MLS Power Rankings, Week 12: Fire, Union surge higher as Portland sinks

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 to craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 12 of the 2017 season:

1. Toronto FC (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: May 26 vs. Columbus (7:00 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC's winning streak came to an end at six, but a draw against the Red Bulls rolls its undefeated streak to seven, which is just fine for MLS' best team.

2. FC Dallas (-)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: May 28 vs. Houston (8:00 p.m. ET)

FC Dallas suffered its very first loss of the 2017 season at the hands of San Jose, and with it, every team in MLS has now tasted defeat. Game on.

3. Sporting Kansas City (+1)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Seattle, 2-0 loss vs. Vancouver
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at Colorado (8:00 p.m. ET)

A win, a loss, it's all pretty normal for Sporting Kansas City. Peter Vermes' side will be happy with points as they come, and first place in the West is sweet, too.

4. New York City FC (+2)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Real Salt Lake, 3-0 win vs. Orlando
• Next MLS Match: May 28 at Atlanta (5:00 p.m. ET)

New York City FC has grown into a real threat this season under Patrick Vieira, and that'll have every other team worried when playing at Yankee Stadium.

5. Portland Timbers (-2)

• Last Week: 4-1 loss vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at Seattle (2:30 p.m. ET)

The Portland Timbers started 2017 oh so well, but things haven't been so good in recent weeks. A Cascadia Cup rivalry clash should spice things up, though.

6. Orlando City (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. San Jose, 3-0 loss vs. NYCFC
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET)

Orlando City suffered its first loss at its new home ground while also drawing San Jose midweek. It's a pair of results the Lions will hope to forget, quickly.

7. Chicago Fire (+3)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Colorado, 1-0 win vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: Bye week

The Chicago Fire are on fire (sorry) due in large part to the red-hot form (sorry again) of Nemanja Nikolic. Also, Bastian Schweinsteiger is amazing.

8. Houston Dynamo (-1)

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Philadelphia, 4-1 loss vs. Atlanta
• Next MLS Match: May 28 at Dallas (8:00 p.m. ET)

The Houston Dynamo took two steps back this week with a pair of losses and will need to regroup ahead of the Texas Derby, with "El Capitan" on the line.

9. Columbus Crew (-1)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: May 26 at Toronto (7:00 p.m. ET)

The Columbus Crew do a lot of things well, but still have a lot of work ahead of them this season. Winning and losing six matches apiece tells the story of inconsistency.

Related - Watch: A flash of inspiration guides Kamara's shot

10. New York Red Bulls (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. New England (7:30 p.m. ET)

The New York Red Bulls were lucky to escape with a draw against Toronto, as Jozy Altidore's penalty was thwarted and a smart offside call saved the day.

11. Atlanta United (-)

• Last Week: 4-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: May 28 vs. NYCFC (5:00 p.m. ET)

A big win is just what the doctor ordered for Atlanta United, and this expansion outfit has Miguel Almiron's hat-trick to thank for this latest victory.

12. Vancouver Whitecaps (+1)

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. D.C. United (7:00 p.m. ET)

The Vancouver Whitecaps are figuring themselves out pretty quickly and seem to have learned a few lessons from some early-season woes.

Related - Watch: Techera volley finishes silky smooth Whitecaps attack

13. Seattle Sounders (-1)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Sporting KC, 1-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. Portland (2:30 p.m. ET)

The Seattle Sounders may have taken all three points out of RSL, but that's the minimum requirement at this point. However, the season is long and things change.

Related - 1-on-1 with Cristian Roldan: A rivalry turned friendship with Jordan Morris

14. New England Revolution (-)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Columbus Crew
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at NY Red Bulls (7:30 p.m. ET)

The New England Revolution picked up all three points against Columbus and will look for more of the same against an Eastern Conference foe this week.

15. San Jose Earthquakes (+1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Orlando, 1-0 win vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. LA Galaxy (10:00 p.m. ET)

A win and a draw sees the San Jose Earthquakes skip up these standings, and while they've been underrated in the past, this might be a dark horse side.

16. LA Galaxy (-1)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at San Jose (10:00 p.m. ET)

A win is fine for the LA Galaxy, though anything less against Minnesota would be cause for concern. Let's see if this form holds against a surging San Jose side.

Related - Watch: Dos Santos' fabulous flicked volley stuns Loons

17. Montreal Impact (+1)

• Last Week: 4-1 win vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: Bye week

The Montreal Impact need more wins like this to recapture some of the magic of its 2016 season, and a big win over Portland will inspire a bit of confidence.

Related: Piatti becomes Montreal's all-time leading regular-season scorer

18. Philadelphia Union (+2)

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Houston, 2-1 win vs. Colorado
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at Real Salt Lake (8:00 p.m. ET)

Four wins in a row!? It's a new club record, and certainly a far cry from its low point ... from just last month. The Philadelphia Union have us all bamboozled.

19. Minnesota United (-2)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. Orlando (8:00 p.m. ET)

Minnesota United can take solace in the fact that goals haven't been too hard to come by, but a porous backline is letting the Loons down over and over.

20. D.C. United (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: May 27 at Vancouver (7:00 p.m. ET)

D.C. United would be bottom of the table if not for a pair of other teams in MLS.

21. Real Salt Lake (+1)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. NYCFC, 1-0 loss vs. Seattle
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. Philadelphia (8:00 p.m. ET)

Real Salt Lake is having a really rough season, and would be bottom of the bunch if not for one team playing much, much worse.

Related - Watch: Salt Lake's Rimando sets MLS saves standard

22. Colorado Rapids (-1)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Chicago, 2-1 loss vs. Philadelphia
• Next MLS Match: May 27 vs. Sporting KC (8:00 p.m. ET)

The Colorado Rapids need to score more goals. We've been saying this for the last three years. How long can this problem go ignored?

Related - Watch: Calvert sent off for returning to field without permission

Further reading:

• Report: Beckham's Miami stadium faces June 6 deadline
• Manchester derby to get 1st foreign billing in Texas

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)