No, the race to make the MLS Cup Playoffs will not be over if the Seattle Sounders lose to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday (7:30 PM, JOEtv). Instead their road becomes even closer to a literal must-win for every single match..
Winning on Saturday gives the Sounders some room in latter matches. San Jose is one of the three teams competing for what is basically a single playoff spot - Timbers, Earthquakes and Sounders. It is why the loss at Portland hurt a bit. Losing two in a row to the teams competing for the same seed would make the path even more difficult.