Take a bow, Colorado. You had the second-largest points per game increase from 2023 to 2024 in the entire Western Conference and the third-largest increase in all of MLS, only behind a team down in Florida who happened to sign the greatest player of all time midway through last year and the spendy LA Galaxy.

The Rapids' turnaround under Chris Armas with their various winter roster changes has been impressive. Still, those things have only taken Colorado from "bad" to "solid" -- the jump all the way up to "great" hasn't happened yet. According to FBref, the Rapids finished 10th in xG differential this season.

There's a real worry surrounding this team's fitness. They've lost four straight games with Cole Bassett sidelined, Djordje Mihailovic was carried off the field with an ankle injury on Decision Day, and Zack Steffen is out (though that isn't the worst thing for Colorado, given he's allowed league-worst 9.1 goals more than expected, per FBref).