MLS Power Rankings, Week 18: Fire claim top spot as RSL hits rock bottom

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 18 of the 2017 season:

1. Chicago Fire (+1)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: July 5 at Portland (10:30 p.m. ET)

Another week, another 4-0 win for the Chicago Fire, who have grown into the role of 2017's turnaround team off Nemanja Nikolic's excellent scoring form.

2. Toronto FC (-1)

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: July 5 at Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET)

A fatigued and shorthanded Toronto FC succumbed to a third loss of 2017 in a trip to Texas. Surviving the summer with plenty absent for the Gold Cup is key.

3. New York City FC (-)

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: July 5 at Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)

It's business as usual for New York City FC, who made short work of the Loons and now look to put even more pressure on Eastern Conference opposition.

4. Sporting Kansas City (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: July 6 vs. Philadelphia (8:30 p.m. ET)

Sporting KC will be more than happy with a point against Portland, especially as many first-team stars - Dom Dwyer included - are off on national team duty.

5. FC Dallas (+1)

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: July 4 vs. D.C. United (8:30 p.m. ET)

FC Dallas flexed its muscles against the league's top team and with a comprehensive win over Toronto, Dallas enjoyed a bump up here, too.

6. Atlanta United (+1)

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Columbus Crew
• Next MLS Match: July 4 vs. San Jose (7:00 p.m. ET)

Two wins in a row for Atlanta United has Tata Martino's men feeling good going into the second stanza of 2017. This free-scoring side is starting to look scary.

7. Houston Dynamo (-2)

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: July 5 vs. Montreal (8:30 p.m. ET)

It's back to the drawing board for the Houston Dynamo, who took a walloping at Colorado and now face another "down-and-out" side on the rise in Montreal.

8. Orlando City (-)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake,
• Next MLS Match: July 5 vs. Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET)

A win at last for Orlando City, who were without victory in four matches before a much-needed visit to Rio Tinto Stadium gave the Lions a three-point reward.

9. New York Red Bulls (-)

• Last Week: Bye Week
• Next MLS Match: July 5 at New England (7:30 p.m. ET)

The New York Red Bulls had a bye week, and return to action against a hurting New England side.

10. Seattle Sounders (-)

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: July 4 at Colorado (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Seattle Sounders were given a week off as well, and next head to Colorado to take on a resurgent Rapids outfit.

11. Portland Timbers (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: July 5 vs. Chicago (10:30 p.m. ET)

What happened to the Portland Timbers? Caleb Porter's side kicked off 2017 with a bang but is now winless in its last four league tilts.

12. San Jose Earthquakes (+2)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: July 4 at Atlanta (7:00 p.m. ET)

New head coach Chris Leitch kicked off his tenure at the helm of the San Jose Earthquakes with a late come-from-behind California Clasico victory. Not bad.

13. Columbus Crew (-1)

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Atlanta United
• Next MLS Match: July 4 at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. ET)

It's one week up, the next down for the Columbus Crew, who failed to ride the wave of momentum gained last week and lost without a whimper to Atlanta.

14. LA Galaxy (-1)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: July 4 vs. Real Salt Lake (10:30 p.m. ET)

The LA Galaxy blew a lead against California rivals San Jose and will be looking for more against a battered RSL to commemorate the Fourth of July.

15. Philadelphia Union (+3)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: July 6 at Sporting KC (8:30 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union continued their resurgence with another emphatic win, and will look to push themselves back into the playoff picture post-haste.

16. Vancouver Whitecaps (-1)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: July 5 vs. NYCFC (10:00 p.m. ET)

There's no shame in losing to the top team in the league, and for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Yordy Reyna's return is silver lining enough.

17. Minnesota United (-1)

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: July 4 vs. Columbus (7:00 p.m. ET)

Minnesota United returned to the familiar feeling of a loss, and while Adrian Heath's side has shown glimpses of quality, the bad far outweighs the good.

18. New England Revolution (-1)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next MLS Match: July 5 at NY Red Bulls (7:30 p.m. ET)

Make that three losses in a row against Eastern Conference sides. The New England Revolution have lost their way, and are unlikely to find it this season.

19. Montreal Impact (+2)

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: July 5 at Houston (8:30 p.m. ET)

Now that's more like it. Fresh off a Canadian Championship loss to Toronto, the Montreal Impact responded with a solid win at last. More like this, please.

20. Colorado Rapids (+2)

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: July 4 vs. Seattle (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Colorado Rapids won, and did so by scoring multiple goals? It may be a shock, but that's what happened this week as the Rapids sputtered back to life.

21. D.C. United (-1)

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: July 4 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET)

Two losses in a row against Eastern opposition is exactly the opposite of what the doctor ordered for D.C. United, who continue to slump downward.

22. Real Salt Lake (-3)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: July 4 at LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET)

It's becoming increasingly unlikely that we'll see what Mike Petke is planning for Real Salt Lake in 2017, as the team's weaknesses continue to be exposed.

Further reading:

• Mid-season reviews: Western Conference and Eastern Conference
• 1-on-1 with Brek Shea: I like Whitecaps 'a lot better' than Orlando
• Toronto FC finally setting the right standard for Canadian talent

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)