Fire look to book playoff ticket
A win over the Revolution on Saturday night will secure spot in postseason
In defender C.J. Brown's 11 previous seasons with the Chicago Fire, he has always found them to be a team that comes together as the playoffs approach.
This season, that hasn't been the case.
"I haven't been the most happy, you could say," Brown said. "Usually around this time, we've been clicking and usually ending the season on a good note. We have been really up and down and haven't really been consistent."
Brown and the Fire are desperately hoping that will turn around as they approach their final two regular-season games with their playoff status still pending. The Fire are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points, but with New England, DC United and Toronto FC all within five points of Chicago, the final three playoff positions are still to be decided.
On Saturday night, Chicago faces New England.
"For me personally, I don't worry about, 'If we could do this, we could that, we could be in this position,'" Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch said. "We're trying to get a result in New England. We're not sitting there checking out every scenario where we could be."
For the Fire to get the result they want, it'll be their defense that needs to play better. Three games ago, the Fire surrendered a 2-0 lead and allowed Columbus to leave Toyota Park with a 2-2 tie. Two games ago, Toronto FC picked up a point in another 2-2 tie as it was able to create chance after chance against the Fire.
"I think defensively we've been chaotic and unorganized, not being on the same page," Brown said. "We weren't clicking. It's all in general. You can't say 'So-and-so isn't doing his job.' This year it's a little chaotic."
The Fire are hopeful things will turn around, as the defense seemed improved in its most recent game, a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles on Oct. 3. The lone goal came on a skilled strike by Landon Donovan.
"Definitely, I thought [in] the L.A. game, we were pretty good," Brown said. "We were able to stay together more and working together on the defensive end."
Busch was just as pleased.
"I think if you look at that L.A. game, we made it tough on them," Busch said. "They still had a few chances. We were happy with the way the way played in the back. We were all on the same page. If you look at the week before, it was a mess."
While the Fire may be on the playoff bubble at the moment, Busch still believes they have what it takes to win the MLS Cup. He's seen it in their play at times this season.
"You look at the games where we've had everyone healthy and had everyone on the same page, and we've had some very good games this year against supposedly the best teams in the league," Busch said. "I'm a straightforward shooter. If I didn't think we had what it took win it all, I wouldn't say it."
Scott Powers covers the Chicago Fire for ESPNChicago.com and can be reached at spowers@espnchicago.com.
