Final 2016 MLS Power Rankings

The 2016 MLS regular season has come to a close, and this week we look back at an entire year's worth of results, form and performances in determining one last Power Ranking ahead of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Here's how each team ranks at the end of the 2016 regular season:

1. FC Dallas

• Achievements: MLS Supporters' Shield, U.S. Open Cup
• First Playoff Match: Western Conference Semi-Final (Oct. 30)

FC Dallas finished the season on top of the table, won the most games, and finished with at least two trophies! Oscar Pareja's side will now compete for even more with the 2016 MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions League titles.

2. New York Red Bulls

• Achievements: 1st in Eastern Conference, Golden Boot winner
• First Playoff Match: Eastern Conference Semi-Final (Oct. 30)

The New York Red Bulls surged to the top of the East in an incredible turnaround year, posting the best goal difference (+17) in the league courtesy of the Golden Boot-winning Bradley Wright-Phillips, who scored 24 times.

3. Colorado Rapids

• Achievements: Undefeated at home (11-0-6), fewest goals against (32)
• First Playoff Match: Western Conference Semi-Final (Oct. 30)

This is not the same Colorado Rapids side that finished 18th place last season. Pablo Mastroeni's team became a defensive monster in 2016, conceded the fewest goals (32), maintained a perfect home record, and cruised into playoffs.

4. Toronto FC

• Achievements: Franchise-best 53 points, 2016 Canadian champion
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round vs. Philadelphia (Oct. 26)

Toronto FC ace Sebastian Giovinco posted a league-leading 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) and a typically frail Reds back four became mighty in 2016. Toronto now hosts a franchise-first home playoff game at BMO Field.

5. New York City FC

• Achievements: Franchise-first playoff berth, most goals scored (62)
• First Playoff Match: Eastern Conference Semi-Final (Oct. 30)

Under new management with Patrick Vieira as head coach, New York City FC used its star trio of Frank Lampard, David Villa, and Andrea Pirlo to score a league-leading 62 goals, though the team remains susceptible at the back.

6. LA Galaxy

• Achievements: Most matches drawn (16), most DPs in a single season
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round vs. RSL (Oct. 26)

The LA Galaxy's luster never fades, does it? Ashley Cole, Nigel De Jong, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Giovani Dos Santos, and Landon Donovan all called Los Angeles home this year, but how many will even be back in 2017?

7. Real Salt Lake

• Achievements: Most effective front three (Plata, Martinez, Movsisyan)
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round at LA Galaxy (Oct. 26)

Real Salt Lake enjoyed a decent 2016 season but did stutter at times. A few more wins and this side would be a strong contender in the West. As it stands, RSL will need to shed its inconsistencies but has a good base to build on.

8. Sporting Kansas City

• Achievements: Having Steve Harvey as a supporter
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round at Seattle (Oct. 27)

Sporting Kansas City started 2016 with so much promise before falling into something of a rut in April and May. However, once June came along, Dom Dwyer and Co. turned it around and cruised into playoffs by Decision Day.

9. Seattle Sounders

• Achievements: Only Cascadia side to qualify for playoffs
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round vs. Sporting KC (Oct. 27)

The Seattle Sounders parted ways with long-serving head coach Sigi Schmid and struggled to replace both Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey. Then Nicolas Lodeiro came to town, and alongside Jordan Morris, Seattle soared.

10. D.C. United

• Achievements: Soccer-specific stadium plans finally approved
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round vs. Montreal (Oct. 27)

It was a tale of two seasons for D.C. United as the team struggled to get going in the first half of the year before finding their collective feet late in the season. Ben Olsen's side might be getting hot at just the right moment.

11. Philadelphia Union

• Achievements: MLS SuperDraft winner, signed Alejandro Bedoya
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round at Toronto (Oct. 26)

The Philadelphia Union skewed young and hungry this season and it paid off tremendously. Rookie Keegan Rosenberry played every single minute of the 2016 campaign and signing Alejandro Bedoya gave the Union its star figure.

12. Montreal Impact

• Achievements: Kept Didier Drogba at start of season
• First Playoff Match: Knockout Round at D.C. United (Oct. 27)

The Montreal Impact's 2016 season was largely overshadowed by "L'affaire Drogba" as Didier Drogba was first linked to a Chelsea coaching role at the start of the season, then seemed to abandon the team in conflict at the end.

13. Portland Timbers

• Achievements: One of two MLS Cup finalists not to qualify for playoffs
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

For the first time in league history, both finalists from last year's MLS Cup final failed to make the playoffs the following season. While this Portland Timbers side remains largely unchanged, the results most certainly weren't the same.

14. New England Revolution

• Achievements: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

Not much to say for the New England Revolution in 2016, a side that tied the Union for points in the Eastern Conference but missed so many chances earlier in the year to claim just the one point needed to clinch playoffs.

15. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Achievements: 2016 Cascadia Cup champions
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

Though the 2016 campaign did not go the way Carl Robinson envisioned, the Vancouver Whitecaps still managed one silver lining in the form of the 2016 Cascadia Cup, procured on the final day of the regular season.

16. Orlando City

• Achievements: Added Julio Baptista and Antonio Nocerino
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

Besides acquiring a few star names in Julio Baptista and Antonio Nocerino, Orlando City did not have many positives of note in 2016. Keeping Kaka and Cyle Larin was great, but watching fellow sophomores NYCFC soar must hurt.

17. San Jose Earthquakes

• Achievements: Didn't finish last in the Western Conference
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

The San Jose Earthquakes were largely irrelevant in 2016 and that's exactly why they get the smallest blurb in our final Power Rankings.

18. Houston Dynamo

• Achievements: Defeated FC Dallas 5-0 in Week 2
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

The Houston Dynamo seemed destined for a turnaround campaign in 2016 after destroying Texas rivals FC Dallas 5-0 early in the season, but that was as good as it got for this side as manager Owen Coyle departed with little fanfare.

19. Columbus Crew

• Achievements: One of two MLS Cup finalists not to qualify for playoffs
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

Coming off the heartbreak of a 2015 MLS Cup final loss, the Columbus Crew were dealt a huge blow when in-fighting forced Kei Kamara out of the team. Ola Kamara stemmed the bleeding but it was already too little, too late.

20. Chicago Fire

• Achievements: Back-to-back Wooden Spoon winners, most losses (17)
• First Playoff Match: Did not qualify

Say what you will of this consistently poor Chicago Fire side, but don't call them quitters. Veljko Paunovic won't be happy with the 2016 season as back-to-back last place finishes spell deeper problems in this big-market franchise.