Soccer Insider:

MLS playoff picture shaping up as predicted.

In the final version of the power rankings, the New York Red Bulls take the top spot ahead of FC Dallas. With the playoffs starting next week, the Red Bulls and Dallas are also the favorites to play for the MLS Cup.

■ 1. New York Red Bulls – 17-10-6, 57 pts. – (Last: 1): The Red Bulls put themselves into position to win the Supporters’ Shield with a win over Philadelphia.

■ 2. FC Dallas – 17-10-6, 57 pts. – (Last: 3): The other Supporters’ Shield challenger, Oscar Pareja has this team playing great soccer going into the playoffs.

■ 3. Columbus Crew – 14-11-8, 50 pts. – (Last: 5): A very solid win over Toronto FC pushes the Crew up the rankings as they try to lock up a top-two spot.

■ 4. L.A. Galaxy – 14-10-9, 51 pts. – (Last: 2): An ugly loss to the Portland Timbers at home didn’t add much confidence to the Galaxy going into the playoffs.

■ 5. Sporting Kansas City – 13-10-9, 48 pts. – (Last: 4): Sporting is another team that needs to get back on form ahead of the postseason, but Kansas City will still be scary to face in the playoffs.

■ 6. Vancouver Whitecaps – 15-13-5, 50 pts. – (Last: 6): The Whitecaps are the toughest team to peg this postseason. Can Vancouver be a real contender? Or will it suffer an early exit?

■ 7. Seattle Sounders – 14-13-6, 48 pts. – (Last: 8): The Sounders face Real Salt Lake in a huge do-or-die game to close out the season as they try to hold onto a playoff spot.

■ 8. Toronto FC – 15-14-4, 46 pts. – (Last: 9): After clinching the playoffs in the middle of the week, Toronto had a letdown during the weekend. Can it get a big win in Montreal?

■ 9. New England Revolution – 13-12-8, 47 pts. – (Last: 7): This has to be one of the most disappointing teams in MLS during the past few weeks as the Revolution failed to lock up a postseason spot.

■ 10. Orlando City – 12-13-8, 44 pts. – (Last: 10): It looks like the Lions will fall agonizingly short of the postseason despite five consecutive wins ahead of the finale.