Just a few weeks ago, it appeared any chance of the Seattle Sounders making the 2016 MLS Playoffs was as good as locating Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest. With the addition of Nicolás Lodeiro back on July 27th, hopes of making the playoffs for the eighth straight season is in reach.

Sigi is gone, Lodeiro is in

After Seattle fired head coach Sigi Schmid on July 26th, the Sounders have looked like an entirely different team with interim head coach Brian Schmetzer at the helm. Schmetzer isn’t the only reason the Sounders have played better these last three weeks. The addition of Lodeiro has helped the team immensely. The Sounders finally have a quality playmaker at the #10 position on the field. His vision and tireless work rate have made the Sounders one of the most dangerous teams in the league these last few weeks.

Lodeiro is magical

Nicolás Lodeiro has been huge for the Seattle Sounders since making his debut against the LA Galaxy on July 31st | Brandon Farris - VAVEL USA
Nicolás Lodeiro has been huge for the Seattle Sounders since making his debut against the LA Galaxy on July 31st | Brandon Farris - VAVEL USA

Lodeiro has the ability to see things before he received the ball. It has been seen numerous times these last few weeks what he can do with the ball, and even more importantly, what he can do without the ball. In his first game with the Sounders, Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso were stuck passing the ball back and forth with each other. Lodeiro noticed the team was having trouble moving the ball forward and he proceeded to make a run towards the ball. In doing this, the defense sucked up to stay close to Lodeiro.

With the defense doing their best to stay close to Lodeiro, it allowed Tyrone Mears to make a run down the right side of the field. Nothing came of the chance, but it showed what having Lodeiro on the field can do for the Sounders.

Three games in eight days

Seattle is about to enter one of the tougher parts of their schedule over the next eight days. Seattle is currently five points out of the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their next game is against the Portland Timbers who hold that sixth and final spot. With a win this coming Sunday, Seattle will be just two points out. They follow that up with a midweek trip to BBVA Compass Stadium to take on the Houston Dynamo. There is a chance that when the face the Timbers again on August 28th, they could be one point ahead of Portland.

Obviously, a lot of things have to go the Sounders way over the next two weeks but it is highly possible that they will be in the sixth and final spot come August 28th. The Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes are the two other teams that stand in their way. Vancouver, sitting in eighth place with 30 points, has a game on Saturday, August 20th against Sporting Kansas City who sits in fifth place. San Jose, sitting in seventh, hosts Houston on August 19th.

Can it be done?

The Seattle Sounders are trying to catch Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers, one of the many teams above them for the race to the 2016 MLS Playoffs | Brandon Farris - VAVEL USA
The Seattle Sounders are trying to catch Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers, one of the many teams above them for the race to the 2016 MLS Playoffs | Brandon Farris - VAVEL USA

Seattle would need some help from the clubs above them but it is not out of reach. Of the two clubs ahead of them just below the line, the Sounders have two games in hand over the Whitecaps. They also have two games in hand over Portland.

The last few years, 50 or 51 points gets you into the playoffs. If that is the case this year, Seattle would need to win at least eight of their final 11 games to get to 51 points has they currently sit on 27 points. They could afford one or two draws and possibly still sneak in. It won’t be easy but the thought of making the playoffs now is more reality than a pipe dream that it was a few weeks back.

Sounders remaining schedule

Here is a look at the Sounders final 11 games of the season. As you can see below, they have five games remaining at home and six on the road. It is imperative that they pick up the full possible 15 points at home and maybe win two of the three on the road and hope for a few ties along the way.

Home Away Date
Seattle Sounders Portland Timbers Sunday, August 21
Houston Dynamo Seattle Sounders Wednesday, August 24
Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders Sunday, August 28
San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders Saturday, September 10
Seattle Sounders Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday, September 17
LA Galaxy Seattle Sounders Sunday, September 25
Seattle Sounders Chicago Fire Wednesday, September 28
Vancouver Whitecaps Seattle Sounders Sunday, October 2
Seattle Sounders Houston Dynamo Wednesday, October 12
FC Dallas Seattle Sounders Sunday, October 16
Seattle Sounders Real Salt Lake Sunday, October 23

It won't be easy but it is more likely to happen than finding Sasquatch.

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About the author
Chris Blakely
Chris is an American sports journalist based out of Seattle, Washington. Co-Editor of the soccer section of VAVEL USA. He also is the leading editor of VAVEL USA's NWSL section.