Yes, the win really did make a playoff game likely

Last night’s win put the Seattle Sounders above the red line. They still have a game in hand on Portland and Kansas City. Those three delicious, wonderful, stunning points increased the chance of making the playoffs by 13% (according to both SPI and SportsClubStats).

Being above the red line is great.

That is not the goal. The goal is more than just making the MLS Cup Playoffs for an eighth straight season (which lets admit is pretty cool). This is the goal.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

It may not happen this year. But it could. Only six teams have more wins than the Sounders - TFC, RBNY, NYCFC, FCD and the Rapids. Seattle has a game in hand on all but Colorado. The list of teams with better form over the last six games - DCU, RBNY. Only Toronto matches Seattle’s form from July 31st to the present. The Reds are 6-1-4 +10 in that stretch. The Sounders are 6-1-3 +7. Seattle holds a 2.10 to 2.00 points per game advantage over Toronto.

Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s boys can look down at that red line. They can look to MLS history for their goal. They can look to Schmetzer to know exactly what it’s like to win a league.

Step one is complete. They’re above the red line.
Step two: earn the best seed possible.
Step three: win during the second season.
Step four: dance