The Columbus Crew learned how quickly opinion can change in a week when you lose 6-2. Fresh off making their top tier debut in SB Nation's MLS Power Rankings, the Crew essentially lost all their support and crashed out following their loss to the Seattle Sounders.
Major League Soccer Power Rankings, Week 24: Three Teams At The Top
The Crew get knocked out of the top tier of our MLS Power Poll following their 6-2 loss to the Sounders.
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Aside from that, there was quite minimal movement in our poll. The Portland Timbers were curiously punished for taking the week off, dipping just below the second tier threshold and the Fire picked up a little momentum, but other than that our voters seem to be settling into their perceptions of the league.
| Playing For The Shield | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Los Angeles Galaxy |  100% (60 out of 60 points) |
 | Seattle Sounders | 100% (60 out of 60 points) |
 | FC Dallas | 96% (58 out of 60 points) |
FC Dallas was probably in danger of falling out of the Supporters' Shield race when they fell behind Sporting Kansas City 2-0 in the 70th minute. But their comeback victory kept them in the conversation. The reality is the Los Angeles Galaxy will probably have to collapse for either Dallas or the Sounders to have much of a chance, anyway, but it could get interesting if they slip up.
| Enjoy The Playoffs | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Columbus Crew | 68% (41 out of 60 points) |
 | Colorado Rapids | 68% (41 out of 60 points) |
 | Real Salt Lake | 68% (41 out of 60 points) |
 | Sporting Kansas City | 66% (40 out of 60 points) |
 | Philadelphia Union | 61% (37 out of 60 points) |
Our voters are in pretty strong agreement on this group. Three of them got a solitary top tier vote, which is what separates them from Sporting. The Union still seem to be a solid bet to make the playoffs, even if they don’t look nearly as strong as they once did.
| Still Something To Prove | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Houston Dynamo | 45% (27 out of 60 points) |
 | DC United | 41% (25 out of 60 points) |
 | New York Red Bulls | 35% (21 out of 60 points) |
 | Chivas USA | 31% (19 out of 60 points) |
The Houston Dynamo just refuse to win on the road. Facing the Vancouver Whitecaps, currently the league's worst team, they failed to find the back of the net and lost 1-0 to keep them winless away from Robertson Stadium. Amazingly, they could still find a way to win the Eastern Conference ... or could crash out of the playoffs entirely.
| At Least There's No Relegation | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Portland Timbers | 23% (14 out of 60 points) |
 | Chicago Fire | 10% (6 out of 60 points) |
 | San Jose Earthquakes | 1% (1 out of 60 points) |
 | Toronto FC | 1% (1 out of 60 points) |
 | New England Revolution | 0% (0 out of 60 points) |
 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 0% (0 out of 60 points) |
I’m a little surprised that the Whitecaps’ win over the Dynamo didn’t earn them a single vote this week. No mind, they are still way too far back to make any kind of realistic run at the playoffs. Of this group, only the Chicago Fire seem to have any hopes left.
How It Works: Each of the 22 participants puts Major League Soccer’s clubs into one of the four tiers. Teams in the top tier get three points. Next tier, two points, then one, then zero. Voters can put as many teams into each tier as they see fit. Though the vote total orders the teams, the clubs are intended to be grouped, not sorted. Although some of the names may indicate otherwise, the point of this is to assess current form and our voters are instructed to place teams in tiers based how those teams will fair in coming weeks.
Who participated: Jeremiah Oshan (SB Nation, soccer); Kevin McCauley (SB Nation, soccer); Aaron Campeau (SB Nation, soccer); Ryan Rosenblatt (SB Nation, soccer); Drew Epperley (SB Nation, soccer); Phillip Quinn (SB Nation, soccer); Steve Davis (Daily Soccer Fix); Martin Shatzer (Black and Red United); Scott Kessler (Brotherly Game); Zach Woosley (Dynamo Theory); Denzel Eslinger (RSL Soapbox); Robert Jonas (Quake, Rattle and Goal); Daniel Robertson (Big D Soccer); Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart); Duncan Fletcher (Waking the Red), Steve Stoehr (The Bent Musket); Tweed Thornton (Hot Time in Old Town), Ben Schneider (Once a Metro); Josie Bekcer (LAG Confidential); Alicia Ratterree (The Goat Parade); Brenton Walters (The Vancouver Whitecaps Offside).
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