Twelve games without a loss, 10 in league play. You’ve heard a version of those numbers relentlessly since the Portland Timbers’ streak started approaching double digits, mostly because that’s when the story became dominant. Streaks like this are rare, and while this one has come amid a feeling that Portland still has room to grow, the contrast between that growth and the team’s results only fuels the story. This still growing, coalescing, learning version of the Timbers has still gone a dozen games in all competitions without feeling a loss.
Saturday night against San Jose (8pm PT, ROOT SPORTS) presents a perfect opportunity to extend that streak, so perfect that it allows us to evoke our favorite metaphor: the double-edged sword.