Examiner.com's MLS Power Rankings: Through Week 31

October 22, 1:44 AMMLS ExaminerCharlie Corr

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Previous 2009 MLS Power Rankings

• Through Week 30: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 29: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 28: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 27: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 26: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 25: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 24: 1st - Crew / Dynamo (tie)
• Through Week 23: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 22: 1st - Col. Crew (unanimous)
• Through Week 21: 1st - Dynamo / Crew (tie)
• Through Week 20: 1st - Houston Dynamo
• Through Week 19: 1st - Dynamo / Sounders (tie)
• Through Week 18: 1st - Houston Dynamo
• Through Week 17: 1st - Houston Dynamo
• Through Week 16: 1st - Houston Dynamo
• Through Week 15: 1st - Houston Dynamo
• Through Week 14: 1st - Hou. Dynamo (unanimous)
• Through Week 13: 1st - Hou. Dynamo (unanimous)
• Through Week 12: 1st - Chivas USA
• Through Week 11: 1st - Chivas USA
• Through Week 10: 1st - Chivas USA (unanimous)
• Through Week 9: 1st - Chivas USA (unanimous)
• Through Week 8: 1st - Chivas USA (unanimous)

FC Dallas' stellar late-season run continued, as did the team's rise within Examiner.com's MLS Power Rankings.

Dallas made another significant jump, from ninth place last week to sixth this week. It was just two weeks ago that Dallas still was in the lower third of our panel voting.

Also moving up was Chivas USA, from last week's fourth-place tie to this week's second-place tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Columbus Crew continue their unanimous stance in first place.

EXAMINER.COM'S MLS POWER RANKINGS

Through games played Oct. 18 (last week's ranking in parentheses)

1. Columbus Crew (1): "Columbus fell to D.C. United, 1-0, but to be fair it was a game the Crew did not need, and their mind may have been on bigger fish such as qualifying for the third round of the CONCACAF Champions League." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

2. (tie) Chivas USA (4 tie): "Chivas is in good form. The Thursday game with Chicago will be a battle, and the Saturday match with Houston will be a war." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

2. (tie) Los Angeles Galaxy (2 tie): "L.A. had a frustrating game with Houston last week, but a scoreless game between two top teams was probably more frustrating for the fans." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

4. Houston Dynamo (2 tie): "The Dynamo are looking vulnerable. A first-round exit may be in the cards if Dallas slips into the postseason." ~ Deron White

5. Seattle Sounders FC (6): "'Wait until they have to play on the road.' The Sounders have put to bed that tired refrain by getting 15 points out of their last 10 games, seven of which were on the road." ~ Deron White

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6. FC Dallas (9): "Over the last 10 games, they have been the second-best team in the league." ~ Deron White

7. Chicago Fire (5): "Strangely the Fire have not yet officially clinched a playoff spot after failing to win a game since August. The Fire are still likely to make the playoffs, but they certainly will not be riding upward momentum." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

8. Toronto FC (10): "Toronto earned a critical win against RSL at home and now has the easiest matchup of any of the teams fighting for a playoff spot, getting to play the last-place Red Bulls in the final game of the season." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

9. Colorado Rapids (7): "The Rapids will blame their lack of form on their missing wing players, but the real problem is that they've given up an early goal in five of their last six matches." ~ Deron White

10. (tie) New England Revolution (8): "The Revolution pulled themselves together against Chicago but couldn't put the ball in the net, and rarely even try. Strikers have got to be number one, two and three on their wish list, and they'll be wishing hard at Columbus this weekend." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

10. (tie) Real Salt Lake (11): "Last year Real Salt Lake's key weakness was not having a finisher who could score critical goals. This year Real Salt Lake's key weakness is not having a finisher who can score critical goals. The front office failed to address the issue and the general manager (Garth Lagerwey) needs to be held accountable for not addressing RSL's key need, especially with Real poised to miss the playoffs." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

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12. D.C. United (12): "D.C. is done, but could be further undone by fickle spoiler Kansas City." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

13. San Jose Earthquakes (14): "The Earthquakes aren't finishing the season particularly well, but some of the teams that have led all season are finishing particularly poorly. The Earthquakes have contributed by playing the giant killer's role. But they still haven't shown a great deal of consistency." ~ Deron White

14. Kansas City Wizards (13): "Peter Vermes will be fighting for his job, and it's going to be tough for D.C." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

15. New York Red Bulls (15): "Remember those devices in the movie Men in Black that could erase memories? Red Bull fans wish those devices were real so they could forget the 2009 season." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

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The Examiner.com MLS Power Rankings are a compilation built among four Major League Soccer Examiners. Each writer submits his or her own list and individual commentary. The top-ranked team is awarded 15 points, and the last-place team 1 point. Here are the full numbers: 1. Columbus Crew (60); 2. (tie) Chivas USA (52), Los Angeles Galaxy (52); 4. Houston Dynamo (45); 5. Seattle Sounders FC (44); 6. FC Dallas (41); 7. Chicago Fire (35); 8. Toronto FC (31); 9. Colorado Rapids (28); 10. (tie) New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake (23); 12. D.C. United (16); 13. San Jose Earthquakes (14); 14. Kansas City Wizards (12); 15. New York Red Bulls (4).

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Charlie Corr is a freelance sports writer based in Chicago. In addition to his Major League Soccer duties, he is the Chicago Sports Examiner and the creator of a Chicago-based soccer Web site, SlideTackles.net.

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