While the six teams representing the Eastern Conference in the upcoming Audi 2017 MLS Playoffs are set, there is still room for movement up or down the table as Decision Day 2017 approaches this Sunday. Toronto FC has secured the top seed in the upcoming playoffs (as well as the Supporters’ Shield) and the New York Red Bulls are set as the sixth seed, leaving seeds two through five to jockey for a final position this weekend.
Currently the East's third seed, the Chicago Fire are set to take on the Houston Dynamo in Texas on the regular season's final matchday (3 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago). Elsewhere in the conference, fifth-seeded Columbus Crew SC travels to second-seeded New York City FC, while fourth-seeded Atlanta United FC host conference leaders Toronto FC.
All remaining MLS games will be played this Sunday at 3:00 pm CT as a part of Decision Day. Pending Sunday's results, here's how the rest of the Eastern Conference race could shake out for head coach Veljko Paunovic and co.:
Chicago Fire win at Houston (58 points):
- Fire will finish as No. 2 or No. 3
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United win: Chicago Fire is No. 2 with 58 points (GD tiebreaker), Atlanta United No. 3 with 57 points (GD tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 4 with 56 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United lose: Chicago Fire is No. 2 with 58 points, NYCFC No. 3 with 57 points, Columbus is No. 4 with 54 points (Wins tiebreaker), and Atlanta United is No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United draw: Chicago Fire is No. 2 with 58 points, NYCFC No 3 with 57 points, Atlanta United No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, Atlanta United result doesn’t change table: NYCFC is No. 2, Chicago Fire No. 3, Atlanta United No. 4, and Columbus No. 5
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United win: Chicago Fire is No. 2 with 58 points, Atlanta United No. 3 with 57 points, Columbus No. 4 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), and NYCFC No. 5 with 56 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United lose: Chicago Fire is No. 2 with 58 points, Columbus No. 3 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 4 with 56 points, and Atlanta United No. 5 with 54 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United draw: Chicago Fire is No. 2 with 58 points, Columbus No. 3 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 4 with 56 points, and Atlanta United No. 5 with 55 points
Chicago Fire draw (56 points):
- Fire can finish No. 3 or No. 4
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United win: Atlanta United is No. 2 with 57 points (GD tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 3 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 4 with 56 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United lose: NYCFC is No. 2 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 56 points, Columbus No. 4 with 54 points (Wins tiebreaker), and Atlanta United No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw and Atlanta United draw: NYCFC is No. 2 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 56 points, Atlanta United would be No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus would be No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, and Atlanta United win: NYCFC is No. 2 with 59 points, Atlanta United No. 3 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 4 with 56 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 53 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, and Atlanta United lose: NYCFC is No. 2 with 59 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 56 points, Atlanta United No. 4 with 54 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 53 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, and Atlanta United draw: NYCFC is No. 2 with 59 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 56 points, Atlanta United No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 53 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United win: Atlanta United is No. 2 with 57 points, Columbus is No. 3 with 56 points(Wins tiebreaker), Chicago Fire is No. 4 (GD tiebreaker), and NYCFC No. 5 with 56 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United lose: Columbus is No. 2 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), Chicago is No. 3 with 56 points (GD tiebreaker), NYCFC is No. 4 with 56 points, and Atlanta United is No. 5 with 54 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United draws: Columbus is No. 2 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), Chicago is No. 3 with 56 points (GD tiebreaker), NYCFC is No. 4 with 56 points, and Atlanta United is No. 5 with 55 points
Chicago Fire loss (55 points):
- Fire can finish No. 3 through No. 5
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United win: Atlanta United is No. 2 with 57 points (GD tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 3 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United lose: NYCFC is No. 2 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 55 points, Columbus No. 4 with 54 points (Wins tiebreaker), and Atlanta United is No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC and Columbus draw, and Atlanta United draw: NYCFC is No. 2 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 55 points (Wins tiebreaker), Atlanta United No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 54 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, and Atlanta United win: NYCFC is No. 2 with 59 points, Atlanta United No. 3 with 57 points, Chicago Fire No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 53 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, and Atlanta United lose: NYCFC is No. 2 with 59 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 55 points, Atlanta United No. 4 with 54 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 53 points
- If NYCFC defeats Columbus, and Atlanta United draw: NYCFC is No. 2 with 59 points, Chicago Fire No. 3 with 55 points (Wins tiebreaker), Atlanta United No. 4 with 55 points, and Columbus No. 5 with 53 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United win: Atlanta United FC is No. 2 with 57 points, Columbus No. 3 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 4 with 56 points, and Chicago Fire No. 5 with 55 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United lose: Columbus is No. 2 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 3 with 56 points, Chicago Fire No. 4 with 55 points, and Atlanta United No. 5 with 54 points
- If Columbus defeats NYCFC, and Atlanta United draw: Columbus is No. 2 with 56 points (Wins tiebreaker), NYCFC No. 3 with 56 points, Atlanta United No. 4 with 55 points (GD tiebreaker), and Chicago Fire No. 5 with 55 points
More on the 2017 postseason chase:
- Playoff picture: The Eastern Conference Playoffs will begin with a knockout round pitting teams seeded 3-6 on October 25 and 26. If current standings hold, the Fire (3) would host NYRB (6) on one of those dates. Atlanta (4) would host Columbus (5) in the other knockout round match.
- The Conference Semifinals will be played as a two-leg, aggregate goal competition. If the Fire play and win in a knockout match, Chicago would host a conference semifinal match either October 30 or 31. The return leg of that round would be November 5. Should the Fire qualify for the playoffs as the number 2 seed, they would play away in the first leg and host November 5.
- The Eastern Conference Final is also a two-leg event. The lower seed is to host the first game on November 21. The return leg at the home of the higher seed will be either November 28 or 29.
- MLS Cup is to be played December 9 at the home of the competing team with the best regular season record.
