One regular-season game remains, but the Union will be treating it like a playoff. Then again, Nowak wanted every game to be treated this way, so in his mind nothing is different.
Of course, it is different in that so much is at stake when the Union visit the New York Red Bulls in Thursday's 8 p.m. regular-season finale at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
So many playoff permutations are still possible. The Union could clinch one of the top three spots in the Eastern Conference and avoid the dreaded wild-card round with a win. Other situations could enable the Union to clinch one of the top three spots, but all would leave it in someone else's hands. Plus the Union are tied with Sporting Kansas City for first place in the East, with each team having one game to play.
The Red Bulls are in the running for the 10th and final MLS playoff spot. Though four teams entered Wednesday's competition in contention for the wild card, the Red Bulls can clinch Thursday if they beat the Union.
So both teams will be going all-out, as much as they can. New York, for instance, will miss 14-goal scorer Thierry Henry, out after receiving a red card in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City.
The memory of clinching a playoff berth and wearing those white MLS playoff shirts on Saturday is long gone in the Union locker room.
The Union, Nowak conceded, didn't play particularly well Saturday, but he didn't need to point this out.
Nowak suggested that this young team was a little tight.
Now there are no excuses. The playoff berth is clinched, and a first-round bye is well within reach. Then the Union can try to make a serious push in the postseason.
There is no doubt that Thursday's game will have a playoff feel.
