2021 Power Rankings

NFLPatriot · Aug 10, 2021

Power Rankings: DC United, FC Dallas surge after Weeks 17 and 18
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Aug 10, 2021, 11:21 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . . Wk 8. . : 2
Wk 1: 5 . . . Wk 9/10 : 2
Wk 2: 4 . . . Wk 11. .: 3
Wk 3: 2 . . . Wk 12. .: 2
Wk 4: 6 . . . Wk 13. .: 2
Wk 5: 2 . . . Wk 14/15: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . . Wk 17/18: 1
LAFC in 2019: 2.117 points per game.

New England in 2021: 2.105 points per game.

That works out to about a 71.5 point season. They only need that half a point to go their way to tie the MLS record for points in a season. This team is real, real good.
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Now the question becomes if they can keep it up without Carles Gil for however exactly long it is Carles Gil is going to be out. They tried Tajon Buchanan in a central midfield role against Nashville, and then let Adam Buksa drop deep and Tommy McNamara play a little more centrally against the Union. Four points from two games against two of the East’s best seem to indicate both of those options worked just fine. It helps when Gustavo Bou suddenly can’t stop scoring. He’s tied for the Golden Boot presented by Audi lead after scoring against Philly.

Previous: 2-1 win vs. PHI | Next: 8/14 at TOR
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NFLPatriot · Aug 17, 2021

Power Rankings: Atlanta United make huge leap, Portland Timbers drop after Week 19
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021, 10:59 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . . Wk 19: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . . Wk 9/10 : 2
Wk 2: 4 . . . Wk 11. .: 3
Wk 3: 2 . . . Wk 12. .: 2
Wk 4: 6 . . . Wk 13. .: 2
Wk 5: 2 . . . Wk 14/15: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . . Wk 17/18: 1
Another week, another win for the best team in the league. Tajon Buchanan returned to his hometown to score a gorgeous headed goal, and the Revs responded to a late equalizer from Toronto by scoring moments later on a Gustavo Bou penalty that momentarily gave him the Golden Boot presented by Audi lead. They picked up another three points without Carles Gil and seem just fine despite missing the best playmaker in the league for all of August so far. They're 12 points ahead of anyone else in the Eastern Conference and six points ahead in the Supporters’ Shield race. It’s getting harder and harder to imagine anyone catching them at this poi...OH GOD WHAT IS THAT…

Previous: 2-1 win at TOR | Next: 8/18 vs. DC
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NFLPatriot · Aug 26, 2021

Power Rankings: Red-hot Colorado Rapids continue ascension after Weeks 20 and 21
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021, 11:00 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1
I know, I know, I’m not sure Seattle are ever going to lose again. And in the end we may look back and see when all is said and done the Sounders had the higher top-end speed. But no one has been moving at a more consistently high rate than the Revs.

They’re on record pace of 2.23 points per game. 2019 LAFC, the team with the highest point total in MLS history (72), ended the year on 2.12 points per game. In fact, through 22 games, the Revs have tied the most points by any team in that span ever.

To match LAFC in the end, they need 23 points over their next 12 games. That’s 1.91 points per game. Basically slightly worse than Colorado have been on the season and slightly better than SKC. With eight of those final 12 coming against teams currently in playoff spots, it won’t be easy. But it is doable.

And, once again, I really feel like I have to mention they’ve been keeping this pace without Carles Gil playing a single minute in August. They’re so far ahead in the East at this point that he doesn’t really need to return until he’s 100 percent ready to go and then some. He can spend as much time in Spain as he wants really. And that’s an absurd luxury for New England to only passively worry about the league’s best player in 2021.

If he does come back soon, they might just cruise to the record. If he doesn’t, they might just get there anyway.

Previous: 4-1 win vs. CIN | Next: 8/28 at NYC
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NFLPatriot · Aug 31, 2021

Power Rankings: Portland Timbers, FC Dallas surge following rivalry wins in Week 22
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021, 11:57 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1
The Revs stay on top even after a road loss to their biggest challenger in the East. And after surviving for a while without Carles Gil, it’s time to start worrying about whether or not the Revolution can keep their lead in the East. I mean, there’s only so long you can last without the best player in the league. It might even be time to worry about whether this is a playoff tea--
Ok, I think they might actually be fine.

Previous: 2-0 loss at NYC | Next: 9/3 at PHI
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NFLPatriot · Sep 14, 2021

My apologies, I'm a week behind...

Power Rankings: Colorado Rapids, Nashville SC keep climbing after Week 23
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Sep 7, 2021, 10:58 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1
They’ve kept that pace despite missing Carles Gil to injury for the last month and missing Matt Turner and Tajon Buchanan this weekend to national team duty. DP forwards Gustavo Bou (injury) and Adam Buksa (international duty) were out as well. Well, Gil returned in the 66th minute of this one, and Turner and Buchanan will be back soon. So. They should actually improve.

However, the back end of their schedule isn’t kind. They get NYCFC this week after losing 2-0 to the Pigeons two weeks ago. Including that matchup, their last 10 games include six matches against teams above the playoff line. They’re also 14 points ahead of everyone else in the East. And 10 points ahead of Seattle in the Supporters’ Shield race. They could cruise the rest of the way if they really wanted to and feel pretty good about at least finishing first in the conference. Points records and Shields are nice, but we know that the Revs of all teams will be singularly focused on MLS Cup long-term.

Maybe don’t be too surprised if the points record doesn’t change hands this year. Do be extremely impressed that we’re even talking about it.

Previous: 1-0 win at PHI | Next: 9/11 vs. NYC
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NFLPatriot · Sep 14, 2021

Power Rankings: Atlanta United, Inter Miami surge after Week 24
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2021, 10:58 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1
Revolutionmeter: Eighteen points away from the MLS record for points in a season and cruising against teams like NYCFC despite not starting Carles Gil, Tajon Buchanan, Gustavo Bou and (highly underrated) Adam Buksa.

The Revs have a vice grip on the Supporters’ Shield and can (mostly) pick and choose who and how much they want to rotate the rest of the way until the playoffs. The records are nice, but just ask 2019 LAFC whether they want the record or MLS Cup. Even if Seattle start to make the Shield race interesting, they have the luxury of walking the rest of the path to the first seed in the East and a Round One bye. They should be healthy and rested heading into the playoffs and if they happen to average the two points per game they need to break the points record, well, that wouldn’t be a bad thing either. If what they did to NYCFC without their best attackers is any indication, it shouldn’t even be all that hard.

Previous: 2-1 win vs. NYC | Next: 9/18 vs. CLB
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NFLPatriot · Sep 21, 2021

Power Rankings: CF Montréal & Atlanta climb, Orlando City fall after Weeks 25 & 26
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021, 10:57 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1
Congrats to the Revs on being ... uh ... the league’s only good team? OK, maybe not, but everyone else seems to be moving in some way back into the middle and the Revs just kind of keep floating out of grasp from the gravity of the league’s ever-growing central mass. It would take something pretty special at this point for the Supporters’ Shield to end up anywhere else. That’s even after they were extremely unlucky against Columbus over the weekend. They put up a club record 33 shots, earned 2.9 expected goals worth of chances and still ended up with just one goal and a draw. The regular appearance of similar acts of intervention from unseen powers is the only thing that could possibly stop them from lifting the Shield.
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Previous: 1-1 draw vs. CLB | Next: 9/22 at CHI

NFLPatriot · Sep 28, 2021

Power Rankings: Philadelphia Union stake top 10 claim after Week 27
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2021, 10:58 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1 . . Wk 27. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1
New England are still well on pace to do the most historic thing ever involving the word Revolution: Break the MLS points record.
...
Now they need just 11 points over their last six games to break a record.

Previous: 2-1 win vs. ORL | Next: 9/29 at MTL
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NFLPatriot · Oct 5, 2021

Power Rankings: Portland Timbers keep soaring after Weeks 28 & 29
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Oct 5, 2021, 10:58 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1 . . Wk 27. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1 . . Wk 28/29: 1
The Revs decided to wrap things up against CF Montréal in the first 30 minutes and call it a day. I almost wonder if they’re bored yet.

Anyway, they need eight points from their next five games to go ahead and take sole ownership of the regular season points record. They already clinched the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield is incoming soon. They have eight more wins than the next closest team in the East and four more wins than Chicago have losses. They have as many wins as Cincinnati have points.

Good soccer team is good.

Previous: 4-1 win at MTL | Next: Bye
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NFLPatriot · Oct 19, 2021

Power Rankings: Atlanta United leap, NYCFC plummet after Week 30
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Oct 19, 2021, 10:58 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1 . . Wk 30: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1 . . Wk 27. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1 . . Wk 28/29: 1
Run from it. Dread it. Chicago arrive for us all the same. Even the best of us.

The Revs need seven points from their final four games to break the points record. They did get four points closer to the Supporters' Shield though. Because...

Previous: 2-2 draw vs. CHI | Next: 10/20 at DC
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Top 7 all tied or lost this weekend.

NFLPatriot · Oct 27, 2021

Power Rankings: LA Galaxy, Minnesota make leap after Weeks 31 & 32
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021, 10:58 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1 . . Wk 30. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1 . . Wk 31/32: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1 . . Wk 27. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1 . . Wk 28/29: 1
By the way, that trio’s season totals are now at 35 goals and 30 assists. New England’s DPs have outscored Austin and Cincinnati this season, and are equal on goals for with Toronto.

Previous: 2-2 draw at ORL | Next: 10/27 vs. COL
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rkupp · Oct 28, 2021

Wow, #1 for 13 straight weeks.

NFLPatriot · Nov 2, 2021

Power Rankings: NYCFC, Vancouver surge after Weeks 33 & 34
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Nov 2, 2021, 10:59 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1 . . Wk 30. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1 . . Wk 31/32: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1 . . Wk 33/34: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1 . . Wk 27. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1 . . Wk 28/29: 1
You ever just mess around for 33 weeks of soccer and set a league record?

The general ease with which New England romped to the points record is maybe the most remarkable part of it. This week, they faced off against Colorado, one of the best teams in the West, in a game they didn’t have to win for any reason and still shut down the Rapids. The Revs picked up a clean sheet and goal from Tajon Buchanan in a 1-0 win.

Buchanan has eight goals and five assists on the season now. That’s the same exact output as Colorado’s leading scorer, Michael Barrios. Buchanan is the third leading scorer for New England.

They just have so many match-winners. If you stop options A, B, C and D, you have to get past E just to have a chance. If you keep Carles Gil from creating, then stop Gustavo Bou from scoring and creating, then stop Adam Buksa from scoring and then stop Buchanan, you then have to find a way to beat Matt Turner. Seems like a good recipe for a record-breaking point total.

Previous: 1-0 win vs. COL | Next: 11/7 vs. MIA
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NFLPatriot · Nov 9, 2021

Final Rankings:

Power Rankings: New England, Colorado end 2021 MLS regular season as teams to beat
By J. Sam Jones
Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021, 11:01 AM
Code:
Revs:
PRE : 6 . . Wk 8. . : 2 . . Wk 19. .: 1 . . Wk 30. .: 1
Wk 1: 5 . . Wk 9/10 : 2 . . Wk 20/21: 1 . . Wk 31/32: 1
Wk 2: 4 . . Wk 11. .: 3 . . Wk 22. .: 1 . . Wk 33/34: 1
Wk 3: 2 . . Wk 12. .: 2 . . Wk 23. .: 1 . . Wk 35. .: 1
Wk 4: 6 . . Wk 13. .: 2 . . Wk 24. .: 1
Wk 5: 2 . . Wk 14/15: 1 . . Wk 25/26: 1
Wk 6: 2 . . Wk 16. .: 1 . . Wk 27. .: 1
Wk 7: 2 . . Wk 17/18: 1 . . Wk 28/29: 1
Couldn’t even beat Inter Miami.

Previous: 1-0 loss vs. MIA | Next: 11/30 vs. TBD
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