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MLS Power Rankings, Week 8: Did the Atomic Ant earn a top-5 spot for TFC?

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the 2017 MLS Power Rankings, where we rank each team after each week with consideration to form, latest results, stats, and some other intangibles to try and craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 8 of the 2017 season:

1. Portland Timbers (-)

  • Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Dallas (8:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
5-2-1 18 10

The Portland Timbers turned around its first loss of 2017 by beating Cascadia rival Vancouver, with Darlington Nagbe scoring a stunning opening goal.

2. FC Dallas (-)

  • Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Sporting Kansas City
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Portland (8:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
4-0-2 8 3

These are the games that separate Supporters' Shield winners from playoff contenders. FC Dallas did the job against Sporting KC and now faces Portland.

3. Orlando City (-)

  • Last Week: 2-1 win vs. LA Galaxy
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Colorado (3:55 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
5-1-0 8 5

Orlando City has a Canadian international striker to thank for all three points against NYCFC. The Lions look indomitable in the early goings of 2017.

4. Atlanta United (+1)

  • Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake
  • Next MLS Match: April 30 vs. D.C. United (3:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
3-2-2 17 8

Atlanta United, expansion team? Only by name. Tata Martino has assembled an incredibly dangerous cast of characters that have taken MLS by storm.

5. Toronto FC (+3)

  • Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Chicago Fire
  • Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. Houston (7:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-1-4 10 7

Sebastian Giovinco is back in form and Toronto FC is all the better for it. Poor Chicago never stood a chance against the Atomic Ant.

6. New York Red Bulls (-)

  • Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Columbus Crew
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Chicago (7:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
3-3-1 7 9

The New York Red Bulls picked up yet another 2-0 win this week and continue to impose themselves on Eastern Conference opposition without fear.

7. Sporting Kansas City (-3)

  • Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. FC Dallas
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Real Salt Lake
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
3-1-3 6 3

Sporting Kansas City suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of Dallas and with other teams moving up, Peter Vermes' side sees a bit of a drop.

8. Seattle Sounders (+1)

  • Last Week: 3-0 win vs. LA Galaxy
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. New England (10:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-2-3 11 8

The Seattle Sounders picked up a big win against L.A. and while the Galaxy have struggled this year, that takes nothing away from a solid performance.

9. New York City FC (-2)

  • Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Orlando City
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Columbus (7:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
3-3-1 11 7

New York City FC felt Jason Kreis' revenge against the purple-clad Lions and questions will be asked of its defense as Cyle Larin ran rampant once more.

10. Houston Dynamo (-)

  • Last Week: 2-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes
  • Next MLS Match: April 28 at Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
4-2-1 15 11

The Houston Dynamo keep churning out positive results as Erick "Cubo" Torres rediscovers his finest form under Wilmer Cabrera.

11. Chicago Fire (-)

  • Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Toronto FC
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at NY Red Bulls (7:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
3-2-2 10 10

Bastian Schweinsteiger got his first taste of defeat in MLS as the Chicago Fire dropped an away result to Toronto - back to the drawing board? Perhaps.

12. Columbus Crew (-)

  • Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. NYCFC (7:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
4-3-1 11 10

The Columbus Crew suffered a setback against the Red Bulls and now host another outfit from New York as the Eastern Conference begins to heat up.

13. New England Revolution (+2)

  • Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. San Jose, 2-2 draw vs. D.C. United
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Seattle (10:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-3-3 11 11

A pair of draws is acceptable for the New England Revolution at this stage of the season but it took an own goal to secure just the one point this week.

14. San Jose Earthquakes (-1)

  • Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. New England, 2-0 loss vs. Houston
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-3-3 8 10

The San Jose Earthquakes failed to take a point in two away matches and now head to Minnesota to try and take three back to California for the week after.

15. D.C. United (+2)

  • Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. New England Revolution
  • Next MLS Match: April 30 at Atlanta (3:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-3-2 6 12

D.C. United needs to turn draws into wins and an unfortunate own goal denied Ben Olsen's side all three points in this week's closely contested tilt.

16. Montreal Impact (+2)

  • Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Philadelphia Union
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Vancouver (3:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
1-2-4 10 12

The Montreal Impact turned around a 3-0 deficit in stunning fashion and while a point on the road is usually just fine, this result definitely felt more like a win.

17. LA Galaxy (-2)

  • Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. LA Galaxy
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Philadelphia Union
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-5-0 8 13

Five losses for the LA Galaxy spells the story of the worst-performing team in 2017 thus far. Is Curt Onalfo really the right man to replace Bruce Arena?

18. Real Salt Lake (-2)

  • Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Atlanta United
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Sporting KC (8:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-4-2 9 12

Is Atlanta amazing or is Real Salt Lake awful? Mike Petke's first loss with RSL came at the hands of Major League Soccer's most exciting newcomer.

19. Vancouver Whitecaps (-)

  • Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Portland Timbers
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Montreal (3:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-4-1 9 13

The Vancouver Whitecaps would have loved to beat both Seattle and Portland in back-to-back weeks, but, alas, Cascadia Cup glory isn't that easy to find.

20. Minnesota United (+1)

  • Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. San Jose (8:00 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
2-4-2 13 24

Well, that wasn't so hard for Minnesota United, was it? A win over the Rapids gives Adrian Heath's side a second victory to celebrate; more will surely follow.

21. Colorado Rapids (-1)

  • Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Minnesota United
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at Orlando (3:55 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
1-4-1 5 9

The Colorado Rapids are in a downward spiral after enjoying a strong 2016. Losing to Minnesota exposed some glaring holes in Pablo Mastroeni's side.

22. Philadelphia Union (-)

  • Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Montreal Impact
  • Next MLS Match: April 29 at LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET)
Record (W-L-D) Goals For Goals Against
0-4-3 8 14

The Philadelphia Union held a 3-0 lead over the Impact, then blew it. Jim Curtin's side remains winless in 2017 and a coaching change could be coming.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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