It is rare in sports to have a clean and simple path laid before you in terms of what you need to do. In week 1, or week 10 or week 20, a good game or a bad one is of limited consequence. But in week 31, with only four games to go, the Rapids had a very clear set of outcomes laid before them: win in Houston, and earn a first round bye. Win all four of the remaining games, and the Supporters’ Shield belongs to Colorado, along with home-field advantage for the MLS Cup.
In contrast, the Houston Dynamo had less to play for.