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MLS 2017 Power Rankings, Week 4: Columbus Crew takes its chance

A quiet week opened the door for Columbus to make a big stride in the Power Rankings while other teams sat idle.

By Austin Fido

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Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Only six teams played in Week 4 of MLS 2017, since it coincided with a FIFA window for international matches. But those few games did set the Power Rankings moving - from top to (almost) bottom.

1. Columbus Crew (up 13 places)

  • 7 points, 1st in Eastern Conference
  • 3rd in Supporters' Shield race
  • Last result: Crew 3-2 Timbers

What do you mean that's generous? The Crew beat the hottest team in MLS, establishing a two-game winning streak (one of only three teams in the league to have that going for it ">right now) - and it plays one of the league's other streaking teams, Orlando, next week.

2. Portland Timbers (down one place)

  • 9 points, 1st in Western Conference
  • 1st in Shield race
  • Last result: Crew 3-2 Timbers

Can't be too hard on Portland this week - it didn't lose to Columbus by much and certainly shouldn't be losing ground to teams that didn't even play in Week 4.

3. Atlanta United (down one place)

  • 6 points, 3rd in East
  • 5th in Shield race
  • Last result: Atlanta 4-0 Chicago (Week 3)

Didn't play in Week 4, so Atlanta just shuffles down to make room for the Crew up top.

4. FC Dallas (down one place)

  • 7 points, 2nd in West
  • 2nd in Shield race
  • Last result: FCD 2-1 New England (Week 3)

FCD will be sitting out Week 5 also, so expect it to fall a little further before it gets a chance to join this conversation again.

5. Toronto FC (down one place)

  • 5 points, 5th in East
  • 9th in Shield race
  • Last result: VWFC 0-2 TFC (Week 3)

Fun fact: Week 5's game against Sporting Kansas City will be TFC's MLS 2017 home opener.

6. Houston Dynamo (down one place)

  • 6 points, 3rd in West
  • 7th in Shield race
  • Last result: Portland 4-2 Houston (Week 3)
The international week wasn't kind to Houston's injury list, but it will still have home advantage to count on against RBNY in Week 5.

7. Orlando City (down one place)

  • 6 points, 4th in East
  • 6th in Shield race
  • Last result: Orlando 2-1 Philadelphia (Week 3)
The only 100% record remaining in MLS (Orlando has only played twice to date in the league) goes on the line against Columbus in Week 5.

8. Sporting Kansas City (down one place)

  • 5 points, 5th in West
  • 10th in Shield race
  • Last result: SKC 2-1 San Jose (Week 3)
In Week 5, unbeaten SKC will be the first team to take on (also unbeaten) TFC in Toronto this season.

9. Seattle Sounders (down one place)

  • 4 points, 6th in West
  • 12th in Shield race
  • Last result: Seattle 3-1 RBNY (Week 3)
At home against red-hot Atlanta, we'll find out a little bit more about Seattle in Week 5.

10. New York City FC (down one place)

  • 4 points, 6th in East
  • 11th in Shield race
  • Last result: NYCFC 1-1 Montreal (Week 3)

Third home game in a row (against San Jose this time) for NYCFC in Week 5.

11. New England Revolution (up nine places)

  • 3 points, 8th in East
  • 15th in Shield race
  • Last result: Revs 5-2 Minnesota
Sure, it was only Minnesota - but a 5-2 win has the Power Rankings' attention. Let's see what you do next, New England.

12. New York Red Bulls (down two places)

  • 7 points, 2nd in East
  • 4th in Shield race
  • Last result: RBNY 0-0 RSL
RBNY is a long way down for a team riding high in the table, but the Power Rankings aren't big on scoreless draws at home - and the prior result for the Red Bulls was a 3-1 loss on the road. The Red Bulls are doing just fine for points, but recent evidence of power is lacking.

13. San Jose Earthquakes (down two places)

  • 6 points, 4th in West
  • 8th in Shield race
  • Last result: SKC 2-1 San Jose (Week 3)
The Quakes are still on the road in Week 5, heading to NYCFC hoping to keep pace with the leaders in the Western Conference.

14. Colorado Rapids (down two places)

  • 4 points, 7th in West
  • 13th in Shield race
  • Last result: Colorado 2-2 Minnesota (Week 3)
The Rapids have Week 5 off, so it will be a while before they can address the fact they are currently the only team in MLS to have dropped points to Minnesota.

15. Chicago Fire (down two places)

  • 4 points, 7th in East
  • 14th in Shield race
  • Last result: Atlanta 4-0 Chicago (Week 3)
Home to Montreal in Week 5, Chicago will be keen to move on from the fact that an ill-conceived question at a press conference turned its big-splash signing of Bastian Schweinsteiger into a punchline.

16. Philadelphia Union (down one place)

  • 2 points, 10th in East
  • 18th in Shield race
  • Last result: Philadelphia 2-1 Orlando (Week 3)
Not entirely sure how Philly got even this high up the Power Rankings without a win.

17. Montreal Impact (down one place)

  • 2 points, 9th in East
  • 17th in Shield race
  • Last result: NYCFC 1-1 Montreal (Week 3)
Montreal plays the second of a three-game road trip in Week 5. A tough start to the season: the team will play four of its opening five league games on the road.

18. LA Galaxy (down one place)

  • 3 points, 8th in West
  • 16th in Shield race
  • Last result: RSL 1-2 LA (Week 3)
Seems like their are worse teams than LA higher up these Rankings. The Galaxy can set the record straight in Vancouver in Week 5.

19. Vancouver Whitecaps (no movement)

  • 1 point, 10th in West
  • 20th in Shield race
  • Last result: VWFC 0-2 TFC (Week 3)
VWFC plays five of its next seven league games on the road. The season could start to unravel fast if it doesn't pick up form soon.

20. Real Salt Lake (up one place)

  • 2 points, 9th in West
  • 19th in Shield race
  • Last result: RBNY 0-0 RSL
New head coach Mike Petke would seem to have his work cut out for him turning around a goal-shy, win-shy RSL.

21. Minnesota United (down three places)

  • 1 point, 11th in West
  • 22nd in Shield race
  • Last result: Revs 5-2 Minnesota
To have conceded 18 goals in four matches is comically bad form. The only reason Minnesota isn't back at the bottom of these Rankings is DCU didn't play at all (and still hasn't scored a goal).

22. D.C. United (no movement)

  • 1 point, 11th in East
  • 21st in Shield race
  • Last result: DC 0-2 Columbus (Week 3)
You can move off the bottom of the table when you finally score a goal, or at least next win a point, DCU.

In This Stream

OaM's MLS Power Rankings: 2017 Edition

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