The last time the Colorado Rapids won a playoff game, Tim Howard donned burgundy, Kevin Durant had just joined the Golden State Warriors and Usain Bolt was celebrating his final Olympic gold medal. The opponent that year was, naturally, the Landon Donovan-led L.A. Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinals. A thrilling shootout was required for the Rapids to keep a magical 2016 season alive, but a groin injury kept Howard out of the conference finals and the Rapids ran into the eventual MLS Cup champions, Seattle Sounders. A lot has changed since then: 10 new teams were added to the league, playoff formats have shifted emphatically and often, and the Rapids’ roster has completely turned over. The mantra around Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is the same now as it (probably) was eight years ago: “Beat L.A.” In the locker room, “That’s the talk,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said Wednesday. In the first round of this year’s MLS Cup Playoffs, the two worst teams in the 2023 Western Conference standings meet in the 2-7 matchup.