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MLS: Playoff Power Rankings

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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MLS, LAFC, Carlos Vela
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

The MLS Playoffs are here. But which are the teams that have the best chance to win MLS Cup. Well, here are the MLS playoff power rankings to find out.

The whole Major League Soccer season has been building up to this. The playoffs. It is the climax of the season. Knockout football. Who will be named the winners of MLS Cup?

Well, let’s have a look. Here are the power rankings of the 14 teams that will participate in the MLS postseason. These have been ranked specifically with the following question in mind: who has the best chance of winning MLS Cup?

Related Story. MLS: Breaking down the Eastern Conference Playoffs. light

Let’s start with the bottom of the pile, FC Dallas.

With thanks to all of the MLS Multiplex contributors: Josh Bouland, Matt Coles, Ryan Metivier, Drew Hubbard, Chris Smith, Connor Dittmeier, Cameron Albert, Tyler Hanson 

FC Dallas, Paxton Pomykal
FRISCO, TX – JUNE 22: FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal (#18) dribbles up field during the MLS soccer game between FC Dallas and Toronto FC on June 22, 2019, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

14. FC Dallas

FC Dallas snuck into the playoffs via the tightly congested Western Conference, beating out the San Jose Earthquakes on the final day of the season. But while that was a sensational achievement given their youthful approach, it is perhaps a little ambitious to think that they can make a deep playoff run against elite MLS teams.

One of the great strengths of FC Dallas is that they are not dependent on one or two players. Six different players have five or more goals this season; six or more players have three or more assists. It is an impressively deep statistic. But in straight a knockout format where your peak form is more important than depth and consistency like the playoffs, this is not ideal.

Sure, if Paxton Pomykal turns up and dictates the midfield, FC Dallas can nick a result here and there. But can they reel off two or three victories, all away from home, against the very best teams in MLS? It is doubtful, to say the least.

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