Can top seeds recover in MLS conference semifinals?

Even though the Revs and Red Bulls played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg, New England could continue its domination of its rivals. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

D.C. is trailing red-hot Chicago. Chivas USA is in a hole against Kansas City. Houston also is facing a deficit against in-state rival FC Dallas. Only New England was able to get out of the first weekend of the MLS postseason relatively unscathed, and the Revs only could muster a scoreless draw at New York.

Just like in 2005, none of MLS' top four seeds enters the second weekend of the conference semifinals with an advantage headed into the home leg. And that was perhaps the most unexpected postseason in league history, with three lower seeds advancing out of the first round and the West's No. 4 team (Los Angeles) rolling to the MLS Cup crown.

So with most of the league's regular-season powers facing early deficits, let's tackle a six pack of Burning Questions heading into this weekend's playoff showdowns.

1. Is it time to change the first-round playoff format?

After the four matches in the first weekend produced just three goals in more than 360 minutes -- all by the home teams -- there are three words you're most likely to hear from people unhappy with MLS' playoff format: away-goals tiebreaker.

The league has tweaked its playoff format numerous times throughout the past decade, and clearly, something should be done again to improve the quality of the conference semifinals from both aesthetic and strategic (more on this later) standpoints. Even New York coach Bruce Arena bemoaned New England's intent of just surviving the road leg without incurring any damage. "It was pretty obvious that New England came in here with a plan that a [draw] was fine and if a goal came, they would take it," Arena said.

So should MLS adopt the European-style format of using away goals to settle tiebreakers? League brass has said that particular change is "something that we've discussed," along with other possible scenarios. Right idea, wrong concept.

For my money, it should be the format preferred in countries such as Mexico -- put the onus on the lower seed to win the home-and-home series outright. If the series ends up tied after 180 minutes, the higher seed advances. Let's face it, home-field advantage should mean something. There's no reason a, say, 40-point Chicago should be on equal footing with a Supporters' Shield winners D.C. United.

For example, say No. 8 seed wins the first leg 2-1. If No. 1 seed wins the second leg 1-0 in this hypothetical, it would advance. No overtime. No tiebreakers.

With eight of the league's 13 current teams making the postseason, the league's upper-echelon teams should be rewarded.

Then again, without the rules in there current state, would there have been a finish like 2003's San Jose-Los Angeles classic, when the Earthquakes rallied from four goals down in the second leg to stun the Galaxy 5-4 on aggregate in overtime? Probably not. Every playoff format would have some flaws, but some more minor tweaks are necessary. Now about that No. 1 vs. No. 8 idea ...

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