With Pride on the Line, NE Revs Seek Redemption Against the Crew

When the whistle blows at Lower.com Field this Saturday, the scene couldn’t be more different between Columbus Crew and New England Revolution. On one side, you’ve got Columbus, the reigning MLS Cup champs, already locked in as the second seed in the Eastern Conference and with their playoff spot secure. On the other side, New England is already looking ahead to 2025, out of playoff contention and with very little to get excited about in this final stretch.

Columbus Crew is flying high with 60 points on the board, a record for the club. If they win their last two games, they could hit an impressive 66 points. That’s no small feat. Their rock-solid campaign, both at home and on the road, has made the Crew a team to fear. With nine wins at home and a strong showing away (8-3-5), they’ve proven they can take down anyone, anywhere. They’ve earned that No. 2 spot in the East. New England better brace themselves because this Columbus wall isn’t going to make things easy, even if there’s not a ton at stake.

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On the flip side, the New England Revolution is in one of those moments where the most important thing is salvaging what’s left of their pride. They’re sitting way down in 14th place with a measly 31 points in 32 games. Not exactly a season to be proud of, especially away from home, where they’ve suffered 11 losses and picked up just 4 wins. But don’t sleep on a team that’s got nothing to lose. Sometimes, those teams with no pressure can pull off a surprise. And with Caleb Porter at the helm for the Revs, the mental game might be worth keeping an eye on. He knows how the Crew operates. Could he use that to his advantage?

Even though the Revs are out of the playoff race, Coach Porter isn’t about to let the team throw in the towel. He’s already made it clear that, despite a season to forget, there’s still plenty on the line. Every player is being watched, evaluated, and maybe even auditioning for 2025. Caleb talked about how these last two games are a chance for the players to prove they deserve to be part of next year’s squad. It’s like that employee who, even when they know the company’s closing, keeps delivering results until the very last second, just to show they deserve a shot somewhere else.

And this is where things get interesting. Columbus is playing free, but with one eye on their playoff prep. Meanwhile, New England is playing for their future, like it’s their last chance to impress before the season officially wraps up. Could this mix of emotions lead to a more open game, with more scoring opportunities? Will we see a more fluid, maybe even fun, game?

For Columbus, with or without star forward Cucho Hernández, the winning mentality stays intact. They want to close out the regular season in style and carry that momentum into the playoffs. With a talented squad and smart leadership under Wilfried Nancy, they’ve shown they can handle anything thrown their way. Oh, and let’s not forget that the Crew hammered New England 5-1 back in June. It was a beatdown! But did the Revs learn their lesson, or are they in for another thrashing?

New England does have some young talent, like Will Sands, who’s just bounced back from injury and returned in top form, which could offer a glimmer of hope for a surprising performance. The kid had some solid moments before getting hurt and now faces his old club. Could there be any bigger motivation to shine? And let’s not forget the Crew’s missing players, like DeJuan Jones, who could also be a game-changer for the home team.

In any case, no matter what goes down this Saturday, the Crew’s already got their eyes on the playoffs, and the Revs are focused on 2025 planning. But don’t get it twisted: even without major immediate consequences, this game carries a huge symbolic weight. For Columbus, it’s about showing their strength before the big stage. For New England, it’s about pride—and maybe even a little bit of dignity.