Western Conference Power Rankings: Week 16

As the split between the tiers continues to be more pronounced, San Antonio has made the jump from chase group to playoff contention. The top eight teams have started to split from the rest of the West, but a slump at the top or a ,good streak below means that anything can still happen.

Important to note on our rankings: 1100 is considered an average club, with tiebreakers going to the club that has played more matches. Read up on our ranking system here, and its slight improvement here.

Rankings:

1 (Last Week - 1) Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1135)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: @Rio Grande Valley Toros (Wednesday), @San Antonio FC (Saturday)

A bye week left Whitecaps 2 unchallenged at the top of the standings.  This week they come up against a team falling fast in Rio Grande Valley and a team who is hot in San Antonio.

2 (2) Los Angeles Galaxy II (1127)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: @Portland Timbers 2 (Saturday)

Los Dos look to come out of their bye week and increase their current undefeated streak to eight games with a result in Portland.

3 (5) Oklahoma City Energy (1127)

Last Week: Drew San Antonio FC (0-0), Defeated Swope Park Rangers (2-0)

This Week: vs Orange County Blues (Saturday)

Oklahoma City continued their trend of turning in results against mid-tier teams of the Western Conference last week with four points out of a possible six. This week they look to continue their run of results, which includes a three game shutout streak, by hosting an Orange County team who scored three second half goals in one game this past week.

4 (3) Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1122)

Last Week: Drew Portland Timbers 2 (1-1), Lost to Seattle Sounders 2 (1-2)

This Week: vs Sacramento Republic (Saturday)

It was a week to forget for the Switchbacks, who walked away with only one point out of a possible six from the Seattle and Portland. This week they host a Republic side that also struggled against teams they should be able to handle.

5 (4) Sacramento Republic (1117)

Last Week: Lost to Real Monarchs (2-3), Drew Orange County Blues (3-3)

This Week: @Colorado Springs Switchbacks (Saturday)

The Republic gave up six goals in two games after only having given up 11 through their first 15. They have to quickly adjust to losing potential team MVP Emrah Klimenta quickly as they travel to Colorado Springs to face the Switchbacks, who stumbled midweek.

6 (8) San Antonio FC (1105)

Last Week: Drew Oklahoma City Energy (0-0)

This Week: vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (Saturday)

Now undefeated in five straight, San Antonio has caught up to and passed the teams that are falling off of playoff pace. While scoring consistently is still an issue, San Antonio has shown signs of life in attack, which quickly turns them into a threat.

7 (7) Rio Grande Valley Toros (1104)

Last Week: Drew Tulsa Roughnecks (0-0)

This Week: vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (Wednesday)

It may be nearing the time for RGVFC to panic. Now winless in five games and averaging under one goal per outing, the Toros have changed from what used to be a high octane team into a more reserved side. That change does not seem to be working for them. They now host a well rested Whitecaps side this week in an attempt to bounce back

8 (6) Saint Louis FC (1103)

Last Week: Drew Seattle Sounders 2 (1-1), Lost to FC Cincinnati (1-2)

This Week: @Tulsa Roughnecks (Friday)

Saint Louis has failed to score multiple goals in any of their last 10 matches vs teams not named Tulsa Roughnecks.  Having failed to put up a shutout in eleven straight games, this does not bode well for Saint Louis moving forward. They visit their favorite whipping boy this week.

9 (10) Arizona United (1091)

Last Week: Drew Swope Park Rangers (1-1)

This Week: vs Seattle Sounders 2 (Saturday)

Arizona continues to float on the outside of the playoff bubble but refuses to give up the fight. If they can string together a few strong results in the coming weeks, they can enter the playoff conversation. They can start that run by taking down a Seattle team that has begun to show signs of life over the past month

10 (9) Swope Park Rangers (1089)

Last Week: Drew Arizona United (1-1), Lost to Oklahoma City Energy (0-2)

This Week: Bye Week

A week of missed opportunities left the Rangers in the middle of the chase pack. They will need to work on recovering from allowing goals in the future, as they have now failed to win any of their last ten games when allowing a goal.

11 (11) Orange County Blues (1087)

Last Week: Drew Sacramento Republic (3-3)

This Week: @Oklahoma City Energy (Saturday)

A wild back and forth game saw the Blues draw a ten man Sacramento team.  They will need to continue their late game scoring when they visit Oklahoma City this weekend, a team who has only allowed two second half goals all season.

12 (12) Real Monarchs (1086)

Last Week: Defeated Sacramento Republic (3-2)

This Week: Bye Week

The Monarchs returned to their old habit of being a pain to Sacramento win a dramatic come from behind victory.  They get a week off next, one they can use to prepare to make a run to hunt down one of the final playoff places.

13 (13) Portland Timbers 2 (1080)

Last Week: Drew Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1-1)

This Week: vs Los Angeles Galaxy 2 (Saturday)

A draw against a top team is a respectable result, but Portland needs to do something quickly if they want to have a shot at making the playoffs.  A win while hosting Los Dos would be a great way to make that statement this coming weekend.

14 (14) Seattle Sounders 2 (1064)

Last Week: Drew Saint Louis FC (1-1), Defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks (2-1)

This Week: @Arizona United (Saturday)

Seattle now has ten points in their last six games, which is more than they recorded in their previous twelve matches.  A trip to Arizona United, who has been treading water near the playoff bubble, is up next.

15 (15) Tulsa Roughnecks (1050)

Last Week: Drew Rio Grande Valley Toros (0-0)

This Week: vs Saint Louis FC (Friday)

The Roughnecks are starting to show some signs of life, but they will need to keep up a strong defensive presence moving forward, as they 1-10-1 when allowing multiple goals this season. A rematch against Saint Louis team who has dominated past matchups is on the docket for this week for the Roughnecks.

Notable:

Biggest Rise: San Antonio FC (+2)

Biggest Fall: Saint Louis FC (-2)

The bottom half of the playoff group saw San Antonio vault both Saint Louis and Rio Grande Valley while all three clubs continued to separate themselves from the chase group. At the top of the table, Oklahoma City took advantage of stumbles from both the Switchbacks and the Republic.

This week the big matchup features the two top level teams that took a step in the wrong direction, as #5 Sacramento visits #4 Colorado Springs.  At the top of the table, Vancouver gets two chances to take down bubble teams, as they travel to both San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley in the same week.

Who will rise?  Who will fall?

Let us know below.