MLS Power Rankings 20 October 2015
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENTS | Last 6 | Previous | Change |
| 1 |  New York Red Bulls |
New York fans are still more familiar with the team choking in big games, but that story is starting to change year over year. Flying out of the gates to put a statement on the race to the Shield was mighty impressive, even if it was against the lowly Union. | 4-2-0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 
FC Dallas |
Playoff seeding and the shield race has been very exciting this year. It is apt that two of the best midfields in the league are battling it out for the top spot. Dallas is just so good with Mauro Diaz, but if anything happens to him… | 3-2-1 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 
Orlando City SC |
City certainly showed they were better than City this year. The expansion club has been lights out since the start of September. Gutted out a hard fought result against NYC, but likely still falls short of the playoffs. Standing ovation to the purple team though, it was a heck of a season. Who knows, it could carry on if NYC does them a big favor against the reeling Revs, and Philly did just cough up 4 goals to RB… | 5-1-0 | 5 | +2 |
| 4 | 
Toronto FC |
A bit of a hangover from the elation of finally making the playoffs. What should be troubling though is a notoriously shaky defense kept Toronto off the board at home. | 4-2-0 | 7 | +3 |
| 5 | 
Portland Timbers |
I had written Portland off, but after losing to a short rest Red Bull side, they have taken 9 of 12 points including big road wins at RSL and the Galaxy. All of the sudden they are scoring too. As is often the mantra in MLS, make the playoffs and anything can happen. The Timbers showed in July what they are capable of if they get going. Watch out. | 3-2-1 | 17 | +12 |
| 6 | 
Montreal Impact |
Montreal is a team defying the storyline. Aging midseason replacement + firing the coach in the summer usually = disappointment. Luckily, all three Canadian teams are going to the playoffs. A landmark for the league and country. Montreal can bunker and counter with the best of them, akthough the playoffs haven’t always been kind to those teams. Can Drogba and Piatti conjure up some magic? | 4-2-0 | 4 | -2 |
| 7 | 
San Jose Earthquakes |
San Jose’s draw against Vancouver kept them in the playoff race, but dropping points at home may have been the final nail in SJ’s coffin. They need a lot of good luck to go there way this week to make it. Hold on tight Quakes fans. | 2-1-3 | 16 | +9 |
| 8 | 
LA Galaxy |
Limping into the playoffs is not how the Galaxy drew it up a month ago, but that is what they are facing nonetheless. Leonardo had a howler and dropping a result that big at home is inexcusable this close to the post-season. | 1-3-2 | 3 | -5 |
| 9 | 
Columbus Crew SC |
The Crew have been up and down all season, but they will finish 2nd in the East if they can beat D.C. at home this Sunday. It will be a nice precursor to the playoffs and see what D.C.’s chances really are. They will be without Kamara though, so it may be an uphill battle. | 3-3-0 | 11 | +2 |
| 10 | 
Seattle Sounders FC |
Seattle has managed not to lose a game in their last 7, but they have only picked up 13/21 points. That’s not a great haul by any stretch. They need to beat RSL at home this week or they could be out of the playoffs depending on the teams below them in the standings. Remember Seattle started the season 9-6-2, but posted a 5-7-4 since the midpoint. Injuries and old age might be catching up to this team in a big way. | 2-0-4 | 6 | -4 |
| 11 | 
New York City FC |
City has very little to play for but pride. The good news, Jason Kries and Co have turned it on to finish out the year. I’m sure they will be disappointed to miss out on a cup run, but did anyone think they could pull it off in year one? They have pieces for the future, but will need to work on balance and depth. | 3-3-0 | 13 | +2 |
| 12 | 
Real Salt Lake |
RSL hasn’t finished lower than 3rd in the West since 2009, the year they won the cup. This year was a big step backwards for the Rocky Mountain clubs, but especially for the Utah branch. Their reliance on Javier Morales and lack of a true 9 may be holding them back. It might be time to trigger the fail safe and blow up the hatch. | 3-3-0 | 9 | -3 |
| 13 | 
Sporting Kansas City |
Only Philly and Chicago have won fewer games since the end of July. For those in KC, that should be a danger sign. They have two chances this week to pick up and secure some points at home. Securing the playoffs might be SKC’s lone bright spot this year. | 2-3-1 | 14 | +1 |
| 14 | 
DC United |
Two wins in a row is nice. That they came against very weak opposition is not so great. All year they have had trouble beating the leagues elite, and that doesn’t bode well for the next few weeks. Don’t be surprised if they are in the one game elimination round after this weekend and they could go as low as a 4 seed. | 2-3-1 | 18 | +4 |
| 15 | 
New England Revolution |
Not to continue to beat this drum, but what is it about beating the Red Bulls at home that makes this team regress? Surely there is no real data to prove anything, but consider this: On May 2nd, they beat the Red Bulls 2-1 and followed the result with a 6 game winless skid. On September 16th, the beat the Red Bulls 2-1 and now have a 3 game winless skid. That is some hex, right? | 2-3-1 | 10 | -5 |
| 16 | 
Houston Dynamo |
Houston was far too inconsistent and lacked a strong identity. Cubo Torres looks miscast despite being heralded as a savior before his arrival. Owen Coyle needs another year to figure this team and league out. | 2-3-1 | 12 | -4 |
| 17 | 
Philadelphia Union |
Philly were played off the field in 17 minutes. The Red Bulls made it a habit to let the Union hang in games this year in Harrison by wasting their opportunities. Jim Curtain must be wondering when the ax will drop. Two bad losses in a row against playoff teams shows the Union for what they are, a step behind. | 2-3-1 | 15 | -2 |
| 18 | 
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
Look at the bottom 5 teams. Notice anything bizarre? Only one of the 4 is a playoff team. They had a hold on the Supporter’s Shield and let it go some weeks ago. Since then, a combination of injuries and some team disconnect has seen the Whitecaps fall down the table a bit. Their last win was 6 games ago against Colorado. They had 4 games against playoff teams and picked up 2 points since then. Not a lot to inspire confidence right now. | 1-3-2 | 8 | -10 |
| 19 | 
Chicago Fire |
Chicago can play the spoiler role against NY. Last time the Red Bulls were in contention for the shield, they put the Fire to the sword. This time they can get some revenge. Does there need to be a lot of turnover in the offseason? No. Will there be? | 1-5-1 | 20 | +1 |
| 20 | 
Colorado Rapids |
After two straight poor seasons, it is hard to see what the Rapids long term plan is. Like Chicago, they have some good young pieces. They need to utilize them, or even build a team around that young core. This hybrid, low cost, “big” name DP approach is clearly not working. Maybe Stan and Arsene should sit down and discuss the finer points of developing youth players. | 0-5-1 | 19 | -1 |
