1. Golden opportunity for Sporting Kansas City

Nobody predicted Sporting Kansas City would suffer through a four-game losing streak this season, and yet here we are. The defending champs looked like the best team in MLS as recently as mid-August and now Peter Vermes' team needs to resolve some serious problems—quickly.

The once-sturdy backline has looked suspect after conceding 11 goals in its last four games. Offensively, there is simply too much pressure on Graham Zusi, Dom Dwyer, and Benny Feilhaber.

Some of the recent losses have come against quality opponents—including New England, D.C. United, and New York—but on Sunday Sporting will face a telling game against a terrible Chivas USA team that is also riding a four-game losing streak. Sporting Kansas City holds a massive edge in talent and experience over Chivas USA, and the match will be played in a depressingly empty StubHub Center that does not give the home team much of an advantage.

If Sporting wins, it can build off the result and move forward with increased confidence—similar to what New England did earlier this season—they can turn things around. If Sporting Kansas City loses, however, its problems are much worse than previously thought.

2. Seattle vs. Real Salt Lake is a must-watch

There is often little separating the good from the bad in Major League Soccer, with most teams always in the playoff race until the end of the season. Every now and then, however, there is a game where two truly good teams get to go head-to-head and that will happen on Friday night when the Seattle Sounders host Real Salt Lake.

Right now the top four teams in the Western Conference are the most entertaining teams in the league, and all of them have a real shot at the Supporter's Shield. Real Salt Lake is in third place and five points behind Seattle but it is a veteran team and can claw back into the race for first with a win in Seattle.

3. Can the Red Bulls stay above the line?

Last year the Red Bulls won the Supporter's Shield but the already-old team is another year older. Game after game, the team is finding miraculous ways to win as it continues to walk a thin line between success and failure.

Red Bull fans would probably prefer a few lopsided victories but for the rest of the league it is marvelously entertaining. Dax McCarty’s terrific chip in July against New England was remarkable. Thierry Henry’s masterful performance against Montreal and his stunning goal last weekend against Kansas City were heroic. On Wednesday it was Loyd Sam who improbably scored a late winner against D.C. United.

On Saturday the Red Bulls will visit Philadelphia, another team with its back against the wall in a playoff push. If the Red Bulls win, it will cap a remarkable week of wins against Eastern Conference rivals. If not, the team could lose its playoff spot.

4. All bets off in chaotic Eastern Conference

While the Western Conference boasts more quality, the Eastern Conference is chaotic and unpredictable. Who would have thought D.C. United would be in first place at this point following a three-win season in 2013? After acquiring Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley, how did Toronto tumble out of the playoff picture? Right now it is a game of musical chairs for a playoff spot and no one knows who will be left standing. New England is now vastly improved with the addition of Jermaine Jones and Columbus is also making a push.

As of now, third place New England and seventh place Toronto are separated by six points. It would not be wise to even discount eighth place Houston since the Dynamo have won three of its last four contests.

Don't expect to see much separation this week, since the only matchup between contenders is New York and Philadelphia. Columbus and Houston will be interesting but only a Houston loss will greatly impact the race by making things very difficult for the Dynamo. There is a chance that if New England, New York, and Columbus all win while Toronto loses, there will be a clear gap in the playoff race but that is unlikely.

This race appears headed for a photo finish.

5. Portland can make its move

For most of the MLS season it appeared as if Portland was going to remain out of the playoff picture. Aided primarily by a Vancouver collapse, however, the Timbers now trail the Whitecaps by just two points for the final playoff spot.

The stars are also aligned nicely for Portland this weekend as the Timbers face a Colorado team which has lost six games in a row and the Whitecaps visit a solid Dallas team. Come Monday, the Timbers could be back above the red line and holding the final playoff spot.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.