MLS Power Rankings, Week 11: San Jose Earthquakes make leap after huge win over Columbus

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 Senior Editor Matt Doyle. All times Eastern.

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1

Last: 2

On the road, at a rival, missing your best player (sorry Clint)? That's a hell of a show Seattle put on.

• Last Week: Won at Vancouver, 2-0
• Last Five: W-W-W-L-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. Sporting KC (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 1

Usually pitching a shutout on the road is enough to keep your spot, but the Sounders got three points to RBNY's one. Also, that last five isn't all that pretty.

• Last Week: Drew at Dallas, 0-0
• Last Five: D-D-L-W-D
• This Week: Sunday vs. Philadelphia (5 pm; FOX Sports/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)

Last: 3

They were a goal-line clearance away from taking full points in a game that really kind of seethed with playoff intensity and a fast pace.

• Last Week: Drew vs. New York, 0-0
• Last Five: W-D-W-W-D
• This Week: Saturday at Montreal (8 pm; MLS LIVE/TVA Sports)

Last: 4

Another game that boasted playoff-level intensity. We still can't believe Diego Fagundez missed that late header, but the real concern is Jermaine Jones.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Toronto, 1-1
• Last Five: W-W-W-D-D
• This Week: Wednesday at Sporting KC (8 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN); Saturday vs. D.C. United (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 5

D.C.'s margins without Fabian Espindola are razor-thin. They needed that little extra on Sunday night, but were unable to find it without their star player.

• Last Week: Won vs. Orlando City, 2-1; Lost at Philadelphia 1-0
• Last Five: W-W-D-W-L
• This Week: Saturday at New England (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last:: 6

Looked lost vs. Seattle for the majority of the night, and haven't strung together two straight good performances for a long while now.

• Last Week: Lost vs. Seattle, 2-0
• Last Five: W-L-D-W-L
• This Week: Saturday at Colorado (9 pm; TSN2/MLS LIVE)

Last: 9

The beneficiaries of some sliding teams around them.

• Last Week: OFF (Game postponed)
• Last Five: D-L-D-W-D
• This Week: Wednesday vs. New England (8 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN); Saturday at Seattle (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 7

Columbus are great at home and lousy on the road. They'll rediscover some level of consistency once Wil Trapp is healthy again, but it's clear this team is more vulnerable than they should be.

• Last Week: Lost at San Jose, 2-0
• Last Five: W-W-L-W-L
• This Week: Friday vs. Chicago (8 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 12

Took five points on the road two weeks ago, then followed that up with a convincing (and kinda pretty) 2-0 home win. The Quakes are finding themselves, and look like they very much belong in the playoff hunt out West.

• Last Week: Won vs. Columbus, 2-0
• Last Five: L-D-W-D-W
• This Week: Sunday vs. Orlando City (7 pm; FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)

Last: 13

It's amazing how quickly fortunes changed for Houston after a bad stretch at the end of April. The 4-4-1-1 with Giles Barnes floating under Will Bruin has been unstoppable, and the defense has been improved following Raul Rodriguez's move to right back.

• Last Week: Won vs. Portland, 3-1
• Last Five: D-L-L-W-W
• This Week: Friday at LA (10:30 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 8

At least they have a sense of humor about it.

• Last Week: Lost at Orlando City, 4-0
• Last Five: D-D-D-L-L
• This Week: Friday vs. Houston (10:30 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com

Last: 14

The midfield shape was much improved after last weekend's disaster. The defense, however, remains a concern – Chris Konopka isn't going to play that well every week.

• Last Week: Drew at New England, 1-1
• Last Five: L-W-W-L-D
• This Week: Saturday vs. Portland (5 pm; TSN/MLS LIVE)

Last: 10

The Power Rankings Politburo has no idea what to make of this team, which has now gone two months without repeating a result.

• Last Week: Lost at Houston, 3-1
• Last Five: W-L-D-W-L
• This Week: Saturday at Toronto (5 pm; MLS LIVE/TSN)

Last: 17

Spectacular performance from just about everyone. Cyle Larin continues to improve game-by-game at center forward, and Brek Shea's added much-needed width. We'll give them a pass for the mid-week collapse at D.C.

• Last Week: Lost at D.C. United, 2-1; Won vs. LA, 4-0
• Last Five: L-L-D-L-W
• This Week: Sunday at San Jose (7 pm; FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)

Last: 11

We really, really believed after a stylish, ruthless win at Chicago last week. But they were never in it against Montreal, and their attacking deficiencies are becoming difficult to ignore.

• Last Week: Lost at Montreal, 4-1
• Last Five: L-D-D-W-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. NYCFC (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 18

If they can spread you out and run at you, they will kill you. Montreal's counter is reminiscent of the 1998 Fire – which is fitting, given Frank Klopas' role with that team.

• Last Week: Won vs. RSL, 4-1
• Last Five: D-D-L-L-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. Dallas (8 pm; TVA Sports/ MLS LIVE)

Last: 15

Those were two points given away, and we're done ignoring how punchless the forwards have been. 

• Last Week: Drew vs. NYCFC, 2-2
• Last Five: W-W-L-L-D
• This Week: Friday at Columbus (8 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 16

Got themselves a new DP, but this is still a team that's won once since last July.

• Last Week: OFF (Game postponed)
• Last Five: L-D-D-D-D
• This Week: Saturday vs. Vancouver (9 pm; MLS LIVE/TSN2)

Last: 19

Will that second-half fightback become a turning point or a footnote?

• Last Week: Drew vs. Chicago, 2-2
• Last Five: L-L-L-L-D
• This Week: Saturday at Real Salt Lake (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 20

Magnificent moment from Zach Pfeffer after a tough week. Now it's time to hope Vincent Nogueira's late injury was nothing to be too worried about.

• Last Week: Won vs. D.C. United, 1-0
• Last Five: L-L-L-L-W
• This Week: Sunday at New York (5 pm; FOX Sports/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)