TORONTO – Mark it down and move on.

Having already claimed a first-ever Supporters' Shield, Toronto FC wrote themselves into the record books on Sunday with a 2-2 Decision Day draw away to Atlanta United. 

The point, which brought their season total to 69, saw the club establish a new MLS record, eclipsing the long-standing mark set by the LA Galaxy in 1998.

“We're proud of it,” said Greg Vanney post-match, himself a member of that '98 LA side. “One of things we set with this group was we wanted try to do something different, try to be the best ever.” 

Said Michael Bradley: “We're excited. It's something to be proud of for sure.” 

“We went after every game this season with everything we had. It would have been easy with the shield in our back pocket already, home field advantage [through the playoffs] already, to keep guys at home, come and play in a casual way.... We didn't,” continued Bradley. “We stepped on the field against a good team, in their stadium, to play, to win. In the end, over 34 games, we were the best team. We proved that time and again. We're very proud of that.” 

'Best ever' in sports is always a subjective label, but Toronto has made a case for themselves with their regular season. It's a feather in the cap; an accomplishment worthy of praise and note.

“You never really know how to define [best ever] until you get going, see how a season goes and see what you can accomplish. As far as the regular season goes, we've accomplished that,” said Vanney. “Now we have a big task in front of us.”

Record in hand, the focus quickly shifts to what lies ahead.

“It's something,” said Jozy Altidore of the achievement. “But at the end of it, there's only one thing that we want, one thing on our minds: get to the final again and winning it in Toronto.”

The playoffs kick off on Wednesday night with the first two Knockout Round matches that pit the Chicago Fire against the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference and Vancouver Whitecaps FC against the San Jose Earthquakes out west.

The other two matches go on Thursday night with Atlanta United FC hosting Columbus Crew SC and the Houston Dynamo facing Sporting KC.

“Now it all starts over, everything,” reminded Bradley. “Everybody starts again at zero. Nobody is going to give us anything because we had a good regular season. Now it's all about this mini-tournament over the next six, seven weeks.” 

Added Bradley: “We're going to use the week in a good way, watch these [Knockout] games, prepare to play whoever, and make sure that when we get our chance, when that whistle blows next [week], we're ready to go after it.”

The winners of the knockout matches will effectively be reseeded, with TFC facing the remaining side who finished lowest in the final standings – either the Red Bulls, should they triumph in Chicago, or the winners of the Atlanta-Columbus contest – in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the first leg of which is set for either Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Continent wide, fans and clubs alike are braced for two exciting nights of winner-take-all MLS action.

“Tough games, everyone is the Eastern Conference is good,” said Vanney of the games on the docket. “They're going to be tough matchups. On the day, it will be whoever executes better. That's the way the East has been this year. It should be interesting. We will prepare ourselves until we know who we play, then start to match prep for who it is.” 

Toronto must wait before they find out who their opponent will be in the next round. Steven Beitashour, an MLS veteran, knows whomever they face, it will be a “battle.”

“Every team in the East is capable of making it to the final,” said Beitashour. “Playoffs are tricky, it's another season. One mistake and you're out, especially with [the knockout] games.” 

“In the conference semis and the conference finals, you get two legs, so if you do have an off night or the ball is not bouncing your way, you have another game to make up for it,” continued Beitashour. “Every little play counts in the playoffs, every back-track, every run, there's no taking plays off. That's the beauty of the playoffs.”