Week 21 in the MLS calendar saw another fascinating slate of action including shock losses, vivacious victories, and big-name brilliance. Here are the Week 21 power rankings.

The summer heat is draining some teams energy while the northern-based Loons are flying high in the sun. Minnesota United fans hope for a blooming while fellow MLS newbie Orlando City is withering, their season weighed down with expectations heavier than their humidity-drenched jerseys after yet another loss.

The list of potential playoff teams is growing, just as the Quakes and Rapids are all but assured a long offseason. Several teams have already begun switching team identities and approaches in an effort to shore up their prospects of a successful season.

As individuals, many players and a few coaches have either been traded, shipped out, sold, or been moved on to higher paying positions in Europe. Midterm grades are in and the benefit of the doubt no longer applies this late in the season. For almost every team, making the grade means finishing above the playoff line. For a select few, only trophies are acceptable at the end of the season.

Here are the Week 21 MLS Power Rankings.

Bottom of the Barrel

23 San Jose EarthQuakes 2-11-6 Last week: 0-2 Loss @ Montreal Impact

Last rank: 23 The Quakes actually ended June with three straight draws, and that might be their most positive run of the season. The Quakes have one goal in July. Sure, they only played two games but San Jose was so woeful in attack that in the next three games, they may only score once more. Upcoming are the not-quite-dead Sounders, Real Salt Lake, and Western Conference table topper FC Dallas. No MLS team trembles at seeing the Quakes on the schedule.

22 Colorado Rapids 4-11-5 Last week: 2-2 Tie @ Real Salt Lake

Last rank: 20 The Rapids’ best chance at points seems to be to muck up games and snatch a goal in quick, intense bursts. A rain delay allowed the Rapids to regroup and get a late first-half penalty kick goal. It isn’t pretty and not especially effective. Badji cooled off and the Rapids build-up play does not produce enough chances for the strikers. The trade for Kellyn Acosta should help the Rapids connect more with Boateng, Boli and Gashi. Hopefully, Hudson can set up a team that allows for support in the attacking half to be somewhere within 25 yards of the ball.

21 DC United 3-8-5 Last week: 1-3 Loss @ Atlanta United

Last rank: 19 DC United tried a new approach but are going home with the same losing scoreline as the first game against Atlanta United. After being called out earlier by his players, Ben Olsen has set his side up to bring the game to opponents. However, they still lack talent in their best starting lineup and are too simple with their possession.

20 Orlando City SC 7-11-1 Last week: 2-3 Loss @ Columbus Crew

Last rank: 21 Orlando City has the individual talents to expect a playoff berth but has been discouragingly less than the sum of the team’s parts. As the season has progressed, the team has yet to show any consistency or progression toward cohesion. While there may be some merit in feeling robbed once again, good teams don’t leave a dozen games a year to chance. Orlando has that beat in half a season, judging by the fans’ letters to the refs. Defending 17 corners while winning none puts too much pressure and tension on the goalkeepers’ spaces way too often and, while there were more than two decent chances, Dom Dwyer was barely involved.

19 Seattle Sounders 5-9-5 Last week: 2-0 Win vs Vancouver Whitecaps

Last rank: 21 Ruidiaz will finish chances if the Sounders midfield can create them. If not, Ruidiaz will linger around the back line much the same way Dempsey lingers in the spaces between the lines. Without Dempsey slowing down play with every touch, the Sounders’ pace of play was exponentially quicker. Lodeiro and Ruidiaz could rival the Dempsey/Martins pairing, but that likely means it deuces on Dempsey’s pacific northwest adventure.

18 Chicago Fire 6-11-5 Last week: 1-2 Loss vs Toronto FC

Last rank: 17 A month ago, the Fire’s on-field play was as positive as Hauptman’s leadership was negative. With all of the good news off the field, the Fire are now stringing losses together. Considering Katai’s signing, the new ownership interest, and several reinforcements being brought in, the organization as a whole is seemingly on the upswing. The schedule has been congested (five games in 15 days) and the Fire did advance in the US Open Cup. The stretch run will be uphill. Is Chicago buying the horses to pull the playoff cart or taking speculative bets on second division talent (Del Grecco) that won’t pay off?

17 Toronto FC 5-11-4 Last week: 2-1 Win @ Chicago Fire

Last rank: 16 Toronto FC has perhaps the toughest schedule remaining in the East and has only the slimmest of chances to defend their MLS Cup. The Reds face Chicago again, in what is likely the earliest MLS eliminator match.