Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff; words by Alicia Rodriguez.
BIGGEST MOVERS: DAL +5; COL, SJ -3
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 4
It might sound over-the-top to say LAFC needed to win on Decision Day presented by AT&T, but they kind of did, breaking records as a team and courtesy of Carlos Vela. With a long layoff before the Western Conference semifinals, they needed a good three-point performance, and that's what they got against the Rapids.
Previous: 3-1 win vs. COL | Next: vs.TBD on 10/24
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 18
NYCFC are in a similar spot to LAFC, with a longer layoff than the rest of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs field, and their form to finish the season is red-hot. Dome Torrent may appreciate the time to potentially get some key players fit, but he may get a bit nervous about the lag before the next game.
Previous: 2-1 win at PHI | Next: vs. TBD on 10/23
3
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 19
Did Atlanta come in under the radar to finish the season? Not really, but they will be confident heading into the postseason, especially with talisman Josef Martinez back and firing in goals. There may be a few questions chasing the Five Stripes, but they're likely to mount a good MLS Cup defense campaign.
Previous: 3-1 win vs. NE | Next: vs. NE on 10/19
4
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
If we're asking if Atlanta may not be getting the full hype they deserve, what to make of the Sounders? Finishing the regular season with two wins puts them at an elevated standing. Those wins were both narrow, which might suit Seattle well as playoff prep with the games getting much tighter.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. MIN | Next: vs. DAL on 10/19
5
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 15
A Decision Day loss may dampen the mood in Minnesota a bit, but all things considered it was a fantastic campaign. Now, can they add to this being their best MLS season ever with their first playoff win to go with the first playoff berth? Let the hype for their clash against the Galaxy begin!
Previous: 1-0 loss at SEA | Next: vs. LA on 10/20
6
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20
Another team with a very good season, the Union's campaign ended on a sour note with two losses. On the bright side, they have more games to come, and they'll be facing a Red Bulls side entering the playoffs in the worst form of the field. Will 2019 be the year the first playoff win comes to Philly?
Previous: 2-1 loss vs. NYC | Next: vs. RBNY on 10/20
7
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 21
TFC's form to end the season was best in the league in terms of avoiding losses (10 games unbeaten) and bettered overall only by NYCFC. After seeming to reach a breaking point in the summer, with the whole team on the brink of collapsing, they've pulled together and could be a legit dark horse for MLS Cup.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. CLB | Next: vs. DC on 10/19
8
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 20
D.C. also quietly got it together to end the season, five games unbeaten and with five straight shutouts. Of course, the last two they were also shut out in, but like their upcoming playoff opponent D.C. went from on the edge of spiraling out of control to getting on track and looking pretty decent for the postseason.
Previous: 0-0 draw vs. CIN | Next: at TOR on 10/19
9
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 20
RSL's Decision Day win over Vancouver will further burnish the Utahns' claim to be most under-the-radar team in MLS. The Timbers have some real issues at the moment, but they're likely to get most of the press coming in, which will suit Freddy Juarez's group just fine. Overlook RSL at your peril.
Previous: 1-0 win at VAN | Next: vs. POR on 10/19
10
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 14
Bobby Warshaw's point on Matchday Central that the Galaxy appeared to lose all focus after clinching their playoff berth looks to be spot on. What's truly concerning heading into an elimination game is that Guillermo Barros Schelotto's defense looks to be both unsettled and playing badly again.
Previous: 4-2 loss at HOU | Next: at MIN on 10/20
11
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 24
The Timbers got the job done, missing several key players, to reach the playoffs. This is the payoff to Gio Savarese's rotations throughout the season, and Dairon Asprilla's annual awakening to play a big role for Portland emerged yet again.
Previous: 3-1 win vs. SJ | Next: at RSL on 10/19
12
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 17
The biggest statement win was FC Dallas' romp over Sporting, an opponent who has caused them pain over the years and who it was probably extra sweet to rout. With a tough game coming up in Seattle, where FCD have struggled mightily, they have nothing to lose and maybe a collective naivete will push them to an upset?
Previous: 6-0 win vs. SKC | Next: at SEA on 10/19
13
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 21
Even though the Red Bulls are in poor form, the voting panel still believes there's hope they can turn it on for the playoffs. A faint hope, perhaps, but maybe with the weight of expectations off them, they can spring a series of surprises to get that long-awaited MLS Cup?
Previous: 3-0 loss at MTL | Next: at PHI on 10/20
14
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 24
The Rapids are the only non-playoff team in the Top 14 because of how strong they finished the season, going 5-2-0 under Robin Fraser to begin his tenure. All of this seems to disprove Anthony Hudson's now-infamous claim the Rapids were a "bottom group of players," although they could still use some offseason reinforcements.
Previous: 3-1 loss at LAFC | Next: End of season
15
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 23
The Revs clinched a playoff berth, a remarkable turnaround in their season, but they only won twice in their final 11 games, so the voting panel isn't convinced they'll go far in the playoffs. But they are also on house money for the postseason, and Bruce Arena certainly knows more than anyone about making a deep run.
Previous: 3-1 loss at ATL | Next: at ATL on 10/19
16
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 24
A narrow loss for Columbus to close out the season, but a few items for perspective: The Crew stayed in Columbus, they're planning to build a new stadium, and when it seemed like on the field the season would totally wash out, they rallied and finished in decent form. Will be interesting to see what 2020 brings.
Previous: 1-0 loss at TOR | Next: End of season
17
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 2| LOW: 24
The Quakes could not rally, and finish out of the playoffs, with a six-game losing streak, the worst run to end the season in the league. There will be plenty of talk over how the Quakes slipped down the stretch and whether Matias Almeyda will continue his molding of the club for a second year, and it should be fascinating.
Previous: 3-1 loss at POR | Next: End of season
18
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 24
The Fire ended the season with a big win on the road and they didn't lose in their final five games, so a decent end to the campaign. But that sort of drives home what a disappointing season it turned out to be on the field for a Chicago team that looked like they could even be contenders this year.
Previous: 5-2 win at ORL | Next: End of season
19
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 24
Another team that finished well as a consolation, the Dynamo now have started a run as Decision Day krypton for the Galaxy, but it will be interesting to see if this was a "last hurrah" before the roster is dismantled or if they can retool and come back stronger next year.
Previous: 4-2 win vs. LA | Next: End of season
20
LAST WEEK: 23
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 23
The Impact also ended the season with a nice win, but their issue was that wins were few and far between in league play. Montreal managed just three victories between late June and Decision Day, but they have some intriguing talent – who will be back in Quebec when the 2020 season kicks off?
Previous: 3-0 win vs. RBNY | Next: End of season
21
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 23
The Whitecaps' three-game unbeaten run is snapped on Decision Day, and considering how the season went, it's rather fitting. There was plenty of roster turnover in Vancouver last offseason, and will we see that again this offseason?
Previous: 1-0 loss vs. RSL | Next: End of season
22
LAST WEEK: 22
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 22
The most surprising disappointment has to be Sporting's campaign, considering the preseason expectations. Whether it was timing, bad luck or something else will probably be sussed out in hindsight, but the offseason will be very long in Kansas City.
Previous: 6-0 loss at DAL | Next: End of season
23
LAST WEEK: 21
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 23
Black Monday came to Orlando, following a bad loss to wrap up the campaign. Whether James O'Connor deserved more time may be a talking point, but the Lions' last win came on Aug. 14, and they were on the longest winless run in MLS to end the campaign, punctuating another rough season.
Previous: 5-2 loss vs. CHI | Next: End of season
24
LAST WEEK: 24
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 24
Believe it or not, but three draws to close out the season is something to build on for FC Cincinnati, who could be the most active non-expansion team this offseason.
Previous: 0-0 draw at DC | Next: End of season
