BIGGEST MOVERS: Vancouver +5 spots | LA Galaxy -4 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 17
It's the third time in four years the league's highest-scoring team has also won the Supporters' Shield. What made RBNY most remarkable was their consistency, as they became just the fifth team in league history to be shut out two or fewer times over the course of a season. Offense wins championships. Regular-season ones, at least.
Latest result: Won at Chicago, 2-1
Last five results: W-W-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Nov. 1 at TBD
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
It's hard not to hang a giant "What if?" sign around Mauro Díaz's neck. If he'd been healthy in just one or two more games this year, would that have been enough to pip the Red Bulls and win the Shield? No time to dwell with the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs starting this week, but it'll be something to think about in 2016.
Latest result: Won vs. San Jose, 2-1
Last five results: W-D-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Nov. 1 at TBD
3
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 15
Gaston Sauro makes a difference, folks – just look at those zeroes. Obviously, it doesn't hurt to have, in Ethan Finlay, the league's most underrated attacking player.
Latest result: Won vs. D.C. United, 5-0
Last five results: W-L-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Nov. 1 at TBD
4
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 20
TFC had a great gameplan with their low block designed to try to coax Montreal (who hate to cross) into launching hopeful balls into the 18. It worked great in the first half, and then the Reds got Drogba'd in the second. There is a reason certain members of the Power Rankings Politburo harp about the dearth of true, well-rounded domestic No. 9s in the pipeline.
Latest result: Won vs. Toronto, 2-1
Last five results: L-L-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Thursday vs. Toronto (UniMás in US; TSN1/4/5, RDS1 in Canada)
5
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
Put in their second straight commanding performance and, in Darlington Nagbe, have their most talented player finally playing like he's their best player. Moving him central has been a masterstroke.
Latest result: Won vs. Colorado, 4-1
Last five results: W-L-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Thursday vs. Sporting KC (UniMás in US; TSN1/4/5 in Canada)
6
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Best chance for the 'Caps going forward? Embrace the "set pieces and counterattacks" strategy, because they don't generate enough danger from pure possession right now.
Latest result: Won vs. Houston, 3-0
Last five results: L-D-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Nov. 1 at TBD
7
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
They're unbeaten in eight. Half of those results have been pretty uninspiring 1-1 draws, but go back and watch the first 35 minutes of that win against RSL and tell us you're not a little bit scared of this Seattle team.
Latest result: Won vs. Real Salt Lake, 3-1
Last five results: W-D-D-D-W
Next MLS match: Thursday vs. LA Galaxy (UniMás in US; TSN2, RDS2 in Canada)
8
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Switched up the tactics a bit, moving to more of a 4-1-3-2 with Steven Gerrard in the hole underneath Robbie Keane and Gio dos Santos. Honestly, it should have worked. Gerrard had his chances to make killer plays and couldn't.
Latest result: Lost at Sporting KC, 2-1
Last five results: L-W-D-L-L
Next MLS match: Thursday at Seattle (UniMás in US; TSN2, RDS2 in Canada)
9
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
The loss was not undeserved, but it was unlucky. Our guess is that the TFC brass will feel just fine if the team is able to recapture that first-half form and put it on display for the full 90 come Thursday evening.
Latest result: Lost at Montreal, 2-1
Last five results: W-W-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Thursday at Montreal (UniMás in US; TSN1/4/5, RDS1 in Canada)
10
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
Got a huge play from Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer and some huge saves from Tim Melia. But we can't look past that listless loss to the Rapids – especially since it cost Sporting home-field advantage.
Latest result: Lost vs. Colorado, 2-0; Won vs. LA Galaxy, 2-1
Last five results: D-W-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Thursday at Portland (UniMás in US; TSN1/4/5 in Canada)
11
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20
Charlie Davies finally got his second wind, and when he carves out attacking space in the final third, the Revs are very, very tough to stop.
Latest result: Won at NYCFC, 3-1
Last five results: L-D-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday at D.C. United (UniMás in US; TSN2 in Canada)
12
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
Since mid-May, D.C. are 2-8-2 against playoff teams (and one of those wins was against pre-Drogba Montreal). They have a home game, and as long as Bill Hamid and Fabián Espíndola are out there, they have a chance, but it's pretty hard to ignore those numbers. Especially on the heels of a 5-0 throttling.
Latest result: Lost at Columbus, 5-0
Last five results: L-L-W-W-L
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. New England (UniMás in US; TSN2 in Canada)
13
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20
No playoffs, but this season goes down as a success. They drew more than 32,000 fans per game; their young players improved over the course of the season; they're adding USL and NWSL teams; and in Cyle Larin, they have a goal-scoring machine who could last a decade.
Latest result: Lost at Philadelphia, 1-0
Last five results: W-W-W-W-L
Next MLS match: End of season
14
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 18
Fought and scrapped and did the sorts of things that Dominic Kinnear teams do. A full season of Quincy Amarikwa & Chris Wondolowski up top should put them in a good spot next year, but they need one more truly creative player out there in that midfield.
Latest result: Lost at Dallas, 2-1
Last five results: L-W-D-W-L
Next MLS match: End of season
15
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 17
They had their shot at a playoff berth but lost four of their final five and were shut out in three of those. They'd best be shopping for a true goalscorer this offseason, and they'd best hope that Javier Morales has a year left in his legs.
Latest result: Lost at Seattle, 3-1
Last five results: L-W-L-L-L
Next MLS match: End of season
16
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18
Obviously, even in their first year under a new manager, missing the playoffs is disturbing for a club used to having a meaningful November. More disturbing, though, is that this team didn't seem to progress collectively or individually over the course of the season. It all felt like a holding pattern.
Latest result: Lost at Vancouver, 3-0
Last five results: W-W-L-D-L
Next MLS match: End of season
17
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
We'll say it now (and we've said it before): This team should legitimately contend for a playoff spot next season. They've got some difference-makers in midfield and up top, they've got their goalkeeper of both the present and future, and they have a good mix in defense. Get it done, Earnie!
Latest result: Won vs. Orlando City, 1-0
Last five results: W-D-L-L-W
Next MLS match: End of season
18
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
So much talent on this team, but it's so mismatched. Now everybody heads into offseason limbo.
Latest result: Lost vs. New England, 3-0
Last five results: W-W-L-L-L
Next MLS match: End of season
19
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20
It's safe to say there will be a few changes in Chicago over the next couple of months. Obviously they'll aim to make some splashy signings, but it'd be foolish to neglect central defense and right back.
Latest result: Lost vs. NY Red Bulls, 2-1
Last five results: L-L-W-L-L
Next MLS match: End of season
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
Wrapped up the No. 2 pick in the draft, which probably means they'll get UCLA attacker Abu Danladi. He should fit right in on either wing or even underneath Kevin Doyle as a second forward.
Latest result: Won at Sporting KC, 2-0; Lost at Portland, 4-1
Last five results: L-L-L-W-L
Next MLS match: End of season
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).
