Atlanta United may have clinched a playoff spot, but there’s still plenty on the line as the club heads into Decision Day 2017, presented by AT&T – the final day of regular season matches. Playoff seeding can offer a crucial advantage in the postseason, and despite currently sitting in fourth place, Atlanta United could finish anywhere from second to fifth in the Eastern Conference. Here are the different scenarios that could lead to each outcome/seeding:
#2 Seed - A first-round playoff bye
Atlanta Win – AND – NYC Loss/Draw – AND – Chicago Loss/Draw
To avoid the quick turnaround of a midweek play-in game, Atlanta United would have to finish in second place to get a bye straight into the Conference Semifinals.