This sign from opponents shows the level of Crew's recent dominance

Since an awful loss to Miami just about a month ago, the Crew has been dominant in their past five games. They’ve outscored their opponents 20-2 and simply overwhelmed them. If actions speak louder than words, the body language of Crew opponents say they are screaming in frustration at what the defending MLS Cup champions are doing to them.

In all five matches the frustration shown by Crew opponents has been almost tangible. Sporting Kansas City wasn’t just frustrated, they looked completely demoralized and were hoping head coach Peter Vermes would throw in the towel so they could get off the field and escape the carnage. New England was all smiles when they jumped out to an early lead, but they were left looking frustrated, dazed, and bewildered by the final whistle. Nashville lost by only 2-0, but it easily could have been six or seven as the Crew played circles around them. Toronto’s body language was only slightly better than SKC in their recent 4-0 loss.

None of the other four can match the frustration the Crew caused LAFC during a 5-1 beatdown in Saturday night’s MLS Cup rematch. Wilfried Nancy’s bunch thoroughly dismantled the league’s hottest team in their own stadium. LAFC became so irked at the Crew’s dominance, it finally manifested itself physically in a late game confrontation between their Jesus Marillo and the Crew’s Marino Hinestroza (both were shown red cards). You don’t often see a quality team like that reduced to that level of frustration.

The body language shown by Black & Gold opponents has been a common thread through these last five matches and it isn’t hard to see why. The Crew has dominated possession (an average of 61 percent), snuffed out scoring chances, and not allowed star players to make anything close to an impact.

Charlotte is up next on Wednesday night at Lower.com Field. They’re coming off a pounding of FC Cincinnati and are flying high. The Crew owes them for what happened at their place in a loss with a horrific replacement referee. Can The Crown hold up and not become frustrated like these other five teams? Their body language as the game progresses will tell you the answer.