Columbus Crew midfielder Brooks Lennon has warned his team-mates not to focus on the playoffs with three regular-season games to go.

The Crew's recent turnaround in form has seen them move within one point of the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, which is currently occupied by the New York Red Bulls.

Columbus have won five of their last six regular-season matches (L1), including the last three in a row, marking the club's first three-match league winning streak since June 2025. 

Last time out, Columbus cruised to a 4-2 win over Toronto FC, taking a 4-0 lead before conceding either side of a red card shown to Sekou Bangoura.

Lennon scored the Crew's fourth, netting his first MLS goal for the club since his move from Atlanta United in the summer.

With a trip to FC Dallas starting a crucial run of fixtures for Columbus, Lennon has urged his team-mates not to get ahead of themselves.

"With three games left, we said it before Toronto, every game is a final for us," Lennon said.

"You know, now we go away in Dallas, in a big game. They're doing well in the West, but yeah, we have to focus on one game at a time.

"We can't focus on the playoffs right now. Yes, we want to get in, but you have to focus on the process, not the outcome, and that's what we're doing."

Capped off the Crew onslaught  Lennon's first in Black & Gold was well-earned  https://t.co/kE0RQRIIrI

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) October 27, 2026

Dallas will pose a tough test for Columbus as they look to top the West; Dallas are one point behind the Vancouver Whitecaps, who lead the conference.

They defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 on the weekend, with all three goals coming after the 82nd-minute mark.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Musa scored two of Dallas' three goals in their win over San Jose on Saturday, extending his single-season club record to 22 goals in 2026.

In his third season with the club, Musa has totalled 56 goals, second in Dallas' MLS history behind only Jason Kreis' 91 goals.

Columbus Crew – Santiago Rodriguez

Rodriguez has recorded an assist in four straight matches, the longest active streak in MLS and the longest by a Crew player since Cucho Hernandez in 2024.

The last Crew player to record an assist in five straight matches in a single regular season was Guillermo Barros Schelotto in 2008.

MATCH PREDICTION: FC DALLAS WIN

Dallas have won six of their last seven home matches in all competitions, including recording shutout wins in each of their last three at Toyota Stadium.

This is the first time Dallas have recorded three straight shutout wins at home in all competitions since March-April 2013.

However, Columbus are unbeaten in six straight meetings with Dallas (W2 D4).

Indeed, Dallas' last victory over the Crew came in 2015. The Crew have not lost in Dallas since 2011, recording a win and four draws in five visits over the last 15 seasons.

The Crew had six wins in 25 matches (D5 L14) prior to winning five of their last six, showing the impressive nature of their recent form.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Dallas – 46.2%

Draw – 23.4%

Columbus Crew – 30.4%