The 2023 MLS Cup champions did not clinch a playoff berth last weekend, but have a chance to this upcoming weekend as they travel down to take on FC Cincinnati in the away leg of the Hell Is Real Derby. Things are a little more complex however, as the Columbus Crew have 17 different ways to clinch a playoff berth as opposed two four like last week.

Here are the different sceanrios in question:

• Win at Cincinnati or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND Toronto lose/draw vs Austin FC or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND D.C. United lose/draw vs New York City FC AND New England lose/draw at Orlando City or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND Philadelphia Union lose/draw at Inter Miami AND Atlanta United lose vs Nashville SC or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND New England lose/draw at Orlando AND Atlanta lose vs Nashville or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND New England lose/draw at Orlando AND New York Red Bulls lose at Chicago Fire or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND Philadelphia lose/draw at Miami AND Red Bulls lose at Chicago or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND Atlanta draw vs Nashville AND Red Bulls draw at Chicago AND New England lose/draw at Orlando or
• Draw at Cincinnati AND Atlanta draw vs Nashville AND Red Bulls draw at Chicago AND Philadelphia lose/draw at Miami or
• Toronto lose vs Austin AND New England lose at Orlando or
• Toronto lose vs Austin AND Philadelphia lose/draw at Miami or
• Toronto lose vs Austin AND Atlanta lose/draw vs Nashville or
• D.C. lose/draw vs New York City AND New England lose at Orlando AND Atlanta lose/draw vs Nashville or
• D.C. lose/draw vs New York City AND New England lose at Orlando AND Toronto draw vs Austin AND Red Bulls lose at Chicago or
• Philadelphia lose/draw at Miami AND Atlanta lose/draw vs Nashville AND Toronto draw vs Austin AND Red Bulls lose at Chicago or
• New England lose at Orlando AND Atlanta lose/draw vs Nashville AND Toronto draw vs Austin AND Red Bulls lose at Chicago or
• D.C. lose/draw vs New York City AND New England lose at Orlando AND Philadelphia lose/draw at Miami

The Crew will need loads of help if the game against FC Cincinnati were to end level, so the main focus would be to win.

When asked if the team would be ready for a huge stretch of games including Campeones Cup and Inter Miami, defender Malte Amundsen replied “Yes.”

Kickoff from TQL Stadium for Hell Is Real is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT. You can watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, or follow along with live updates from the Massive Report Twitter (@MassiveReport).