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MLS Power Rankings
Week 16
by Kevin Lindstrom

L = League standing based on points, P = Playoff standing based on points, P/G is the points and games played by the team so far, PPG is the points-per-game average, Pace is the number of points off of The Pace (3 points at home, 1 point on the road).

Kansas City comes into this week with fresh legs and hopefully a healthy Molnar. Hopefully for the Mystics, that is, not the rest of the league. After a 2-0 win over LA, the Wizards have given notice that their mini-slump was just that, and it is now over. They travel to the beat-up EarthQuakes to wax their surfboards. And wax them, they will. San Jose is coming of a terrible last moment loss in Columbus and despite the success of Dario Brose, the team is in no shape for a team as good as the Wizards. It doesn't get any better for San Jose, as they have to travel to Colorado.

Then the Wizards return home for a match against the Metros. The MetroStars have done wonders since the Mathis-Valencia pair has teamed up on top with the return of a healthy Tab Ramos. Funny how good the guy is when he is healthy. Even the lack of Mattaus and Dooley didn't hurt them in a match against the Mutiny in Florida on Saturday. This is the best matchup of the week, and for once, it is on national television.

The Chicago Fire also come into Tuesday with rested legs. While they play on the road, it is against the up-and-down Rapids, a team that seems to have had most of its problems at home. The Rapids are coming off a successful week, having won at home and tied on the road. But injuries continue to pile up, and they face a strong Fire team that has gotten stronger despite losing Hristo Stoitchkov and Lubos Kubic for long stretches of the season. The Fire then host the Crew, a team that is facing an uphill battle to maintain its playoff positioning with only five of its remaining 13 games at home. Late heroics against San Jose saved the team from a disastrous home pair. The Crew will also be coming off of a road game against the LA Galaxy, a team that may be feeling its way back into form as Luis got his first goal. 

The Galaxy lost to the somewhat resurgent Burn, but they did get two late goals -- one by Luis. Whether this sparks more from the Mexican forward is hard to know, but his play has been as strong as ever. They should put a crimp into the Crew's postseason plans on Tuesday before traveling to the struggling Miami Fusion F.C. Miami should be more rested, but may not be able to hold off the Galaxy since the team has been as inconsistent as the Rapids. The Fusion will first have to contend with the New England Revolution, who also come into Tuesday's match well rested and hungry to retake first in the division from the MetroStars.

Tampa Bay hosts D.C. United on Tuesday in what may very well be the end of D.C. in 2000. A loss to the Mutiny, combined with  any success from Dallas, Colorado, Columbus or Miami, and D.C. can start aiming for the Dewar Trophy now. As this is the only match this week for the Mutiny, look for Valderrama et al to really pour it on. United then follows this game with a match against the Dallas Burn -- a team that can't seem to make up its mind as to what it is yet. Lose to the Rapids, 1-0, on Wednesday, smash LA 4-2 on Saturday. Big differences were Kreis, Pareja and Graziani in the lineup and in their regular positions -- but keep in mind that this is one tired team. Dallas first travels to NY/NJ for a matchup against the MetroStars, and if Dir doesn't manage to rest some players (specifically, Zarco, Daniv and possibly Kreis) they may not have enough on D.C. to beat United.