Playoff Watch: What FC Dallas needs from other teams with 8 games to go

There are eight more games on the schedule this year for FC Dallas. That means we need to bring back our annual Playoff Watch post to dive into the schedule of each team surrounding FC Dallas in the standings to see where things stand going into the weekend.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the teams in the top five right now. Currently, FC Dallas is two points back of the 9th and final playoff spot and eight back of 6th place Portland. While I don't think FC Dallas will actually catch Portland in the standings, we do need to keep a watch on them for the next few weeks.

Portland Timbers - 37 points (6th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 8): 8/23 at San Diego, 8/30 at Minnesota, 9/13 vs. NYRB, 9/20 at Houston, 9/24 at Vancouver, 9/27 vs. Dallas, 10/4 at Seattle, 10/18 vs. San Diego

Notes: Five of their last eight are on the road. If I were a betting man, I would say they'll drop at least three of those five road games. The Timbers are adding Norwegian DP winger Kristoffer Velde and hope to add more before the summer transfer window closes this week. I think they'll still make the playoffs, but I wouldn't be shocked if they drop a couple of spots before then.

What FCD needs this weekend: Clearly another loss would be good.

Colorado Rapids - 34 points (7th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 7): 8/23 at LA Galaxy, 8/30 at SKC, 9/13 vs. Houston, 9/20 at Dallas, 9/27 vs. Minnesota, 10/4 at RSL, 10/18 vs. LAFC

Notes: The Rapids have become one of the more confusing teams to get a handle on this summer. They have won two straight since trading Dorde Mihailović, but their schedule isn't exactly easy either. They absolutely have to bank some points in the next three games before coming to Dallas at the end of September. Those three games after coming to Dallas will likely determine if this is a wild card team or a team on the outside looking in.

What FCD needs this weekend: FCD needs the Galaxy to play spoiler this weekend.

Austin FC - 35 points (8th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 9): 8/23 @ Montreal, 8/30 vs. San Jose, 9/7 @ SKC, 9/13 @ Dallas, 9/21 vs. Seattle, 9/27 @ RSL, 10/4 vs. St. Louis, 10/12 vs. LAFC, 10/18 @ San Jose

Notes: The one club that has games in hand here is Austin. Their schedule is very doable in a way as long as they don't continue to drop points at home. But five of the nine are on the road, which could be tricky to deal with too.

What FCD needs this weekend: Obviously, we need another loss to pile for them. Playing in Montreal is always tricky for any of the Texan teams. Maybe Dante Sealy can do us a solid this weekend.

San Jose Earthquakes - 32 points (9th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 7): 8/23 at Houston, 8/30 at Austin, 9/13 vs. LAFC, 9/20 vs. St. Louis, 9/27 at San Diego, 10/5 at Vancouver, 10/18 vs. Austin

Notes: Watching them implode late against San Diego this past weekend at home makes me think the Quakes are cooked. Sure, they have a fairly simple schedule down the stretch but they cannot afford to continue to drop points at home like they did. Four of their final seven are on the road, too. I kind of struggle to see them get to 40 points.

What FCD needs this weekend: Honestly, a draw with Houston isn't the worst things, since it means the Dynamo won't leap over FCD, should FCD win their match with LAFC (or even if that one ends level).

Real Salt Lake - 31 points (10th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 8): 8/23 vs. Minnesota, 8/30 at Seattle, 9/13 vs. Kansas City, 9/17 vs. LAFC, 9/21 at LAFC, 9/27 vs. Austin, 10/4 vs. Colorado, 10/18 at St. Louis

Notes: If Colorado was a weird team to me, their rivals RSL may be up there with them this season. They've added some good pieces this summer that I think will get them over the hump. Their schedule in the final weeks is tough though with LAFC twice, Austin and then a rivalry game before Decision Day.

What FCD needs this weekend: Get another loss please, keep us in the hunt.

FC Dallas - 29 points (11th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 8): 8/23 vs. LAFC, 9/6 at St. Louis, 9/13 vs. Austin, 9/20 vs. Colorado, 9/27 at Portland, 10/4 vs. Galaxy, 10/11 at LA Galaxy, 10/18 at Vancouver

Notes: I won't dwell over our schedule too much here since I typically break it down each month. Dallas need to find at least 11 points in the final eight games. It is doable with the Galaxy on there twice, home games with Colorado and Austin, and possibly a Vancouver road trip on Decision Day that could see a heavily rotated Whitecaps squad that has things already locked up. It isn't a mountain but it is a pretty steep hill.

What FCD needs this weekend: Just win baby. Just win.

Houston Dynamo FC - 29 points (12th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 8): 8/23 vs. San Jose, 8/30 at St. Louis, 9/6 vs. LA Galaxy, 9/13 at Colorado, 9/20 vs. Portland, 9/27 at Nashville, 10/4 vs. San Diego, 10/18 at Kansas City

Notes: While they're tied with Dallas on points, the goal difference puts FCD above the Orange just a tiny bit. Their schedule is pretty rough in some ways, especially the back-to-back at Nashville and then home against San Diego. I want to say they benefit from having games with St. Louis, KC and LA but with two those on the road, its kind of a push.

What FCD needs this weekend: I mentioned above, a draw wouldn't be the worst thing.

Sporting Kansas City - 24 points (13th Place)

Schedule (Matches remaining: 8): 8/24 at Seattle, 8/30 vs. Colorado, 9/7 vs. Austin, 9/13 at RSL, 9/20 vs Vancouver, 9/27 at LA Galaxy, 10/4 at Minnesota, 10/18 vs Houston

Notes: I nearly lumped SKC in with St. Louis and LA. I think they'll join them after this weekend.

What FCD needs this weekend: Just keep losing so we don't have to stress over them.

Quick Recap: I opted to not include St. Louis or the LA Galaxy in this one. St. Louis is on 21 points, and the Galaxy are at 16 points. Neither are getting into the playoffs and will likely be eliminated soon. Sporting KC is very close to that group for me as well. The lack of games in hand for all three clubs (each have played 26 games) also plays a factor.

Outside of that, right now FC Dallas needs to mainly focus on getting to that 40 points threashold that should be enough to get into the playoffs. (Take a look at Ben Wright's latest post about the playoff picture...)

We need other teams to continue to drop points on the other hand, too. Buckle up folks, I believe the next two months are going to be a bit wild.