MLS Power Rankings, Week 25: RSL, Crew on upswing as Atlanta levels out

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

Here's how each team ranks after Week 25 of the 2017 season:

1. Toronto FC (-)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Philadelphia, 3-1 win vs. Montreal
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 vs. San Jose (5:00 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC is the best team in MLS history. The Reds proved it again this week.

2. New York City FC (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 6 vs. Sporting KC (7:30 p.m. ET)

A draw to round out the Hudson River Derby was just fine for New York City FC, but the club now sits nine points back of Toronto in the Shield race.

3. Seattle Sounders (+2)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Vancouver, 1-1 draw vs. Portland
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 10 vs. LA Galaxy (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Seattle Sounders keep grinding out points and have moved to the top of the Western Conference. Slow and steady wins the race.

4. Sporting Kansas City (-1)

• Last Week: Match Postponed vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 6 at NYCFC (7:30 p.m. ET)

Sporting Kansas City couldn't play in Houston this week due to Hurricane Harvey and only drop down a spot because the Sounders moved up to third.

5. Chicago Fire (-1)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 at Montreal (7:00 p.m. ET)

Four losses in a row have all but dashed Chicago's Supporters' Shield hopes, and while the team's attack is still sharp, its backline is starting to crack.

6. New York Red Bulls (+1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 at Dallas (9:00 p.m. ET)

The New York Red Bulls probably deserved a little more out of their third and final rivalry match against NYCFC, but a point to round off the affair still works.

7. Portland Timbers (+2)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Colorado, 1-1 draw vs. Seattle
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 at NYCFC (5:30 p.m. ET)

The Portland Timbers jump up a pair of spots due to some movement around them, but they deserve the bump nonetheless after taking four points from two tilts.

8. FC Dallas (-2)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Houston, 2-1 loss vs. Columbus
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 vs. NY Red Bulls (9:00 p.m. ET)

FC Dallas has slipped out of the Western Conference playoff spots amid a poor run of form, and if it continues the club will drop out of our top 10, too.

9. Vancouver Whitecaps (+2)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Seattle, 2-1 win vs. Orlando
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 vs. Real Salt Lake (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Vancouver Whitecaps are starting to string together some good wins - and, equally important, some good performances - at exactly the right time.

10. Houston Dynamo (-)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. FC Dallas, Match Postponed vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 vs. Colorado (8:30 p.m. ET)

The Houston Dynamo did well to snatch a point out of Dallas, but unfortunate circumstances in the city postponed a meeting with Sporting KC.

11. Columbus Crew (+4)

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. LA Galaxy, 2-1 win vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 10 vs. Sporting KC (1:00 p.m. ET)

We've been sleeping on the Columbus Crew this season, as the team has quietly gone about mounting its playoff push. The Crew are now sitting pretty at third in the East.

12. Atlanta United (-4)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. D.C. United, 2-2 draw vs. Philadelphia
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 10 vs. Dallas (3:30 p.m. ET)

Atlanta United enjoyed a small break before shooting themselves in the foot against D.C., and then just barely scraped out a point against Philadelphia.

13. San Jose Earthquakes (-1)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake, 3-0 win vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 at Toronto (5:00 p.m. ET)

A 3-0 win in the Cali Clasico? Perfect. But a 4-0 loss to Real Salt Lake? Woof. Not good.

14. Montreal Impact (-1)

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 vs. Chicago (7:00 p.m. ET)

The Montreal Impact are counting down the days left on Sebastian Giovinco's TFC contract; the Atomic Ant is proving to be this side's Kryptonite.

15. Orlando City (-1)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 at New England (7:00 p.m. ET)

Orlando City's players need to give themselves a collective shake of the head and refocus; the door into the playoffs won't be open forever.

16. Real Salt Lake (+3)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. San Jose, 4-1 win vs. Colorado
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 at Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)

Slowly but surely, Real Salt Lake has returned to form, and with a pair of four-goal performances, the team is now set to mount a charge into the playoffs.

17. Philadelphia Union (-1)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Toronto, 2-2 draw vs. Atlanta
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET)

It's back to the drawing board for the Philadelphia Union, as Joshua Yaro made a mistake that might have cost his team points.

18. Minnesota United (-)

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 vs. Philadelphia (8:00 p.m. ET)

Minnesota United earned its first away victory at the expense of Chicago, and deserve a lot of credit for it ... but the side is still staying put at No. 18.

19. New England Revolution (-2)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 vs. Orlando (7:00 p.m. ET)

At this crucial juncture of the year, when points are few and way more valuable, the New England Revolution's loss to D.C. United was pretty much "game over."

20. D.C. United (+1)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Atlanta, 1-0 win vs. New England
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 9 vs. Orlando (7:00 p.m. ET)

Three wins in a row? That's perfect for a D.C. United team finally on beat. While there's not much left to salvage this year, a strong finish is preferable.

21. LA Galaxy (-1)

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Columbus, 3-0 loss vs. San Jose
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 vs. Colorado (11:00 p.m. ET)

The LA Galaxy had a week off to recover and refocus, which came in handy as the team went on to lose two matches with barely a whimper.

22. Colorado Rapids (-1)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Portland, 4-1 loss to Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 2 at LA Galaxy (11:00 p.m. ET)

Another week, and another pair of crushing losses that all but confirmed the Colorado Rapids's 2016 season was an anomaly, and not a sign of progress.

Further reading:

• Toronto FC sets multiple records in professional dismissal of Montreal
• David Villa earns Spain recall after 3-year absence
• Altidore would 'love it' if TFC could keep Montreal out of playoffs

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)