FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – No complicated formulas are required to determine how the New England Revolution can clinch a spot in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend. A win on Saturday – when the Revs will visit the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo (4 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet and 98.5 The Sports Hub) – would secure a second consecutive postseason berth.
That, of course, is the simplest scenario. Win and you’re in. But it’s not quite that simple.
There are also scenarios in which the Revs can clinch a playoff spot this weekend with a draw or even a loss, depending how other results shake out around the league. Those scenarios are laid out HERE.
That means that as a Revolution supporter, there are plenty of reasons to follow the week’s other Eastern Conference matchups. Not only could they help the Revs lock up a playoff berth if they slip up themselves, but they’ll also go a long way in determining exactly where the Revs finish in the East.
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Toronto FC (11-12-7, 40 pts.) vs. Houston Dynamo (10-14-6, 36 pts.)
BMO Field, 7:30 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
Last weekend’s results – a Revolution win and a Dynamo loss – mean that Houston can no longer catch New England in the Eastern Conference standings. While the Dynamo could match the Revs on points by winning out, New England would still maintain the edge on overall wins.
Toronto FC, however, sits eight points back of the Revolution with still four games on the schedule, meaning TFC can still mathematically pass New England. That would change should Toronto drop points in both of its matches this week – regardless of the Revolution’s result in Montreal – meaning a draw is likely best case for the Revs.
Why a draw and not a Houston win? Because a draw would dent the Dynamo’s playoff hopes and potentially eliminate them from postseason contention before the Revs visit BBVA Compass Stadium next Thursday.
Friday, Oct. 10
Sporting Kansas City (13-11-7, 46 pts.) vs. Chicago Fire (5-8-18, 33 pts.)
Sporting Park, 8:30 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
Like the midweek matchup between TFC and Houston, this is pretty straightforward from a Revs perspective.
While Chicago has been eliminated from playoff contention, Sporting KC trails the Revolution by just two points in the East and could leapfrog the Revs with a win on Friday night. As a general rule, you don’t want the teams directly behind you in the standings picking up points.
So go ahead and cheer for the Fire on Friday night. It’s the right thing to do.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Philadelphia Union (9-10-12, 39 pts.) vs. Columbus Crew (11-10-10, 43 pts.)
PPL Park, 7 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
Once again, this matchup features one team which mathematically cannot catch the Revs and another which can, so it’s pretty straightforward as to who Revs fans should be pulling for on Saturday.
Philadelphia, like Houston, can match the Revolution on points, but would lose the tiebreaker based on a fewer number of overall wins. Columbus, however, still sits within striking distance of the Revs at five points back with three games to play, meaning a Union win is best case for the Revolution.
In fact, should the Crew lose to the Union on Saturday, a draw at Stade Saputo would be enough for the Revs to officially book their postseason ticket this weekend.
Saturday, Oct. 11
New York Red Bulls (11-9-11, 44 pts.) vs. Toronto FC (11-12-7, 40 pts.)
Red Bull Arena, 7 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
This is the only Eastern Conference matchup this weekend featuring two teams which can still catch the Revolution in the standings, making the permutations a bit more complicated.
As noted, TFC sits eight points back of the Revs and would be precluded from catching New England with anything less than three points from its two games this week. New York, meanwhile, sits four points back of the Revs and could still leapfrog New England with a strong run through the season’s final weeks.
Interestingly, New England’s rooting interest in this game will depend on how the Revs do in their 4 p.m. kickoff in Montreal. A win at Stade Saputo would make a Toronto win in this game best case scenario, while a draw or loss against the Impact might leave the Revs hoping for a NY-TFC draw.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Houston Dynamo (10-14-6, 36 pts.) vs. D.C. United (15-9-7, 52 pts.)
BBVA Compass Stadium, 3 p.m. ET
MLS LIVE
Houston, as noted, cannot catch the Revs, so the Dynamo’s playoff quest only affects the Revolution in the sense that it will determine whether Houston is playing for its playoff life or pride next Thursday night.
D.C., meanwhile, will need to drop points in at least two of its remaining three matches in order for the Revs to climb past United and into the top spot in the East. A D.C. win here would come close to locking up that top spot ahead of season-ending matches against Chicago and Montreal.
So it makes sense to cheer for the Dynamo on Sunday. Just think of it as cheering for Steve Ralston.
