A SATURDAY WATCHGRIDOMETER
Watchgridometer time! Keep in mind the Plusometer* is now affected by a game's "Playoffocity." Playoffocity is measured on a scale of 0 to 50. 0 is no impact on the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs race whatsoever (LAFC vs. Sporting KC), while 50 is a Decision Day, winner goes home matchup. What a magical time.
*The Plusometer is a scientific way to quantify the potential watchability of any given game on MLS LIVE on ESPN+, but can and will also be used for all other channels. Using the elements of "Potential for very good/entertainingly bad soccer," "Chances created," "NARRATIVE," "Aesthetics" and "Totally subjective bonus points," I assign each element a score out of 10 and each game a score out of 50. Twenty-five is average potential. Fifty is greatest game of all-time potential. Yes, I do actually calculate each game. No, I don't know why. Respect for the form, maybe?
TIER ONE: THE DELIGHTFUL HUM OF A SOCCER BROADCAST ON TELEVISION
Soccer is nice to have on. And sometimes you look up and see something fun.
Minnesota United vs. Houston Dynamo – Sat., 3:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: Univision, TUDN, Twitter
Plusometer Score: 26/50
Playoffocity: 7/50
Anytime Bebelo Reynoso takes the field right now, it's worth checking out. The Loons are playing some of the most enjoyable ball in the league. That doesn't make this particular game all that interesting, but hey, good for Minnesota.
Chicago Fire FC vs. CF Montréal – Sat., 8:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 28/50
Playoffocity: 16/50
The Fire's playoff hopes are on life support and CF Montréal are trying to stay one step ahead of NYCFC for the second seed. Plus you get Djorjde Mihailovic versus Xherdan Shaqiri.
Sporting KC vs. San Jose Earthquakes – Sat., 8:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 20/50
Playoffocity: 0/50
The Daily Kickoff "That Train Scene In 'The Fugitive'" Game of the Week
Only the best of us have the guts to tune in.
Atlanta United vs. D.C. United – Sun, 4:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: Univision, TUDN, Twitter
Plusometer Score: 23/50
Playoffocity: 3/50
A loss and Atlanta United will be done for 2022. We'll see if they bring that kind of urgency against the league's worst team.
TIER TWO: THE JOY OF STUMBLING ONTO A MATCH YOU PREVIOUSLY WEREN'T INVESTED IN BUT NOW ARE
Every now and then, you go into a game not asking for much and come away with more than you ever imagined.
Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids – Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 30/50
Playoffocity: 23/50
The Union have the first seed in the East essentially locked down, but Colorado are still very much in the fight for a playoff spot out west. A win for their Rapids in their toughest remaining game would be huge.
Charlotte FC vs. Toronto FC – Sat., 7:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 32/50
Playoffocity: 30/50
The Daily Kickoff "I don't know what's gonna happen but something's gonna happen" Game of the Week
This almost feels like a Thunderdome matchup. One team's going to win and still feel like they have a slight chance, the other is probably doomed with a loss. Put that kind of tension in front of one the league's best crowds and insert a whole bunch of Toronto players liable to throw off a Goal of the Year candidate at any second and you probably have a pretty good game here.
FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake – Sat., 9:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 31/50
Playoffocity: 32/50
Neither of these teams are in danger if they lose here. But RSL needs this a little more than FC Dallas and the Texas club is still fighting for a home playoff spot. There are stakes here in a game between two good teams.
Orlando City vs. NYCFC – Sun, 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: FS1, FOX Deportes
Plusometer Score: 29/50
Playoffocity: 29/50
We might have a bit of a playoff preview on our hands. NYCFC seem content to play ineffective soccer down the stretch and still somehow win. NYCFC enter the day in third and the Lions are in fifth. The way things are shaking out, this may genuinely be a round one matchup. Will we learn anything really meaningful from it? Probably not, both of these teams are impossible to figure out right now.
TIER THREE: THE SATISFACTION OF EXPECTATIONS BEING MET
Sometimes you want the best and you get it.
New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami – Sat., 7:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 36/50
Playoffocity: 40/50
Inter Miami are working to continue an improbable playoff run and the Red Bulls are suddenly a bit concerned about the home playoff spot that seemed like a lock a few weeks ago. We could even be so brave to call this a six-pointer. If Inter Miami win, they're just two points behind the Red Bulls for the fourth spot in the East. New York better start feeling a bit of urgency.
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew – Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 47/50
Playoffocity: 49/50
The Daily Kickoff MLS LIVE on ESPN+ Game Of The Week
Hell is Real like you've never seen it before: A critical junction in the playoff race that will have ripple effects across the entire conference and with genuine stars in both attacks. We've got a near-perfect regular-season game here in my opinion.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Nashville SC – Sat., 10:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 33/50
Playoffocity: 49/50
I'm not going to pretend like the game itself has a lot of aesthetic potential other than watching Hany Mukhtar be better than everyone else on the field. But it does have massive implications for both of these team's playoff chances. These teams are just two points apart, even on games played and are separated by three spots in the standings. Both teams really, really need this one.
New England Revolution vs. LA Galaxy – Sun, 8:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: MLS LIVE on ESPN+
Plusometer Score: 34/50
Playoffocity: 45/50
The Revs are getting healthier but there's a genuine worry that it might be too little too late. Meanwhile, the Galaxy have piled up games in hand and are in total control of their playoff fate. Both teams enter the day in eighth place in their respective conferences. What could go wrong for either team?
AND OTHER THINGS
THE READING RAINBOW
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