Colorado Rapids must keep beating the Eastern Conference

What to do for a team that is probably just outside Supporter's Shield contention like the Rapids? It's unlikely that we'll see a sweep of the Galaxy or Sounders, and games against Salt Lake rarely seem to go the Rapids way these days. Of course, there will be some wins in those series, but the points for Colorado will have to include a sizable chunk from the Eastern Conference.

Look at the other 'contenders' in the East. Columbus looked terrible in their first game and have a largely unknown roster. New York look like they have even less chemistry than last season. Philadelphia are a hot mess with coaching issues. DC were supposed to improve but haven't found themselves yet.

Colorado play 10 games against Eastern Conference competition this season, one against each team. Even if they lose their games against Kansas City or Houston – and the Rapids looked decent against both sides on the road last year – that's 24 points on the table for the Rapids, and it may take as many as 50 to be a Western Conference representative. It's going to be up to the Rapids to get as many points from the East as possible just in case their good form from the first two games falters a bit as they face their fellow teams at the top.

There's a great chance for the Rapids to start the season off 4-0 with games against the reeling Red Bulls and the questionable Fire coming up. After that, the real fun begins when they play Salt Lake for the first time and their first Western Conference match-up. Who wouldn't want to get a 12 point head start before inter-conference games begin?