week but some interesting moves. NYCFC took advantage of their game in hand and jumped to the top of the table. They have the inside track with 6 point games against Philly and ATL on the horizon, as well. The league is going to have a mess on its hands if NYCFC goes far in the playoffs given how well the Yankees are doing this year. Toronto also took advantage of the extra game this weekend by running Cincy and jumping up the table. They're in the second group of the East thats looking to take that 4th playoff spot. Their schedule congestion this month will likely keep them from 4th, but I think we see them make the playoffs. Is LAFC pulling a FC Dallas? They've gone cold lately and dropped points they have no business dropping. Sure, they're missing some players, but another week of this and it might be time to set the alarms at LAFC. For awhile there it looked like they were going to absolutely destroy the most points in a season record. Now it seems they are just trying to get to it by the last game or two. Seattle and Portland winning make the West that much more of a crap shoot. Remaining schedules are pretty rough for everyone. This week is massive for those that play on the 11th. I expect the table will be different come next Monday. I'd wager it goes: LAFC, MINN, SEA , LAG, RSL, POR, SJ, FCD, SKC
SKC is still in the hunt, barely, and really missed a golden opportunity to get right in the mix by losing to Portland. I would have preferred an SKC win because PTFC is the only team I despise more.
I think that loss puts them entirely out of the hunt now. At 37pts with 5games left, to hit 50pts (might be 51 even) they'll need 13-14pts from the last five. They essentially have to win out just to get the last spot.
Coming in to this season, I expected Atlanta to run away with the East. I did not expect how fun a 3 team race this turned in to. That October 6th NYCFC @ Philly game could be big.
The early season woes are biting ATL hard. It's pretty impressive, honestly, that they've shot all the way up to 3rd with a chance to win the East given how they started. The 9/25 matches for the three teams are going to be massive. ATL at NY and PHI at SJ. That shapes them up for the 10/6 match you circled. Nobody really has an easier schedule than the other in that group. NYC has a lot of congestion and ends with two road games. Philly has a only 1 game where I see them as the clear favorites in their last 5. ATL has the worst congestion of the bunch with 5 games over 16 days. Whoever takes top spot will deserve it after the last run. That or they will suck the least, who knows.
Maybe the Galaxy will the be the Western Conference team that will miss the playoffs again this year. Pinch me to make sure I'm not dreaming!
Here is how it will end. 1. LAFC. 75 points 2. Portland. 55 points 3. RSL. 53 points 4. Seattle. 53 points 5. Galaxy. 51 points 6. Minn. 51 points 7. San Jose 48 points
I don't know about the others, but I'd guess RSL will be at least 2-3 pts higher. Vancouver and Houston should equal 6 points which would take them to at least 52 pts, and I see them easily collecting an additional 3-4 points from the other 3 games (LAG, MINN, NE). A win at MINN would be huge and would cause me to predict a 2nd place finish for them, but I think 3rd/4th is more likely.
Good thing Colorado had such a crap beginning of their season. They have won 5 of their last 8 games.