Examiner.com's MLS Power Rankings: Through Week 29

October 7, 3:18 PMMLS ExaminerCharlie Corr

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Previous 2009 MLS Power Rankings

• 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)

Though they saw a surprising end to an undefeated home streak, the Columbus Crew kept their unanimous first-place standing in Examiner.com's MLS Power Rankings.

Former Crew and current Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid saw his squad top Columbus, 1-0, last week, and the Sounders moved up from eighth to sixth this week in the rankings.

The Los Angeles Galaxy earned a win over the Chicago Fire and rose from fourth place last week to a second-place tie with the Houston Dynamo.

The top three in the rankings represent the only teams to have secured a playoff berth at this stage.

EXAMINER.COM'S MLS POWER RANKINGS

Through games played Oct. 4 (last week's ranking in parentheses)

1. Columbus Crew (1): "A general rule in sports is to watch out for the team that most needs to win. Based on this rule, it was not surprising to see Columbus, who as already clinched a playoff berth, fall to Seattle who is still fighting to earn a playoff bid." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

2. (tie) Houston Dynamo (2): "The Dynamo should feel fortunate to have a playoff spot locked up. One victory in their last six games is a bit of a concern, but they have two more league matches to somehow find some needed momentum." ~ Charlie Corr

2. (tie) Los Angeles Galaxy (4): "The Galaxy have made it to the playoffs for the first time in four years and are feeling pretty good about themselves. David Beckham and Landon Donovan are in top form and radiating determination, and this week have a bye to recharge." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

4. (tie) Chicago Fire (3): "For a team that's supposed to be among the best, the Fire really should have clinched a playoff spot by now." ~ Deron White

4. (tie) Chivas USA (5): "Even without two games in hand, the win over DCU confirmed that Chivas is back on the way up and D.C. is on the express elevator down. This week, Chivas faces Kansas City, which is unpredictable except that Claudio Lopez is always dangerous." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

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6. Seattle Sounders FC (8): "A bad road team ends the Crew's gargantuan home unbeaten streak? Sigi Schmid and his club proved many doubters wrong, including myself." ~ Charlie Corr

7. New England Revolution (6 tie): "The Revolution are trying to make the playoffs fielding mostly rookies, and it may not have been pretty, but they tied up Colorado, 1-1, Saturday night. Battling the technical veterans of the Columbus Crew this week is another matter, but anything is possible." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

8. Colorado Rapids (6 tie): "The Rapids' struggle to gain points has them looking over their shoulders. They may crawl into the playoffs at 40 points, but a win would do wonders." ~ Deron White

9. Toronto FC (9): "The team outside the top eight that has the best chance of making the playoffs. Will they seize the opportunity?" ~ Deron White

10. Real Salt Lake (11): "The first week of an 18-day layoff did not start well for RSL as the Sounders and Chivas both managed to earn three points, distancing themselves further from Real on the table. On the positive side, RSL did beat the BYU soccer team in a scrimmage, and as Monty Python's Eric Idle would sing, 'Always look on the bright side of life.'" ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

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11. (tie) D.C. United (10): "With three straight losses in league play, United's playoff chances now currently sit on life support." ~ Jeffrey Krotosky

11. (tie) FC Dallas (12): "Dallas dug a hole and has done an admirable job of climbing out. Unfortunately Dallas needs to win three straight to have a hope of fully resurrecting this season." ~ Deron White

13. Kansas City Wizards (13): "K.C. has been out of the picture for quite sometime, but a current 3-1-2 stretch and a tough October schedule are forcing everyone to take notice again." ~ Charlie Corr

14. San Jose Earthquakes (14): "The Quakes beat New York, but two games in three days with Dallas and Toronto probably won't get them more than a point, if that." ~ L.E. Eisenmenger

15. New York Red Bulls (15): "Positive thoughts Red Bulls fans - the Red Bulls have not actually lost 18 times. Rather, they have just discovered 18 ways not to win." ~ 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) Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy (53); 4. (tie) Chicago Fire, Chivas USA (47); 6. Seattle Sounders FC (39); 7. New England Revolution (35); 8. Colorado Rapids (34); 9. Toronto FC (28); 10. Real Salt Lake (21); 11. (tie) D.C. United, FC Dallas (19); 13. Kansas City Wizards (13); 14. San Jose Earthquakes (8); 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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