How the rankings work
These power rankings aren’t a subjective result of one person’s opinion, but use a stats-based model for each team to get a more in-depth look at where clubs actually stand. The model weighs points per game and strength of schedule most heavily, with goal difference and expected goal difference weighted incrementally less. This is an attempt to show not just how teams have done in the table, but how they’ve played on the field. If you’re interested in the methodology, the full model can be viewed here.
These power rankings aren’t an attempt to predict the final table, just to provide readers with a different angle from which to judge teams. A helpful way to think of it is if a team is significantly higher in the rankings than they are in the table, they’re probably underperforming. If they’re significantly lower in the rankings than in the table, they’re overperforming.
Week 23 Power Rankings
1. NYCFC (-)
Tied 2. Nashville SC (↑3)
Tied 2. New England Revolution(↑1)
4. Seattle Sounders (-)
5. Sporting KC (↓3)
6. Colorado Rapids (-)
7. LA Galaxy (-)
8. DC United (-)
9. Minnesota United (-)
10. Orlando City (-)
11. Philadelphia Union (-)
12. Real Salt Lake (↑1)
13. LAFC (↑1)
14. CF Montréal (↓1)
15. FC Dallas (-)
16. New York Red Bulls (-)
17. Atlanta United (-)
18. Vancouver Whitecaps (-)
19. San Jose Earthquakes (-)
20. Portland Timbers (↑1)
21. Columbus Crew (↓1)
22. Chicago Fire (-)
23.Inter Miami CF (↑1)
24. Austin FC(↓1)
25. Houston Dynamo (-)
26. FC Cincinnati (-)
27. Toronto FC (-)
It’s a holiday edition of the power rankings covering an abbreviated weekend of MLS action, so I’ll keep this short. Nashville SC beat NYCFC convincingly at home to push them into second place with a 9.03 score, their highest of the year. New England were less convincing against Philadelphia Union, but put in a gutsy performance on the road to earn three points, even down a man for most of the half. The Revs also have a 9.03 score, making it a two-way tie in second place.
Sporting KC are this week’s big losers, falling 4-0 on the road to LAFC. The scoreline was a completely fair reflection of the run of play; it was a shockingly poor performance from SKC, who have been one of the league’s best for most of the year. LAFC get a nice bump, but were far enough behind Real Salt Lake that it’s wasn’t enough to catch them.
Colorado Rapids got a late winner, and they’re now just a point behind Seattle Sounders in the table. They’ve been on an upswing since Week 12, and are close to breaking into the top five in the power rankings.
Inter Miami move up one spot after a stoppage time winner in Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati continue to drop, and they’re in quite a significant hole at the bottom, 0.40 points ahead of last-placed Toronto FC.
The power rankings will be back next week with the usual projected table.
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