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1 Last: 1 Hey, so Chad Marshall's pretty important, isn't he? We still think the Sounders are Shield favorites, but they clearly have depth issues in central defense. Last Week: Lost to LA, 3-0

Lost to LA, 3-0 Last Five: W-W-L-W-L

W-W-L-W-L This Week: Saturday at San Jose (10:30 pm; NBCSN)

2 Last: 2 They keep going down to 10, and they keep coming away with road wins. This team is tough, and in Benny Feilhaber, they have a midfielder who's reached a "Best Man on the Field Every Week" level of consistency. Last Week: Won at Toronto, 2-1

Won at Toronto, 2-1 Last Five: D-W-W-W-W

D-W-W-W-W This Week: Friday vs. Philadelphia (8 pm; NBCSN/TSN2)

3 Last: 3 Got a rest, and then got much-needed backline depth thanks to the Kofi Opare trade. Last Week: Did not play

Did not play Last Five: W-L-W-W-W

W-L-W-W-W This Week: Wednesday vs. Toronto (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Sunday at Houston (8 pm; Univ. Deportes)

4 Last: 7 Gyasi Zardes growing into a true No. 9? Check. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane creating chances left and right? Check. Omar & A.J. back in central defense? Check. Smash the league leaders in CenturyLink? Check. It's a good week in Carson. Last Week: Won at Seattle, 3-0

Won at Seattle, 3-0 Last Five: D-W-W-L-W

D-W-W-L-W This Week: Saturday vs. Portland (2:30 pm; NBC/TSN)

5 Last: 5 Oscar Pareja's spoiled for attacking and midfield options, but let's start worrying about the central defense after Matt Hedges had to come off at halftime in Vancouver. FCD can't afford to be without him for an extended period. Last Week: Drew at Vancouver, 2-2

Drew at Vancouver, 2-2 Last Five: D-D-W-W-D

D-D-W-W-D This Week: Sunday at Chivas USA (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

6 Last: 4 They've been vulnerable without Steven Caldwell in the central defense, and now have to go on the road for a big six-pointer at D.C. and then up to Montreal for a rivalry game. Last Week: Lost to Kansas City, 2-1

Lost to Kansas City, 2-1 Last Five: L-W-D-D-L

L-W-D-D-L This Week: Wednesday at D.C. United (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Saturday at Montreal (5 pm; MLS LIVE/TSN/RDS)

7 Last: 6 Hard to drop a spot when you won, but LA's huge jump accounts for most of it. The other, tiny part? The fact that Montreal played RSL even before going down a man. Last Week: Won vs. Montreal, 3-1

Won vs. Montreal, 3-1 Last Five: L-W-L-D-W

L-W-L-D-W This Week: Wednesday vs. New York (9 pm; ESPN2)

Saturday at Colorado (9 pm; MLS LIVE)

8 Last: 9 Depth is being severely tested, which means this isn't the best time for a two-game week. Colorado have a way of finding down-roster answers, though. Last Week: Won vs. Chivas USA, 3-0

Won vs. Chivas USA, 3-0 Last Five: W-D-D-L-W

W-D-D-L-W This Week: Wednesday at New England (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Saturday vs. Real Salt Lake (9 pm; MLS LIVE)

9 Last: 8 The Power Rankings Politburo loved watching Pedro Morales spread the field vs. FC Dallas in that second half. But doesn't a playoff team come away from that game with the full three points? Last Week: Drew vs. Dallas, 2-2

Drew vs. Dallas, 2-2 Last Five: W-L-D-D-D

W-L-D-D-D This Week: Wednesday at Chicago (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE/TSN/RDS2)

10 Last: 10 Created some of the prettiest goals of the season over the last couple of weeks, and Diego Valeri is back to his "Hey, this guy's in the MVP race" best. But that defense is still a worry.

Last Week: Won at Montreal, 3-2

Won at Montreal, 3-2 Last Five: L-D-L-W-W

L-D-L-W-W This Week: Saturday at LA (2:30 pm; NBC/TSN)

11 Last: 11 The Union will go into Friday's game at SKC with their full squad and plenty of rest. Time to really see what they're made of. Last Week: Did not play

Did not play Last Five: W-L-D-W-D

W-L-D-W-D This Week: Friday at Kansas City (8 pm; NBCSN/TSN2)

12 Last: 12 Got some much-needed central defensive depth, but central midfield organization remains the pressing issue in Harrison. Last Week: Did not play

Did not play Last Five: D-D-W-L-D

D-D-W-L-D This Week: Wednesday at Real Salt Lake (9 pm; ESPN2)

Saturday vs. New England (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

13 Last: 15 Two straight wins after a long, miserable three months. Ethan Finlay has been one of this season's breakout players, with speed from the flank that most teams just can't match. Last Week: Won at New England, 2-1

Won at New England, 2-1 Last Five: D-L-L-W-W

D-L-L-W-W This Week: Saturday at Chicago (8:30 pm, MLS LIVE)

14 Last: 16 Moving away from longball and playing some real, honest-to-goodness soccer paid off against a disorganized Chicago team. This weekend, they'll have to play just as well against a Seattle side that will surely be out for blood. Last Week: Won vs. Chicago, 5-1

Won vs. Chicago, 5-1 Last Five: L-L-L-D-W

L-L-L-D-W This Week: Saturday vs. Seattle (10:30 pm; NBCSN)

15 Last: 14 Were never in the game, which marks the second straight week that's happened. If those backline gaps appear this weekend vs. Dallas, Chivas will give up another three goals – at least. Last Week: Lost at Colorado, 3-0

Lost at Colorado, 3-0 Last Five: W-W-W-L-L

W-W-W-L-L This Week: Sunday vs. Dallas (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

16 Last: 13 Maybe we're reading too much into that demolition at Buck Shaw, but man is it hard to ignore a team getting ripped apart like that. Last Week: Lost at San Jose, 5-1

Lost at San Jose, 5-1 Last Five: D-D-W-D-L

D-D-W-D-L This Week: Wednesday vs. Vancouver (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE/TSN/RDS2)

Saturday vs. Columbus (8:30 pm, MLS LIVE)

17 Last: 18 Where will DaMarcus Beasley fit? If there's one area where Houston didn't need help, it's the left side (Brad Davis & Corey Ashe). Maybe Davis moves to central midfield and Run DMB plays on the wing? Last Week: Did not play

Did not play Last Five: L-L-D-L-D

L-L-D-L-D This Week: Sunday vs. D.C. United (8 pm; Univ. Deportes)

18 Last: 17 Revs haven't won – or even held a lead – for two months. But hey, at least they're only one point out of the playoffs.

Last Week: Lost to Columbus, 2-1

Lost to Columbus, 2-1 Last Five: L-L-L-L-L

L-L-L-L-L This Week: Wednesday vs. Colorado (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Saturday at New York (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

