MLS Power Rankings, Week 27: New England leaps up as Dallas drops

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 26 and Week 27 of the 2017 season:

1. Toronto FC (-)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC clinched a playoff berth this week and remains the best team in the league today. Greg Vanney's job now? Keep everyone in form and injury-free.

2. New York City FC (-)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Sporting KC, 1-0 loss vs. Portland
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at Colorado (9:00 p.m. ET)

Any Supporters' Shield hopes New York City FC held faded after a loss to Portland as injuries hampered Patrick Vieira's side in recent days.

3. Seattle Sounders (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at Dallas (8:00 p.m. ET)

Seattle Sounders stole a point and have Lamar Neagle to thank for it, but these Western Conference clashes can't end in draws forever.

4. Chicago Fire (+1)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Montreal, 1-1 draw vs. NY Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. D.C. United (8:30 p.m. ET)

A win and a draw is a welcome change for the Chicago Fire, who brushed off a four-game losing streak with a pair of fighting performances that bode well.

5. Sporting Kansas City (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. NYCFC, 1-1 draw vs. Columbus
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. New England (8:30 p.m. ET)

Sporting Kansas City ended the Crew's winning streak, but also suffered a loss to NYCFC prior to this draw. Peter Vermes will want to return to winning ways.

6. New York Red Bulls (-)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. FC Dallas, 1-1 draw vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 17 vs. Philadelphia (1:00 p.m. ET)

The New York Red Bulls drew two more games but did so against admirable opposition. It might just be enough to secure a non-seeded playoff berth.

7. Portland Timbers (-)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at Real Salt Lake (9:30 p.m. ET)

The Portland Timbers lead the Western Conference but Cascadia rivals Seattle and Vancouver are nipping at their heels. They need to finish strong.

8. Vancouver Whitecaps (+1)

• Last Week: 3-2 win vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 13 vs. Minnesota (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Vancouver Whitecaps are gathering steam as they surge up the table. That's exactly what Carl Robinson was hoping for ahead of the final stretch.

9. Houston Dynamo (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at San Jose (10:30 p.m. ET)

The Houston Dynamo needed more out of lowly Colorado and now face the possibility of ending the year below the red line, along with Texas rival Dallas.

10. Atlanta United (+2)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 13 vs. New England (7:00 p.m. ET)

Atlanta United kicked off life at Mercedes Benz Stadium in as fine a fashion as could be imagined, but it was the smart combination play that once again dazzled us.

11. FC Dallas (-3)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. NY Red Bulls, 3-0 loss vs. Atlanta
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. Seattle (8:00 p.m. ET)

FC Dallas is enduring perhaps the worst-ever second stanza to a season in MLS history. What happened to this once-feared side? Playoffs are in doubt.

12. Columbus Crew (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at Vancouver (7:00 p.m. ET)

The Columbus Crew need to take as many points as they can out of their last few fixtures but, truth be told, they'll be fine if they only manage draws.

13. San Jose Earthquakes (-)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. Houston (10:30 p.m. ET)

The San Jose Earthquakes went into Toronto, put in a decent half-hour effort, then crumbled - as they all seem to do these days - in the second half.

14. New England Revolution (+5)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. Orlando, 1-0 win vs. Montreal
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 13 at Atlanta (7:00 p.m. ET)

Last week, we said the New England Revolution's season was all but over, but with a pair of wins against Eastern teams, we're seeing signs of life.

15. Montreal Impact (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Chicago, 1-0 loss vs. New England
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. Minnesota (7:30 p.m. ET)

The Montreal Impact need points desperately but found nothing this week from a pair of matches against Eastern foes. This week might prove the fatal blow.

16. Real Salt Lake (-)

• Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. Portland (9:30 p.m. ET)

Real Salt Lake suffered another setback in the form of a surging Vancouver but that shouldn't deter this side from mounting a bid over in the West.

17. Orlando City (-2)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. New England, 2-1 win vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at Atlanta (3:55 p.m. ET)

Orlando City's season is basically over, but there might yet be hope in the form of a sixth-place finish. Their last six matches need to go perfectly, though.

18. Philadelphia Union (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 17 at NY Red Bulls (1:00 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union's season is over. While a point is usually good enough, it came against Minnesota, one of the few teams the Union expected to beat.

19. Minnesota United (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 13 at Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)

Minnesota United earned another point and probably should have had more. Sure, the Loons aren't playoff-bound, but playing spoilers can be fun, too.

20. D.C. United (-)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 at Chicago (8:30 p.m. ET)

D.C. United fell into the familiar feeling of loss, stumbling against Orlando off a three-game winning streak. Like the Loons, D.C. can only play spoiler now.

21. Colorado Rapids (+1)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. LA Galaxy, 1-0 win vs. Houston
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. NYCFC (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Colorado Rapids once again tasted bitter defeat, this time to Houston. But hey, that 3-0 win over the LA Galaxy was kind of nice.

22. LA Galaxy (-1)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Colorado, 1-1 draw vs. Seattle
• Next MLS Match: Sept. 16 vs. Toronto (10:30 p.m. ET)

Remember when the LA Galaxy were MLS Cup contenders? Good times.

Further reading:

• Toronto FC 1st to book MLS playoff berth after ravaging San Jose
• State of the Union: What's next for the USMNT?
• Atlanta United president: Offers for stars 'got to be big'

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)