THE LAST TIME THEY MET, these two Northeastern rivals were gunning for a spot in MLS Cup. When they clash this weekend, the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution will do so as two of the hottest teams in Major League Soccer.

When history, geography, and current form are all factored together, Saturday’s Revolution-Red Bull tilt at Gillette Stadium (7:30pm ET, MLS DirectKick) is our choice for the Game of the Week.

After a tumultuous offseason that saw legendary Frenchman Thierry Henry retire and popular head coach Mike Petke replaced by Jesse Marsch, the Red Bulls were a huge question mark coming into this season. But the team enters Saturday’s game with a 3-0-4 record—the only unbeaten team in MLS. 

Meanwhile, after its sizzling end to last season and the re-acquisition of prodigiously talented Juan Agudelo, the Revolution entered this season as prohibitive favorites to return to MLS Cup. ANd, of course, the club promptluy lost its first two games and wemt scoreless in its first three. But Jay Heaps' men have put that stumble behind them and are on a six-game unbeaten run (3-0-3) that has showcased its offensive and defensive abilities.

Along with D.C. United, these I-95 rivals are in a logjam atop the Eastern Conference and Saturday's "six-pointer" could make a difference come playoff time.

THE SUBPLOTS

While the Red Bulls have yet to lose this season, tonight it will face a player—U.S. national team stalwart Jermaine Jones—who has lost just once in regulation in 18 MLS games (including the playoffs). The German-American missed the first three games of this year and it’s no coincidence New England got off to a slow start without him. 

Jones just has that “it” factor that the Revolution feed off and he elevates both the confidence and level of play of his (mostly) much younger teammates.

With Henry enjoying retirement in Europe, the Red Bulls have no such leader. But what it does have is outstanding team chemistry, and balance, that it lacked in the Henry Era. As we reported previously, the Red Bulls locker room is a much happier one without Henry griping about how things weren’t up to his admittedly high standards. As a result, the team if playing without fear.

At some point, attitude and chemistry and confidence only go so far, but between the Revs' soaring confidence and the Red Bulls playing loose without Henry, for now both teams have a formula that’s working.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Between Agudelo, Charlie Davies, Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe, Teal Bunbury, and Diego Fagundez, the Revolution have as much depth and skill in attack as any team in MLS, perhaps ever. When Heap goes to the bench, there isn't much of a drop off, players like Bunbury and Fagundez have been just as dangerous as subs as they have as starters.

These attackers provide a stern test for even the most-experienced defenders in MLS—and the Red Bulls' 19-year old Matt Miazga, who has started five straight games in the middle of defense, is not exactly a wily veteran.

Miazga has had a few shaky moments but no more than any other young center back and has usually played far above his age. But he also hasn’t been challenged by the level of skill and depth that the Revs will throw at him Saturday. How he handles this test will go a long way in determining how this game goes.

Lest we forget, the Red Bulls' attack isn’t exactly timid either. Bradley Wright-Phillips is the reigning MLS Golden Boot winner and this year he’s added playmaking (three assists already after just two a year ago) to his goal-scoring prowess. 

Teamed with speedy Lloyd Sam and former U.S. international Sacha Kljestan, this trio can be dangerous in their own right and will test a Revolution backline that has seen third-year player Andrew Farrell settle in at center back following a rough start after switching from the flank.

With former MLS defender of the year Jose Goncalves likely to miss the game nursing a calf injury, Jones figures to start alongside Farrell for the third straight game.

THE X-FACTOR

For all New England’s skill and depth, the unheralded Chris Tierney is often the key to its attack. Tierney, who usually starts at left back but occasionally pushes into a wide midfield role, is the Revs’ unsung hero, averaging five assists the past four seasons. He hits a great dead ball and is equally dangerous overlapping into the attack. 

If the Red Bulls key too much on stopping the likes of Nguyen and Agudelo, it creates space for Tierney’s crosses, which are among the best in MLS. (Were he a smidge faster, he’d probably be in the mix for the U.S. national team.)

PREDICTION

The Red Bulls played Colorado to a physical 1-1 draw Wednesday night then had to travel to New England. While the trip isn’t that far, combined with the midweek game and playing last Sunday, it makes for three games in a week so Marsch's men are likely to have some tired legs. Combine that with the Revolution’s form and the magic touch that Jones has and this one looks like it goes 2-0 to the home team.

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.