FOXBORO -- Seeing as they've done it in each of the last two seasons, is it too much to think that the New England Revolution will make another late run for the playoffs?
With a dozen games to go and saddled with the worst record in Major League Soccer (4-8-6, 18 points), the Revs aren't quite sure it's dire straits time, but it is getting close.
New England plays its final regular-season game against Eastern Conference foe Columbus today at 4 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. The game will be shown live on ESPN2.
Today's game is the first of three over eight days for New England. On Wednesday, the Revs play at Dallas and next Saturday they are at D.C. United.
The Crew are in second place in the Eastern Conference at 6-5-6. The MetroStars have a five-point cushion in first place, 8-6-5; United is in third place, three points behind Columbus, and Chicago is only a point in front of the Revs for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Despite some injury-induced roster shuffling, however, New England has earned at least a point in each of its last four MLS games and five of the last six. But the Crew have been an Achilles heel for the team this season -- the Revs have two one-goal losses and a 1-1 draw in their first three meetings.
Head coach Steve Nicol said it's important to focus only on the game the Revs have in front of them.
"If we take four points [over the three-game stretch], obviously it's huge. But for us, [today] against Columbus is the only thing we can think about. They are huge games, but we can't afford to look at any other game other than the one we're playing (today)."
Nicol added that it's clear to him that New England is capable of beating the Crew, and has shown as much in the first three games. The key, he said, is going after Columbus.
The key for the Revs against any team, midfielder Brian Kamler said, is to get out in front and stay there.
"The main concentration is finishing chances and keeping the ball after that, and not being on the defensive all the time," Kamler said. "I think we've jelled enough to become a team, and it's just holding the leads."
This may turn out to be a season of "what if?" for the Revolution -- as in, what if nearly the entire roster hadn't missed time to injuries at one point or another.
It started with veteran defender Carlos Llamosa, who tore his left ACL in the preseason and was lost for the year. Another back-line stalwart, Rusty Pierce, got hurt in the second game of the season, suffering a deep quadriceps bruise that turned serious when it filled with blood and swelled.
Then striker Joe-Max Moore, the franchise's career scoring leader, suffered yet another knee injury only three games into the season and hasn't played since.
Goalkeeper Adin Brown has been out at two differnt stretches, earlier this season with a groin strain, and currently with a concussion suffered on June 26 when he collided with teammate Joe Franchino's knee while making a save.
Keeper Matt Reis, a former starter in Los Angeles, has been solid, but even the team's third netminder, Kyle Singer, is on the injury report with a shoulder sprain. The backup keeper is Doug Warren, whom the Revs plucked from the MLS Goalkeepers Pool.
Midfielders Shalrie Joseph, Jose Cancela and Kamler, forwards Felix Brilliant and Taylor Twellman -- all have missed at least one game this season with one ailment or another.
Today, New England will be without rookie Clint Dempsey, whose jaw is fractured and wired shut, and defender Marshall Leonard, serving a one-game suspension on caution points. Kamler, listed as probable and coming back from a quad contusion, his second injury this year, has participated in training all week and will be available.
Pierce and Dempsey are both expected to be back in the coming weeks, and getting healthy will go a long way toward New England getting into the playoffs for the third straight season.
"The last two years, it's great that we rebounded the way we did," Kamler said. "But going into the last part of the season, we've got to do it again. Our backs are not totally up against the wall yet, but it's coming close."
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