by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Sep 26, 2013

[BY THE NUMBERS]

MLS: 2013 vs. 2012 Comparison

+/1 TEAM (PTS)

+17

Portland

+15 Colorado

+12 New England

+9 Philadelphia (

+8 Montreal

+7 FC Dallas

+4 Vancouver

+2 Seattle

+1 Toronto FC

+1 New York

-1 Real Salt Lake

-1 LA Galaxy

-2 Chivas USA

-3 Houston

-6 Sporting KC

-7 Columbus

-14 Chicago

-19 San Jose

-32 D.C. United

Who's the improved MLS team? The Portland Timbers have 17 more points in 2013 than they did after the same number of games in 2012, leading Colorado (+15) and New England (+12). All three teams didn't make the playoffs in 2012 but find themselves in the playoff tier in 2013. Conversely, the three teams that slipped the most -- D.C. United (-32), San Jose (-19) and Chicago (-14) -- have all gone from 2012 playoff teams to teams sitting below in the red zone in 2013.(46 vs. 29 in 29 GP)(45 vs. 30 in 30 GP)(40 vs. 28 in 29 GP)39 vs. 30 in 29 GP)(45 vs. 37 in 28 GP)(40 vs. 33 in 29 GP)(41 vs. 37 in 29 GP)(50 vs. 48 in 28 GP)(23 vs. 22 in 30 GP)(51 vs. 50 in 30 GP)(48 vs. 49 in 30 GP)(45 vs. 46 in 29 GP)(26 vs. 28 in 30 GP)(43 vs. 46 in 29 GP)(48 vs. 54 in 29 GP)(38 vs. 45 in 30 GP)(39 vs. 53 in 29 GP)(41 vs. 60 in 30 GP)(15 vs. 47 in 29 GP)