If Carl Robinson and his Toronto FC teammates can win their next two games by the time they get to New York for the final match of the season, they could be in the pink. If Carl Robinson and his Toronto FC teammates can win their next two games by the time they get to New York for the final match of the season, they could be in the pink. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Three weeks to go and Toronto FC needs some help if it's going to make the Major League Soccer post-season for the first time.

After the grass divots were replaced following Friday and Saturday games, things became much clearer in the convoluted MLS playoff race.

And the first reality is TFC needs to win all three of its remaining games — which is certainly a possibility considering the quality of the opponents.

That begins this coming Saturday afternoon against the San Jose Earthquakes (4 p.m., CBC Sports, CBCsports.ca), the league's second-worst team with just seven wins in 26 starts.

Follow that on Oct. 17 with Real Salt Lake (11th overall) and wrap up with an Oct. 24 trip to New Jersey to play the last-place New York Red Bulls, and there are obviously some opportunities there.

TFC is sitting on 35 points, three back of New England and the final playoff spot. Top-two teams in each of the conferences are in with four wild cards going to the next best records for a total of eight in the post-season.

Here's how things break down in the rest of the league.

Chicago Fire (Fourth overall, 41 points, two games left)

The Fire do not have second place and an automatic berth sewn up in the Eastern Conference by any means, especially not with a game on the road against New England and at home with Chivas USA remaining. Both those teams need wins badly.

If Chicago wins out, they take second.

Seattle Sounders (Fifth overall, 41 points, two games left)

When the astounding Sounders beat Columbus on the road Saturday night, it broke off the Crews' run of 22 straight without loss in Ohio.

The expansion club finishes with a pair against non-playoff teams, at Kansas City and home to FC Dallas.

Chivas USA (Sixth overall, 41 points, four games left)

Should easily qualify with four left to play and two of those at home to bottom-dwelling Kansas City and San Jose.

Colorado Rapids (Seventh overall, 40 points, two games left)

A tough job with both games on the road against teams trying to make the playoffs in FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake.

New England Revolution (Eighth overall, 38 points, three games left)

Watching Columbus lose at home to Seattle must have been excruciating because the Crew are going to be angry and two of the Revs' final three are against the Ohio bunch, one home and one away.

The other game is against Chicago Fire, a desperate side.

D.C. United (Ninth overall, 36 points, two games left)

Lost to Chivas USA this weekend, and that hurt. Also have to face Columbus, though at home and that should help a bit. The other game is against struggling Kansas City.

Toronto FC (10th overall, 35 points, three games left)

By the time that last game in New York comes up, TFC will know exactly what they have to do, if the chance still exists.

Real Salt Lake (11th overall, 34 points, three games left)

Open those three left home to the terrible Red Bulls, who haven't won away all year. Then it's Toronto and Colorado to try and stay in the battle.

Tie breaks at the end of the season are based first on record against each other, then goal differential overall. At minus-five, TFC has the worst goals for and against of any playoff contender.