SEATTLE — Contrary to popular belief, the Seattle Sounders’ first 13 seasons have not all gone smoothly. Sure, they’ve never missed the playoffs and never even finished lower than fourth in the Western Conference standings, but there have been plenty of years where that position was plenty precarious.
In three seasons — 2013, 2015 and 2016 — the Sounders’ were unable to clinch a playoff spot until the final game. As recently as 2018, the Sounders were in a very similar position they are in now at this point in the season — two points out of a playoff spot with 10 games left to play — albeit also in the midst of a record-breaking winning streak.