To lighten the Red Bulls’ playoff expectations, Jesse Marsch branded his team as the underdogs of the Eastern Conference three weeks ago after they clinched the sixth seed against Vancouver. It was a modest label that suited some fresh faces while also the holdovers from past playoff failures.
For the first time in eight-straight playoff appearances, the Red Bulls come in as true underdogs. But their strong ending to the season, which included strong results against postseason teams Vancouver and Atlanta, showed a team finally healthy and together, a refined yet scrappy bunch clicking at the right time.