Colorado Rapids' playoff seed scenarios before MLS decision day
This decision day, the Rapids need a result.
Not for a playoff spot — that's already been claimed for the first time since 2021. Not for home-field advantage in the first round — that one was in their grasp but slipped in just five games.
The Rapids need a result to prove to themselves that they are who they think they are.
When the 2024 MLS season is over, Colorado will not be remembered for the four games in five it lost to slide down the standings. Right now, the Rapids need a reminder that they're still the same team that reached as high as third in the Western Conference as recently as mid-September just a couple of weeks after taking third in Leagues Cup.
Before it really counts, they've got one last chance to pick it back up at Austin FC this Saturday at 7 p.m. There's a wide variety of scenarios for the Rapids to move up or down in the standings by the time decision day is over, but they cannot move higher than fifth or lower than seventh, meaning they will have neither home-field advantage nor a Wild Card game.
Colorado finishes fifth with:
• Win at Austin AND • Houston Dynamo loss or draw vs. LA Galaxy
• Draw at Austin AND • Houston loss vs. L.A. Galaxy AND • Minnesota United loss or draw vs. St. Louis
Colorado finishes sixth with:
• Win at Austin AND • Houston win vs. L.A.
• Draw at Austin AND • Houston win or draw vs. L.A. AND • Minnesota win vs. St. Louis
• Draw at Austin AND • Houston loss vs. L.A. AND • Minnesota win vs. St. Louis
• Loss at Austin AND • Minnesota draw or loss vs. St. Louis
Colorado finishes seventh with:
• Draw at Austin AND • Houston win or draw vs. L.A. AND • Minnesota win vs. St. Louis
• Loss at Austin AND • Minnesota win vs. St. Louis
Solely getting back on track is not how Rapids coach Chris Armas is approaching the final regular season match of the inaugural season of his "Rocky Mountain High."
He does not find comfort in there being no path to falling into a Wild Card spot or the fact his opponent is playoff absentee and interim coach-led Austin. He'll only find enjoyment in picking up the points on the table.
As far as the Rapids are concerned, the Austin game is a launchpad.
"For me, it's most important to use this game as almost a run-through. We won't talk about playoffs going into this game," Armas said. "We are going on the road to get a result because we want to put ourselves as high as we can going into the playoffs. The game is important, but most important is that we show growth and we show that we're better than we have been on the road in the last few games. ...
"Whatever it takes, we've got to get a result."
The expectation in some ways does not mirror the preparation, at least from a mental standpoint. According to forward Rafael Navarro, who is in his second-longest scoring drought this season (zero goals in five games), Armas has made a point to make the training environment "light."
Fun, fast, focused. It's been the team's MO during the highest heights of this season. During the lull, the Rapids have gotten away from it a bit. That can happen when you run into good teams in great form.
Not anymore.
"The feeling in the locker room is very light, so we're very focused on coming into this game at Austin very focused," Navarro said through his translator, Andre Hilf. "Especially with Chris' help, it makes us very confident to win the game.
"Obviously we have to win this game because winning gets us a higher seed and it's better for us, but everybody's calm and confident approaching this game that we have to win."
This season, MLS teams are 2-1-2 in their first game following a head coach's departure. Assistant coach Davy Arnaud will be at the helm as interim head coach for Austin for its final match of the year.
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