Why it could already be too late for some teams to make the playoffs

We are only two months into the 2016 season and many teams are still evaluating who they are and how their season will go. But for some teams, their odds of making the playoffs are already fading fast.

8 points in 7 games threshold

Going back to 2011, there have been 28 teams that have not hit eight points through seven games. Of those 28 teams, only three have made the playoffs (see data below).

New York Red Bulls, D.C. United, New York City FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo have failed to reach eight points in their first seven games and should be concerned about their chances of making the playoffs.

The Chicago Fire currently sit on six points through their sixth game. They will have a chance to get to nine points through seven games with a win vs. United on Saturday (5 pm ET on MLS LIVE).

Playing in the East may help you beat the odds

Only three teams in the Eastern have collected more than 10 points through seven games. So one team that did not hit eight points in seven games – D.C. – is currently above the red line in a playoff position.

In 2011, Sporting KC was in the Eastern Conference and had only four points after seven games but made the playoffs. Part of their slow start was due to playing their first 10 matches on the road.

In 2014, NY Red Bulls had only seven points after seven matches and made the playoffs.

Does expanding the playoffs to 12 teams help a team beat the odds?

Despite expanding the playoffs in 2015 from five to six teams per conference, the four teams that had fewer that eight points failed to make the playoffs. NYCFC, Philadelphia, Colorado, and Real Salt Lake all had fewer than eight points after seven games and failed to make the 2015 MLS playoffs.