Previous ranking: 16
The Rapids’ unbeaten streak is over after falling to Philly, but they didn’t play badly at all and probably should have taken at least one point. Sometimes things don’t go your way, but when you’re a solid team, that’s not reason to freak out. Colorado shouldn’t freak out.
Previous ranking: 15
TFC had a lot of impressive draws earlier this season, but they have just two wins on the campaign and let Montréal get the upper hand in the Canadian Classique this weekend. Maybe most concerning is the slew of injured players that will make it tough to turn things around.
Previous ranking: 19
No Christian Benteke? No problem. D.C. had a 17-year-old Kristian Fletcher to feed 21-year-old Theodore Ku-Dipietro for the equalizer and earn an impressive draw against Nashville.
Previous ranking: 17
Goals from their Designated Player, Ercan Kara, and rookie draft pick, Duncan McGuire, plus a whole lot of luck was enough to steal a point in Columbus.
Previous ranking: 21
The Timbers beat the Caps to keep their good run of form going, and while it’s not a coincidence that the results have followed Evander’s improving play, the bigger difference is at the back. Their leaky defense has started plugging some holes and not asking goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic to rescue them match in, match out.
Previous ranking: 20
Gerhard Struber out, a win over NYCFC in.
Previous ranking: 18
Keeping the ball isn’t a problem for the Pigeons. It’s how they create chances when they have the ball that they still haven’t figured out. Signing a No. 9 in the summer would be a big help, but in the meantime they get 68% of possession, no goals and watching the Red Bulls paint New York red.
Previous ranking: 23
The Fire’s first game under interim boss Frank Klopas delivered Xherdan Shaqiri’s best match of the season and a win in their first-ever match against St. Louis.
Previous ranking: 22
Austin have just one win from six home matches, and Saturday’s loss may have been their toughest one yet. They fell to Dallas on an 89th-minute goal and remain winless against their rivals in six regular-season matches. That one playoff win is doing increasingly heavier lifting.
Previous ranking: 25
The Charlotte fans have been terrific all season despite the Crown’s struggles, so the large traveling contingent who filled a section of blue in Atlanta absolutely deserved the joy of seeing their team roll to victory against their rivals.
Previous ranking: 26
From six straight losses to three straight wins, the latest over New England, Inter are figuring out how to play without Gregore, and Josef Martínez finding some form gives them some much-needed punch.
Previous ranking: 27
It looked like Montréal were lost a month ago, but now they have four straight 2-0 wins, and Saturday’s Canadian Classique win over Toronto counts as two wins in their hearts.
Previous ranking: 28
Was Greg Vanney on the hot seat against San Jose on Sunday? It’s hard to say, but it was a lot cooler after Dejan Joveljić rushed the bench in a fabulous goal celebration that wrapped up the California Clásico win.
Previous ranking: 24
RSL got smoked by LAFC, which isn’t shocking, but the problem in Salt Lake remains the defense. They’ve given up the most goals in the league and the underlying numbers don’t suggest bad luck. They have a defense that needs fixing ASAP.
Previous ranking: 29
It took Sporting 10 matches to get their first win, and now they have back-to-back wins. The injury excuse for their struggles in the past 14 months is looking a lot more valid after their 3-0 thumping of Minnesota.
