2022 MLS Predictions: Eastern Conference

New York City FC v Portland Timbers
New York City FC v Portland Timbers | Andy Mead/ISI Photos/GettyImages
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3. New York City FC

NYCFC are, at worst, the second best team in the Eastern Conference. BUT. I fully expect them to put everything into the Concacaf Champions League, and I expect them to make a serious run in that tournament. When MLS teams make CCL runs, it always hurts their league form, especially early in the season. Plus, Taty Castellanos is probably gone in the summer. New York will be excellent again, but their regular season performance won't be anything overwhelmingly impressive.