(Note: This story has been updated to reflect the standings as of 10/10/15)

Over the last four matches, Orlando City has taken care of business. Collecting 12 points and putting themselves within one point of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Assuming the Lions continue their winning ways, they’ll end the regular season with 47 points which means they may need some help down the stretch. Let’s take a look at the current standings below.

TEAM POINTS GAMES PLAYED GAMES REMAINING GD REMANING OPPONENTS 3 New England Revolution 47 32 2 0 MTL, NYC 4 Columbus Crew SC 47 32 2 -2 TFC, DCU 5 Toronto FC 46 31 3 2 NYRB, CLB, MTL 6 Montreal Impact 45 32 2 2 NE, TFC 7 Orlando City SC 41 32 2 -10 NYC, PHI

As we mentioned above, Orlando City’s “Magic Number” is 47. So when you study the standings you’ll notice there are four teams in reach. Let’s take a look at each team and what will need to happen for the Lions to catch them.



New England Revolution

This is perhaps the least likely of all four scenarios due to the goal differential gap between the two teams. Basically, the Lions will have to make up six points as well as 13 goals in their final two matches.



For example, let’s say City wins by scores of 4-1 and 3-0 while the Revs lose by scores of 0-2 and 0-4. While a long shot, that would tie the teams in goal differential and then put the Lions in the playoffs based on the next tiebreaker condition, goals scored.



The Revolution will take on the Impact at home and then close out with NYCFC away on October 25th.

Columbus Crew SC

This is basically the identical scenario as above. Crew SC sit on 47 points, so Orlando City will need them to drop their final two while making up an eight goal differential. To be safe, you’d like to pass them in goal differential so you don’t hit the next tie-breaker which is goals scored. Columbus hold the edge there with 51 to Orlando’s 44.



Columbus will host Toronto FC next weekend and then finish up on the road in D.C.

Toronto FC

Toronto currently sits below the “Magic Number” of 47. That’s a good thing. The bad? They have three games remaining to Orlando City’s two. If Toronto drops all three of those games and Orlando City win out, the Lions are in the playoffs — it’s that simple. A win in any of those three will put the Reds out of reach. One point out of their remaining nine would put them in the same category as Columbus and New England.



Toronto won’t have it easy, though. After this weekend’s bye, they will travel to New Jersey to take on the Red Bulls in a mid-week fixture. They will then finish with Columbus at home and Montreal away.

Montreal Impact

With a win on Saturday in Colorado, Montreal have now played all of their games in hand and sit four points ahead of Orlando City in the table. This means the Impact only need three more points to secure a playoff spot. Two points would put them at City's magic number of 47, but the Impact would likely advance on goal differential.



Montreal will close out in New England (their fourth straight road game at that point) and then take on Toronto FC at home. If both Toronto and Montreal sit at 46 points going into that final match an interesting situation could arise. Both teams would only need to draw to advance to the postseason. If that result were to go any other way, Orlando City would pass the losing team for the final playoff position.