FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The name of this series is a bit of a misnomer this week when you consider that the New England Revolution has already secured a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Revs will finish above the red line in the Eastern Conference. That much we know.
But exactly where above that red line the Revs will settle is still very much to be determined. With two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, it’s mathematically possible for the Revs to finish as high as first place or as low as fifth place. Such is the scenario when four playoff sides are separated by just three points.
The Revs can narrow down those options on Thursday night when they visit the Houston Dynamo for a nationally-televised showdown (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET). A win over the Dynamo would secure a top-three finish in the East – keeping them out of the 4-5 play-in game – while a draw would guarantee no lower than the fourth seed.
Of course, much will also depend how the Eastern Conference’s other playoff-bound sides fare this weekend, so let’s see what the matchups look like and what types of results would most benefit the Revolution.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Toronto FC (11-14-7, 40 pts.) vs. Montreal Impact (6-18-8, 26 pts.)
BMO Field, 2 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
Neither of these sides can catch the Revolution through the final two weeks, but Toronto FC’s fading playoff hopes will be on the line Saturday afternoon against Canadian rival Montreal at BMO Field.
TFC needs to win its final two games (vs. Montreal, at New England) and hope Columbus loses its final two games (at New York, vs. Philadelphia) to secure a first-ever postseason berth. Anything less would send the Crew back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Saturday, Oct. 18
D.C. United (16-9-7, 55 pts.) vs. Chicago Fire (5-9-18, 33 pts.)
RFK Stadium, 7 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
For two hours on Saturday night, forget about all those years of bad blood and fierce playoff meetings between the Revs and Fire – you’ll be cheering for Chicago to take the full three points from Our Nation’s Capital.
There’s only one way the Revs can catch D.C. atop the East – win their final two matches (at Houston, vs. TFC) and hope United loses its final matches (vs. Chicago, at Montreal). Should D.C. pick up even a single point, Ben Olsen’s side will complete its worst-to-first turnaround and clinch the conference’s top seed.
So … go Fire?
Saturday, Oct. 18
Philadelphia Union (9-11-12, 39 pts.) vs. Sporting Kansas City (14-11-7, 49 pts.)
PPL Park, 7 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
Philadelphia’s playoff hopes came to a stunning end last weekend in a crushing home loss to the Crew – the Union took a two-goal lead into the late stages only to concede three times in the space of four minutes, allowing Columbus to snatch a 3-2 win at PPL Park.
But the Revs will be hoping Philly plays for pride on Saturday night, as Sporting KC enters the season’s final two games level with New England on points. Two wins for the Revs would guarantee at least second place because they hold the tiebreaker (overall wins) on SKC, but any type of slip-up opens the door for the defending champions to climb ahead in the standings.
Sunday, Oct. 19
New York Red Bulls (12-9-11, 47 pts.) vs. Columbus Crew (12-10-10, 46 pts.)
Red Bull Arena, 3 p.m. ET
UniMas
This is the only Eastern Conference matchup this weekend featuring two teams which still have playoff aspirations.
New York has already clinched its postseason berth – courtesy of a 5-1-1 run in the last seven games – while Columbus can do the same with a single point from its final two matches.
Both of these sides could still catch and pass the Revs should New England drop points during the next two weeks, so best case scenario is likely a draw – that would keep both the Red Bulls and Crew behind the Revs in the standings regardless of their own result on Thursday night.
