2016 MLS Power Rankings: Week 27

Week 27 of the 2016 MLS season gave fans four days of fixtures to enjoy as a midweek clash between eastern and western foes paved way for a full weekend of regular season action.

Orlando City kicked things off with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday, but the Lions' week was ruined on Sunday with a visit to the LA Galaxy that resulted in a 4-2 loss.

Here's how each team ranks this week:

1. Toronto FC (+2)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, Sept. 18 vs. NY Red Bulls (5:00 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC needed to answer the question of whether the Reds could win without Sebastian Giovinco. Jozy Altidore answered with an emphatic "Yes."

2. FC Dallas (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. NYCFC (7:00 p.m. ET)

FC Dallas needed a win to keep a healthy gap atop the league in the MLS Supporters' Shield race, but suffered a loss that puts the title in doubt.

3. New York City FC (-1)

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Dallas (7:00 p.m. ET)

New York City FC will look to take as many points out of its last five matches in the hunt for first place, but Toronto FC is looking harder and harder to catch.

4. LA Galaxy (+1)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Real Salt Lake, 4-2 win vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, Sept. 18 at Sporting KC (2:00 p.m. ET)

The LA Galaxy blew a lead over RSL, but made up for it with a comprehensive win over Orlando. Landon Donovan is back, too!

Related: Galaxy beat Orlando City in Donovan's return

5. Colorado Rapids (+2)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. San Jose (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Colorado Rapids went to Dallas and topped the league leader with the sort of ruthless efficiency befitting of a champion.

6. Real Salt Lake (-2)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. LA Galaxy, 1-0 loss vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Houston (9:30 p.m. ET)

There aren't many more matches left for Real Salt Lake to stake its claim as a force atop the West, and faltering twice to conference foes doesn't help at all.

7. New York Red Bulls (-1)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, Sept. 18 at Toronto (5:00 p.m. ET)

The New York Red Bulls once again squandered points late in a match, and that's been the team's biggest weakness in 2016. The clock is ticking.

8. Philadelphia Union (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 at Portland (6:00 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union will want more out of future Eastern Conference clashes. A 1-1 draw against Montreal felt more like a loss after conceding late.

9. Montreal Impact (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. New England (7:30 p.m. ET)

The Montreal Impact scored an 88th-minute goal to wrestle a point out of the Union, but the match nearly ended with a loss - something this team can't afford.

10. Portland Timbers (+1)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Philadelphia (6:00 p.m. ET)

The Portland Timbers are jockeying for position in the West, so a comfortable 1-0 win over RSL was absolutely necessary.

11. Sporting Kansas City (-1)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, Sept. 18 vs. LA Galaxy (2:00 p.m. ET)

Sporting Kansas City can't afford any more slip-ups with five matches left in the season. A five-point gap over the Whitecaps isn't guaranteed to last, after all.

Related - Watch: Sporting KC's Espinoza laces 25-yard missile

12. Seattle Sounders (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Vancouver (4:00 p.m. ET)

The Seattle Sounders may be better off with Nicolas Lodeiro, who rescued a point against San Jose, but a better team effort is needed moving forward.

13. D.C. United (-)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: Friday, Sept. 16 at Chicago (8:00 p.m. ET)

D.C. United did well to fight back and earn a draw against the Red Bulls, but Ben Olsen's side needs a boost in the "W" column to secure a playoff berth.

14. Vancouver Whitecaps (+2)

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Columbus Crew
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 at Seattle (4:00 p.m. ET)

Inexplicable though it may seem, the Vancouver Whitecaps remain firmly rooted in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference - how? We don't know.

15. Orlando City (-1)

• Last Week: 4-1 win vs. Montreal Impact, 4-2 loss vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Columbus (7:30 p.m. ET)

Up and down. So the story goes for Orlando City, with the team falling on either end of a one-sided result last week. New England is catching up, fast.

16. San Jose Earthquakes (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Seattle Sounders
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 at Colorado (9:00 p.m. ET)

Chris Wondolowski keeps scoring goals, but the San Jose Earthquakes need more from the rest of the team to squeak into the playoffs.

17. New England Revolution

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 10 vs. NYCFC (8:00 p.m. ET)

The New England Revolution remain a competitive team in each match, despite their flaws. Wholesale changes might not be needed.

18. Chicago Fire (-)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: Friday, Sept. 16 vs. D.C. United (8:00 p.m. ET)

The Chicago Fire actually put in a valiant effort against TFC, but an awful howler from Sean Johnson gifted the Reds all three points away from home.

19. Houston Dynamo (+1)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Sporting Kansas City
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 at Real Salt Lake (9:30 p.m. ET)

As poor as the Houston Dynamo have been this season, at least this team is scoring goals. It pays off sometimes, but a leaky defense once again faltered in a 3-3 draw with Sporting Kansas City.

20. Columbus Crew (-1)

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, Sept. 17 at Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET)

The Columbus Crew is a walking disaster. Change is needed across the board.