Colorado is IN the Playoffs… Race

By: Clint | September 5th, 2007

Well, I woke up this morning thinking what a great time it would be to recap the Rapids 4 game unbeaten streak and summarize their chances of making the playoffs by comparing them with the other 8th spot contenders. Then I “logged on” to “the net” and “surfed” over to Sports Illustrated “dot com” (something I never do under normal circumstances, but I was feeling my oats earlier today) and, well, that was that. Ryan Hunt beat me to the punch by doing an excellent job of describing Colorado’s bizarre situation:

A month ago, Colorado’s playoff hopes looked bleak. A 10-game winless streak dropped the Rapids to 4-9-6. The attack was nowhere to be found. Fans were calling for coach Fernando Clavijo’s job. Then Colorado found the spark that may have saved its season from an odd source: the Dynamo’s Dwayne De Rosario. An own goal by the reigning champs on Aug. 11 ignited the Rapids’ stunning surge — the four-game unbeaten run (3-0-1) includes victories over then-division-leading Houston and New England — that has catapulted them back into the playoff race. Unless Kansas City continues to struggle, the battle for the last spot will be a three-team battle between Colorado, Columbus and Chicago. And after Sunday’s crucial road point at Columbus, secured by a late Conor Casey strike, the Rapids may be in the best position to claim that No. 8 spot. The reason? The schedule. Chicago — currently only two points behind the Rapids with a game in hand — has turned its season around since the arrival of Cuauhtémoc Blanco, but the Fire face a grueling task over the final six weeks. Their remaining eight opponents have a combined record of 80-58-36, while Colorado’s seven opponents are just 50-62-34, buoyed by four matches against the teams with the three worst records: Los Angeles, Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake. And don’t forget about Columbus, which is tied with the Rapids on 28 points but has a worse goal differential. The Crew’s remaining opponents are 60-61-33. Then again, a lot can change in a month … just look at the Rapids.

Just think, Colorado is playing AT the Galaxy, who will be without Becks and I’m going to watch! Who would have thought I’d say that (fair-weather fan that I am) a month ago?