MLS Power Rankings, Week 12: After strange week around the league, Sporting Kansas City make jump

Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and remarks are written by Researcher Ben Baer. All times Eastern.

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Last: 1

Possessed the ball well but couldn't create any quality opportunities against a stout SKC backline. Do not despair, though – six points are up for grabs in two home games this week.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Sporting KC, 0-0
• Last Five: W-W-L-W-D
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Colorado (10 pm; MLS LIVE); Sunday vs. New York Red Bulls (5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN/TSN2)

Last: 3

Move up here despite their loss in Quebec, because this weekend was #PeakMLS. Huge game in this week's #ViernesDeFutbol showdown against their new conference rivals.

• Last Week: Lost at Montreal, 2-1
• Last Five: D-W-W-D-L
• This Week: Friday at Sporting KC (9 pm; UniMás/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 7

Spanked the Revs on Wednesday night and followed it up with a well-earned draw in Seattle. Can't ask for a much better double-game week than that.

• Last Week: Won vs. New England, 4-2; Drew at Seattle, 0-0
• Last Five: D-W-D-W-D
• This Week: Friday vs. Dallas (9 pm; UniMás/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 4

Winless in their last four after a three-game winning streak. Can we agree that, after Wednesday, the Jermaine Jones-in-defense experiment just might have fizzled out?

• Last Week: Lost at Sporting KC 4-2; Drew vs. D.C. United, 1-1
• Last Five: W-D-D-L-D
• This Week: Sunday vs. LA Galaxy (7 pm; FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO/TSN)

Last: 5

Another gritty result from the hardest-working team in the league. Have a tough cross-country trip midweek which should test their endurance.

• Last Week: Drew at New England, 1-1
• Last Five: W-D-W-L-D
• This Week: Wednesday at Portland (10:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday vs. Philadelphia (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last:: 2

All the injuries and international absences at center back cost them some points at home, and they just couldn't create the big chances that they usually thrive on.

• Last Week: Lost vs. Philadelphia, 2-0
• Last Five: D-L-W-D-L
• This Week: Sunday at Seattle (5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN/TSN2)

Last: 11

The win is nice, but the return of Robbie Keane is the bigger story for the Galaxy coming out of the weekend.

• Last Week: Won vs. Houston, 1-0
• Last Five: D-D-L-L-W
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Real Salt Lake (10:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Sunday at New England (7 pm; FOX Sports/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO/TSN)

Last: 6

Their high-flying start is qucikly fading from the rearview mirror. Have scored more than one goal just once in their last seven games.

• Last Week: Lost at Colorado, 1-0
• Last Five: L-D-W-L-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. Real Salt Lake (6 pm; TSN1,3/MLS LIVE)

Last: 9

Congrats to Wondo on joining the 100 club. The absence of Fatai Alashe in the middle of the park could have a significant impact over the next couple of games.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Orlando City, 1-1
• Last Five: D-W-D-W-D
• This Week: Saturday at Toronto (5 pm; TSN 4,5/MLS LIVE)

Last: 8

Had three points in the bag at home before coughing up a goal in the 94th minute. Not a great look, but nor is it time to panic in Columbus.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Chicago, 2-2
• Last Five: W-L-W-L-D
• This Week: Saturday at Orlando City (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 12

In the absence of Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco stepped up and delivered as TFC got their first home win of 2015.

• Last Week: Won vs. Portland, 1-0
• Last Five: W-W-L-D-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. San Jose (5 pm; TSN4,5/MLS LIVE)

Last: 10

Undone by those oh-so-typical Alan Gordon heroics, but the new backline arrangement is definitely starting to gel.

• Last Week: Lost at LA Galaxy, 1-0
• Last Five: L-L-W-W-L
• This Week: Saturday at NYCFC (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 15

Alvaro Saborio looked like his old self in front of his former coach. Furthermore, the return of Joao Plata should spell trouble for the rest of the league as these forwards start to hit their stride.

• Last Week: Won vs. NYCFC, 2-0
• Last Five: D-D-W-L-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. Vancouver (6 pm; MLS LIVE/TSN1,3)

Last: 14

Made one of the longest trips in MLS and got a point. Job well done.

• Last Week: Drew at San Jose, 1-1
• Last Five: L-D-L-W-D
• This Week: Saturday vs. Columbus (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 16

Ignacio Piatti showed his CCL magic was no fluke, and he could be the one to spark a much-needed winning run for an Impact side thin on forwards.

• Last Week: Won vs. Dallas, 2-1
• Last Five: D-L-L-W-W
• This Week: Saturday at Chicago (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 18

Unbeaten in their last five (yes, four are draws). Pablo Mastroeni seems to be figuring it out in Commerce City.

• Last Week: Won vs. Vancouver, 1-0
• Last Five: D-D-D-D-W
• This Week: Wednesday at Seattle (10 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday vs. Portland (9 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 17

Got a commendable result, but the lack of production from Harry Shipp in the last month has to be worrying.

• Last Week: Drew at Columbus, 2-2
• Last Five: W-L-L-D-D
• This Week: Saturday vs. Montreal (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 13

Oh look, another inconsistent performance from the league's most inconsistent team.

• Last Week: Lost at Toronto, 1-0
• Last Five: L-D-W-L-L
• This Week: Wednesday vs. D.C. United (10:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday at Colorado (9 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 20

Start the season with one win in 11 games and then beat the East's top two teams in successive weeks. Surprised? Don't be – this is MLS, after all.

• Last Week: Won at New York, 2-0
• Last Five: L-L-L-W-W
• This Week: Saturday at D.C. United (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 19

Couldn't get a result for their coach in his former stomping grounds and now are in danger of making history in a way they don't want to.

• Last Week: Lost at Real Salt Lake, 2-0
• Last Five: L-L-L-D-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. Houston (7 pm: MLS LIVE)