8 Stats That Define the 2016 Revolution Season

After qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the past three seasons, the Revolution have endured a dramatic decline in 2016. The club has accumulated just six wins in 27 matches while dropping three of its last four. What gives?

These eight stats paint a picture of the club’s downhill slide:

1. 12 Defensive Configurations in 27 Matches: The Revs’ defensive unit has lacked stability from the get-go, with players such as London Woodberry, Samba, Kelyn Rowe, Darrius Barnes and Donnie Smith all earning starts beside the the Revs’ core defenders. This volatility has led to a lack of chemistry, which has crippled the unit’s overall effectiveness.
2. 47 Goals Allowed: The Revs have leaked goals in 2016. Though a lack of continuity along the back line carries much of the blame, the defensive midfield has also struggled to hold its weight following the departure of Jermaine Jones. Without Jones, or a protypical defensive destroyer, Revolution midfielders have struggled to push attackers off the ball and win possession. As a result, opponents have flooded the Revs’ defensive third—and scored a league-high 47 goals.
3. 29 Goals Scored: In 2015, the Revs scored 48 goals. This season, the club is on pace for 32—and that’s after adding Kei Kamara, who scored 22 goals last season for Columbus Crew SC.
4. 279 Chances Created: Though the Revs have scored just 29 goals, the club has created more chances than any current Eastern Conference playoff team. Finishing has emerged as an issue, then, as 29 goals in 279 chances converts to a scoring rate of one goal for every 9.6 chances created.
5. 1 Win in 11 Matches vs. Current Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: To compete in the East, the Revs must earn results against the conference’s top teams. But a 1-7-3 record against all six Eastern Conference playoff seeds has hardly inspired. This fallout hit rock bottom in August, as the Revs lost matches to Philadelphia, Toronto and New York Red Bulls by a combined score of 9-1.
6. 1-4-1 August record: September once served as a make-or-break month for clubs hoping to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs. But this season, with just three points separating the top four teams in the East, August has developed into the new September. After losing four of six matches this month, the Revs have experienced more break than make.
7. 4 Goals for Kei Kamara in 16 Matches: When the Revs acquired Kamara this spring, fans drooled over his potential chemistry with Chris Tierney—not to mention Lee Nguyen, Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe, all of whom pair individual skill with a knack for threading a final pass. Unfortunately, this unit has yet to build a rapport. After scoring once every 131 minutes for Crew SC, Kamara has scored just once every 357 minutes for the Revolution.
8. 1-4-7 Road Record: Away from Gillette Stadium, the Revs have struggled to develop any kind of rhythm. In fact, the club’s only road win arrived back on June 18, when a Kelyn Rowe game-winner helped the Revs to a 2-1 win at BC Place in Vancouver.