Tag: troy renck

Renck: This was no miracle — only prideful Americans who ‘are best in the world’

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The face of American hockey has a bloody lip, missing teeth and disheveled hair.

Jack Hughes represents the best of us. Grit, toughness, pride, the willingness to sacrifice for others, no matter how messy or irrational.

Forty-six years to the day of The Miracle on Ice, the Americans transformed hockey into a three-hour anthem in Italy.

No politics, no posturing, no whining, just winning.

U-S-A! 2, Canada 1.

Former captain Mike Mike Eruzione was right. This was their team. This was their time. We will never forget 1980. But we no longer have to live in the past. Or have a Netflix account.

The golden glow is back, returned by a spirited group of muckers, grinders and a breathtaking goalie.

“It’s all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates. I am so proud of the Americans today. Unbelievable game by (Connor) Hellebuyck. He was our best player by a mile,” Hughes said on the NBC broadcast. “The USA Hockey brotherhood means so much. We are such a team. The brotherhood is so strong.”

The Americans followed a script that creates goosebumps.

They were underdogs, facing a Canadian team that boasted a battery of future Hall of Famers, including the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

Their roster was questioned, built in the image of Ford rather than Ferrari. Team USA general manager Bill Guerin wanted brawn and size, preferring players capable of preventing Canadian goals more than scoring them.

They were inspired, hanging the No 13 jersey of Johnny Gaudreau in their locker room. Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver in 2024. The Gaudreau family traveled to Milan on Friday and watched from the stands at Santagiulia Arena, eyes watering as former NHL teammates honored his memory.

United States players pose for pictures with the jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau (13) with his daughter Noa and son Johnny after their win over Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

We all agree the Canadians probably beat the Americans in a best-of-seven series. But in one game, with all the pressure on the opponent, the U.S. relied on togetherness, leaned on chemistry built in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

It is the beauty of the sport. The numbers can be lopsided. But it only takes one shift, one shot to change the outcome.

It came at the 1:41 mark of overtime. In the required 3-on-3 format — a game like this deserved an even strength ending — Hughes took a pass from Zach Werenski and delivered the golden goal, sneaking it past Jordan Binnington.

I screamed at the TV as many did across the country at breakfast watch parties. It was a primal outburst of appreciation and admiration.

Canada had won every Olympics featuring NHL players. Their best was always better than everyone else. In 2010 in Vancouver, in 2014 in Sochi and at the 4 Nations last year.

And they were the best team on the ice for two periods, even without injured captain Sidney Crosby.

But they were playing with no elasticity, with the weight of a country that views hockey gold like the United States views Olympic basketball championships — as a birthright.

The Americans’ plan was simple, if not unrealistic. Get ahead early, and survive the onslaught.

Matt Boldy scored six minutes in. In a frenetic pace that even hardened commentators had never seen, Boldy chased down a bouncing puck and knifed between the Avs’ Makar and Devon Toews to score. It was the type of goal you see to win games, not start them, a testament to the magnitude of the matchup.

United States’ Matt Boldy (12) scores against Canada goalkeeper Jordan Binnington (50) during the first period of the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

How did he keep it on his stick and find the back of the net?

“I don’t know,” Boldy admitted.

The final two periods also defied explanation.

The Canadians tilted the ice, and took aim at Hellebuyck. They outshot the Americans 33-18 over the last 40 minutes in regulation. Only one squirted through, Makar’s laser from top of the right faceoff circle.

MacKinnon had chances, his rockets stoned or too wide. Connor McDavid raced free midway through the second period, failed to shift down and managed only a nudge into Hellebuyck’s pads. Macklin Celebrini, the future of the NHL, was left wanting on a breakaway.

But the one everyone will be talking about forever was Hellebuyck’s denial of Toews.All alone just outside the crease, Toews had the puck with an open net. He swatted it and somehow a falling, bending, twitching Hellebuyck raised his stick for the deflection.

United States goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) uses his stick to block a shot by Canada’s Devon Toews (7) during the third period of the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

This is when momentum became a movement. The Americans understood it. Hellebuyck was holding onto the rope. He needed someone, anyone, to tug with him.

Hughes, 24, arrived straight out of central casting.

He was a former No. 1 overall pick, who spent the early part of his career burdened by expectations. He has only reached the playoffs once with the New Jersey Devils.

But he was from a family of patriots.

His brother Quinn scored the overtime winner when USA defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals. Their mother Ellen Weinberg-Hughes worked as a consultant for the women’s gold medal team.

And here was Jack in the spotlight.

He was ready, even if he needed makeup. In the third period, Hughes lost his smile when Sam Bennett clipped him with a high stick.

Moments later, Hughes provided the explanation point to this surreal performance.

The boys are back. The birds are free. And for one beautiful morning, we felt like a unified country.

“We did it for the people back home, for all the love and support we got,” Hughes said. “You dream of this. A lot of talk for us was breaking the drought. And we thought this was the group that could do it. We are gold medalists. We are the champions. Tonight, we are the best in the world.”

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Troy Renck

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February 22, 2026
Renck: For courageous Mikaela Shiffrin, overcoming mental burden is worth wait in gold

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Only GOATs chase ghosts. Only the best are defined by legacies, not victories.

Mikaela Shiffrin was choking.

That is what people were saying. That is what they were thinking.

When you are to skiing what Serena Williams is to tennis, there is no grace, no free passes.

As Americans, we only watch the winter sports at the Olympics. It makes performances the equivalent of a college final exam, disproportionately weighted.

It is not fair. But it is who we are.

On the biggest stage — Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals — championships provide exclamation points in barstool arguments.

On Wednesday in Cortina, Italy, Shiffrin shut up her critics.

The silence was as golden as her medal.

But it wasn’t about the haters. This was about her.

She gets the credit.

She did this. Not us.

She blazed to gold in the slalom with a combined time of 1 minute, 39.10 seconds — 1.5 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast.

In her final race of the 2026 Olympic Games, she vanquished demons that have followed her since Beijing.

“I wanted to be free, I wanted to unleash,” Shiffrin told reporters. “In the end, today, showing up, that was the thing I wanted most. More than the medal. Now, to also get to have a medal is unbelievable.”

Shiffrin eliminated the confusion, poofed the black cloud hanging over her.

She won gold in slalom in Sochi in 2014 and in giant slalom in Pyeongchang 2018. No one, man or woman, has more World Cup victories or podiums. She is not the product of marketing. She is a legend.

And suddenly, somehow, the Olympics became her soft spot, the site of crippling vulnerability.

Four years ago, she crashed out of both the giant slalom and slalom seconds into her runs. She ambitiously entered six events and medaled in zero of them. She would later say she was “embarrassed” by her performance.

Shiffrin had become a victim of her own trophy case. Imagine Tiger Woods, in his prime, missing the cut at The Masters annually.

When Shiffrin finished 15th in the slalom in the team combined event last week in Cortina after Breezy Johnson took first in the downhill, it created concern. Only a wreck or oddly conservative run could take them off the medal stand and Shiffrin skied tentatively, leaving the Americans fourth.

Then, she finished 11th in the giant slalom. That ran her streak to eight straight events without a medal.

It officially reignited the debate. Had the Olympics become a hurdle she could no longer clear?

It did not make sense because of her past success on and off the slopes.

Shiffrin had overcome the sudden loss of her father in 2020 and PTSD from a freak injury to her abdomen in an accident in 2024.

How could Shiffrin be the greatest and succumb to the Olympic glare?

The too-simple explanation is pressure.

It overwhelmed Simone Biles, the best gymnast of all time, in Tokyo, forcing her to withdraw because of the twisties, a spatial disorientation that affected her balance. Earlier this week, it swallowed up men’s figure skater Ilia Malinin, the Quad God, who breaks physics with his jumps but was broken by the magnitude of the moment.

Malinin has demonstrated class and resilience in talking about his disappointment, believing he has an Olympic path forward in the sport he loves. Biles restored her roar in Paris last summer, winning four medals, three of them gold, while becoming a Shiffrin ally.

Here in Colorado, Shiffrin’s pursuit of redemption was personal. She spent part of her childhood in our mountains. She trained in Vail. We wanted her to crush it for our country, of course, but really for our state, for all of us.

But she had to do this for herself.

She had to be present for this present to hang around her neck.

“Through a lot of discussions with my psychologist and my mom and my team, everything we said was that, despite pressure or nerves, I want to feel this skiing,” Shiffrin said Wednesday.

She arrived in Cortina with seven slalom wins in the first eight events on the World Cup Circuit this season. She was dominant. So when Shiffrin did not shine in Italy, it made her an easy target.

This is where nuance matters.

Skiing is unique because every mountain is different and the weather remains a variable. And as easy as it is to lump her in with Tom Brady or Michael Jordan, she is not representing a city, a state or region. She is carrying the weight of an entire country.

There is no teammate to ski the last few gates. No coach to rescue her with the perfect play call. She does not get multiple passes or 30 shots. She has a few runs, where being off line by 3 inches can lead to four years of anguish.

Shiffrin did not cower in the face of disappointment. She accepted her underwhelming performances in Cortina as a challenge, not a conclusion.

This could not have been easy. She acknowledged in an interview with Biles recently that she had nightmares before these Olympics, worried that things would not work out as planned.

We have come a long way as a sports viewing public from the days of rubbing dirt on it. But Shiffrin provided a reminder that mental issues are real and must be addressed like a physical injury.

She patiently, if not painfully, worked through her public failure in private. With one last chance to seize glory, she became comfortable again, making us all proud.

But this is all about Shiffrin.

She found the courage to remove the burden she was carrying.

And it was worth the wait in gold.

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Troy Renck

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February 18, 2026
Renck: Broncos need to run Jaleel McLaughlin to stop critics from running their mouths

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Three weeks. That is all it took for the country to turn on the Broncos again. They are corn to a garden. The worst seed ever.

Failing to score more than 20 points in three straight games to end the season was all America’s armchair quarterbacks and well-paid analysts needed.

The offensive impotence is catnip for critics.

So, it is no wonder that the AFC’s top dog is an underdog. Fine.

There is a way to win every game, as Sean Payton reminds us weekly, and the path Saturday involves mud flaps, not a cockpit.

The Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse has hidden its secret long enough.

Want to beat the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round? Run Jaleel McLaughlin. Trust him. Treat him like a weapon, not a diversion.

The idea that the outcome of the Broncos’ biggest game in a decade hinges on a running back who has been inactive for nine weeks is ridiculous. You are probably laughing at this premise. Cackling at the idea that Payton will actually lean on the ground attack.

But Payton has made a career of pushing the right buttons and finding answers. And this one is staring at him from inside the fieldhouse walls, where McLaughlin can often be found after practice getting in extra reps to stay sharp.

All Payton needs to do is follow the script written by Gary Kubiak, the last Broncos coach to win a playoff game.

As Denver clumsily reached the end of the 2015 season, creating doubts about reaching the Super Bowl, Kubiak spent part of his day checking video from Peyton Manning’s workouts with receiver Jordan “Sunshine” Taylor inside the fieldhouse as he recovered from a plantar fasciitis injury.

Kubiak refused to close the door on Manning returning. And Manning was tired of waiting. At one point, he flipped off the cameras, knowing Kubiak would see it. Kubiak finally took the suggestion, turning to Manning in the second half of the season finale, a move that triggered a Super Bowl 50 victory.

McLaughlin does not possess the gravitas to give his coach the middle finger. And he is not the key to a championship run. But he is the key to winning this game.

You see, backs have run through the Bills like Taco Bell after a night on Pearl Street. Only the 2006 Indianapolis Colts allowed more than 5 yards per rush and won the Super Bowl, per CBS Sports. The Bills have yielded 5.2 in 18 games. It is their fatal flaw.

McLaughlin can expose it. His entire football journey has built up to this moment. He never had a backup plan. He slept in a car for a time growing up. He refused to give up on his dream. His resilience helped him make the roster three years ago as an undrafted free agent.

This is different. He can go from a feel-good story to the headliner.

Look, this might backfire. But he is the best option to exploit the Bills, even if injured defensive lineman Ed Oliver returns. The trade deadline long ago passed, and Denver declined to deal for Breece Hall.

Then J.K. Dobbins got hurt, and R.J. Harvey has not filled his cleats. Forget attacking downhill, Harvey has been going downhill. He has averaged 3.36 yards per carry over the past three games on 36 carries, and if you subtract his 38-yard touchdown against the Jaguars, it shrinks to 2.37.

Compare that to McLaughlin, who has 118 yards on 18 carries during the same stretch. That is 63 percent of his season total, and 6.56 a pop.

“He outworks just about everybody in the building,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “It’s not a shock to anybody that, when his opportunity came, he did a great job with it.”

So, lean on McLaughlin and call more designed runs for Bo Nix (102 rushing yards since Dec. 21).

Who says no? Payton?

Not so sure. Not this time. He appears to have learned his lesson from abandoning the run last year at Buffalo, from turtling against the Chiefs and Chargers.

It was encouraging to hear Payton’s tone publicly last Friday when asked if he held stuff back over the final two weeks. He made no excuses. Used zero qualifiers. Made it clear that the Broncos have to execute better and become more explosive.

If Payton is not stubborn, the Broncos will win because of the run game in general and McLaughlin specifically.

Don’t believe it?

The Jaguars are watching this weekend because they simply did not run the ball enough. They were gashing the Bills on the ground, and inexplicably finished with 30 passes and 23 carries. They posted 154 yards rushing, and Liam “Keep Your Head Up” Coen decided to keep putting the ball in the air.

If Payton is similarly hard-headed with Nix, the Broncos will follow the Jaguars to the emergency exit.

My insistence on running is rooted in winning.

The best way to neutralize Josh Allen is to play keep away. If the Broncos produce long drives and impose their will upfront, it will create urgency from the Bills.

We all know Josh Allen is not going to play like Woody Allen. It is safe to assume the Broncos are going to struggle at times as Allen bullies his way for yards or finds his tight ends and running backs for easy completions. How Denver’s defense performs in the red zone will be critical.

But the offense has to do its part.

It won’t be easy. It never is with this group. The Broncos have only reached the red zone five times in the last three games, scoring two touchdowns, and only once in a goal-to-go situation.

That won’t cut it on Saturday.

Let McLaughlin provide the body shots. And Harvey or Nix, the haymaker (the Bills have allowed eight touchdown runs of 30-plus yards, most in a season in NFL history).

McLaughlin was already known for rolling up his sleeves and breaking a sweat before the sun wakes. But he added night duty to stay sharp, to be ready, when he lost his role on game day as the fourth running back in the three-man rotation of Dobbins, Harvey and Tyler Badie.

“It was a real challenge just because I am so competitive,” McLaughlin said. “But I just had to trust and believe in what coach Payton was telling me.”

Everyone is running their mouths again. All the Broncos need to do is run the ball with McLaughlin to shut them up.

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Troy Renck

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January 14, 2026
Will run game undermine Broncos without J.K. Dobbins?

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Troy Renck: The Broncos offense was a chore to watch on Christmas. Like eating vegetables. While it is fair to suggest Denver is a year ahead of schedule in its return to excellence, the Broncos are here, so their flaws must be examined like cells under under a microscope. They can secure the No. 1 seed with a win over the Chargers on Sunday. But a lingering issue persists: Will Denver’s run game, led by rookie RJ Harvey, become the Broncos’ undoing?

Parker Gabriel: Not if you ask head coach Sean Payton. He made it clear Monday he thinks the main area that the Broncos must improve in to win a Super Bowl title is turnover margin. No mention of the run game whatsoever. And, hey, if you take the ball away two or three times per playoff game, you’re going to have more license to play the way you want to offensively. The way the Broncos have played offensively has changed some since J.K. Dobbins’ injury, though. Their pass rate has ticked up from 57.6% pre-injury to 62.7% post-injury. More concerning, Denver’s overall averages per game and per run have dropped from 133.6 and 4.9, respectively, to 100 and 3.8. It takes more than just the running back to have a good running game, of course, and the Broncos have dealt with offensive line and tight end injuries along with Dobbins, but given the way the front has sustained in pass protection and elsewhere and the way the numbers fall on clean lines around Dobbins’, this feels more like a running back difference than anything else.

Renck: Harvey has delivered a memorable rookie season. He boasts 12 touchdowns. To put that in perspective, in the two years leading up to his 2,000-yard season, Hall of Famer Terrell Davis posted 15 apiece in 1996 and 1997. The difference? Davis was a bell cow. Harvey is more Liam Neeson, possessing a “very particular set of skills.” He does not need Siri to find the end zone. However, he is not Dobbins. Dobbins was good early, but a finisher late, averaging 5.6 yards per carry in the second half in 10 games. In the six games since Dobbins’ foot injury that might heal by the Super Bowl, Harvey has averaged 3.7 yards per attempt overall and 3.7 in the second half. For the Broncos to reach Super Bowl LX, they need Bo Nix to throw roughly 35 times per game. He might be too young, it might be too much to ask, but Broncos require more from Harvey and the offensive line.

Gabriel: They need the defense to get back to its sure-tackling, red-zone-dominating ways, too, Troy. The game gets faster in the postseason. Nix and most of the Broncos got a taste of that last year in Buffalo. This defense should be ready to make that transition smoothly. They’ll be playing at home in front of a frothing crowd that hasn’t seen postseason football live in a decade. Another wrinkle I wonder about: Nix talked after the Chiefs game about recognizing at one point that he should have tucked the ball and ran. As the game went, he did that more. Payton dialed up a beauty of a designed draw for a 9-yard touchdown, Nix scrambled four times and finished with a season-high nine carries. He’s going to finish with fewer carries than last year — 92 as a rookie in the regular season vs. 75 heading into Week 18 this year, but the biggest difference is the production. He generated 41 first downs last year with his legs compared to 22 so far this season. One way to help Harvey and the run game in the postseason: Take the understandable regular-season governor off Nix and make him a featured part of the plan.

Renck: Harvey is showing more patience as he learns to go north-and-south, rather than bumping outside. He breaks tackles and is physical. One of two things need to happen moving forward. He must get more touches, meaning keeping him on the field on third down in place of the unproductive Tyler Badie. Harvey’s improvement in blitz pickup warrants additional snaps. Or Nix has to run roughly six times a game for more than 40 yards, easing the pressure on Harvey. The Chiefs game reminded us how dangerous Nix can be with his legs. Harvey has been great at the goal line, and mid everywhere else. The Broncos’ ability to make a run to the Super Bowl hinges on how well Harvey and Nix run over the next month.

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Troy Renck, Parker Gabriel

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December 29, 2025
Broncos’ Bo Nix explains fear of dogs to Kirk Herbstreit after first interaction went viral

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We continue to learn things about Bo Nix that surprise us.

Last year, we found out he does not curse. On Christmas Day, he revealed his fear of dogs to Kirk Herbstreit after an awkward meeting with the broadcaster’s famous golden retriever Peter went viral last month.

Herbstreit reunited the pair, with Nix petting the pup during warmups before the Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-13.

“My wife (Izzy) will be shocked,” Nix said.

Herbstreit travels the country with Peter, who took over the role of unofficial ambassador after his brother Ben passed away last November following a battle with leukemia and lymphoma.

Players often happily greet the pup at college and NFL stadiums, but Nix had a chilly reaction when Peter jumped toward him as he held plyo balls in his hand before the Broncos played the Raiders on Nov. 6. It led Herbstreit to hatch a plan to bring the two together this week.

That is when Nix shared that he had a fear of dogs from a childhood incident.

“I just think when I was little I got attacked by one, and I didn’t know any better. My family didn’t grow up with them,” Nix told Herbstreit. “My whole family’s not really a dog family. We had one when I was a kid, and then it passed away and we didn’t get a new one.”

Nix became associated with dogs a few weeks ago. After the Broncos upset the Green Bay Packers, Nix coined the term “overdog” to describe his team. He launched an “Overdogs” line of merchandise on his apparel website that benefits the Denver Rescue Mission, which aims to end homelessness in the metro area.

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Troy Renck

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December 27, 2025

Broncos-Chiefs scouting report: No Patrick Mahomes. No Gardner Minshew. Hello, Chris Oladokun.

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Broncos (12-3) at Chiefs (6-9)

When: 6:15 p.m. Thursday

Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

TV/radio: Prime Video, 850 AM/94.1 FM

Broncos-Chiefs series: Both Denver and Kansas City know this well. The Broncos are still down all-time to the Chiefs, at 57-73-0 in 130 total matchups in the franchises’ history. But Denver has the recent upper hand, with two straight regular-season wins and a nail-biting 22-19 win over Kansas City on Nov. 16. The Broncos’ defense hasn’t been the same since that win and subsequent bye, though.

In the spotlight: Who the Kel(ce) is Chiefs starting quarterback Chris Oladokun?

How the mighty have fallen.

On Christmas, the Broncos will take a short flight up to Kansas City to witness the death throes of a franchise that only has a couple of games left on the throne. The Chiefs will not win the AFC West for the first time in a decade, and they’ll finish with a losing record for the first time since the 2-14 days of Romeo Crennel in 2012. This may well be the last time that Denver sees 36-year-old future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, who will make a retirement decision after the season. They won’t see quarterback Patrick Mahomes — and might not next year, either — after Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Dec. 14’s 16-13 loss to the Chargers.

To make matters worse, Kansas City’s QB stopgap Gardner Minshew hurt his knee in Sunday’s loss to the Titans. That leaves this Kansas City dynasty, for a primetime affair with the country watching on Christmas evening, turning to … Chris Oladokun.

Who?

Here’s what’s known on the 28-year-old Oladokun, from a national perspective. He played two seasons of FBS football as a backup at USF, from 2017-18. He transferred to FCS program Samford for a couple of years. He started at South Dakota State for one year after that, and played well enough (3,164 yards, 25 TDs) to warrant a seventh-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022’s draft. Oladokun was waived during roster cuts that fall, signed to Kansas City’s practice squad a few days later, and has stuck there pretty much ever since.

Now, after being promoted to the active roster after Mahomes’ injury and filling in for an injured Minshew mid-game against Tennessee — 11-for-16, 111 yards — Oladokun will make the first start of his NFL career against the current No. 1 seed in the AFC.

“It’s something I don’t take lightly,” Oladokun told Kansas City reporters Tuesday. “These opportunities don’t come around often, and so when you get ‘em, you gotta take that and run with it. So, this is not only a big game for our team, but me personally a big game, in terms of letting the league know what I can do and letting these coaches know what I can do.”

So what can he do? Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said this week that Oladokun has had an “easy transition” because of his knowledge of Kansas City’s offensive verbiage, but that they’d naturally ease back on specific formations without Mahomes. One obvious similarity: just 8% of Mahomes’ attempts this season have come from under center, in Kansas City’s shotgun-heavy offense. Just one of Oladokun’s 16 attempts against the Titans came from under center, too. That doesn’t seem destined to change.

In his tape against the Titans, too, Oladokun showcased a bit of Mahomes flair on late first-half and early third-quarter drives, often escaping the pocket to extend plays and float catch-and-run checkdowns to open targets. He’s plenty capable of playing on time and exploiting any defensive breakdowns in the secondary, too, delivering a couple quick-hit strikes to speedy wideout Xavier Worthy for 13 and 28 yards.

One clear weakness, though, is Oladokun’s decisiveness against the rush. He took four sacks in his last seven dropbacks against the Titans on Sunday, and three on third down. This Broncos pass-rush came up with five sacks against the Jaguars last week but played below their standard, often letting Trevor Lawrence run free. Denver’s defensive front badly wants a shot at the NFL sack record — sitting at 63, nine away from the 1984 Bears’ all-time record of 72 — and can position themselves well to shoot it down Week 18 if they stay within themselves and bother Oladokun in Week 17.

“I don’t buy it,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Monday, asked on the notion Denver’s defense is fading. “Our defense played pretty well last week. You look for those trends, and I think our defense has been outstanding this year.”

These are not the same Chiefs. They may never quite be the same Chiefs — the Reid-Mahomes-Kelce trio — ever again.

“But,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said Tuesday, “they’re still the Chiefs.”

Who has the edge?

When Broncos run: They didn’t much last week, in general. Payton drew up exactly four combined handoffs in the second half, with Denver playing from behind against Jacksonville. Rookie running back RJ Harvey continues to alternate flashes of genuine brilliance — a 38-yard pinball score against Jacksonville — with stretches of tentative between-the-tackles burst. The Chiefs just gave up 164 yards on the ground to the Titans last week, though, a slippage in an overall stout season against the run. Slight edge: Chiefs

When Broncos pass: On the flip side, Bo Nix has gone turbo, with three 300-passing-yard games in his past four outings. Nix now ranks sixth in the NFL in passing yards and second (!) in overall passing attempts, as Denver’s efficiency in the pass game has ticked up across the last month. Kansas City may be without two starting corners on Christmas, as Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson both didn’t practice this week due to injury. Edge: Broncos

When Chiefs run: Kansas City’s backfield of Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt has totaled less than 50 yards in their last two matchups. The Chiefs have no real ground game at the moment, which isn’t ideal when starting a third-string quarterback. Hunt did run for 59 yards on 13 carries against the Broncos in their November matchup earlier this season, but that was primarily because Joseph defended heavily against the pass. Edge: Broncos

When Chiefs pass: Oladokun has never thrown an NFL touchdown. Plus, top receiver Rashee Rice (concussion) and deep threat Tyquan Thornton (also a concussion) aren’t playing Thursday. Edge: Broncos

Special teams: Chiefs punter Matt Araiza has deposited punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line at a 45% clip this season, and kicker Harrison Butker hasn’t missed a field goal under 50 yards since Sept. 21. Kansas City also ranks 11th in the NFL in total kick-return yardage, so there’s some general juice here. Broncos All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. also danced a bit too often against Jacksonville on punt returns. Edge: Even

Coaching: It’s impossible to rule out some sort of Reid-orchestrated dark magic on Thursday, and Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will always throw the kitchen sink at Sean Payton. But the last time these Broncos faced a Chiefs team with little to play for, Payton steamrolled Kansas City’s B-team 38-0 in January 2025. The system has only gotten Kansas City so far in a 6-9 season this fall. Slight edge: Broncos

Tale of the tape

	Broncos	Chiefs
Total offense	352.1 (9th)	342.9 (12th)
Rush offense	118.3 (18th)	109.7 (22nd)
Pass offense	233.9 (8th)	233.2 (9th)
Points per game	24.1 (13th)	22.5 (20th)
Total defense	291.6 (4th)	307.9 (10th)
Run defense	90.2 (2nd)	103.4 (8th)
Pass defense	201.4 (10th)	204.5 (12th)
Points allowed	19.7 (5th)	19.6 (4th)

By the numbers

91: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s yardage total in the Broncos’ 22-19 November win over the Chiefs, Kelce’s second-highest total of the season.

66.8: Average receiving yards by starting tight ends against the Broncos’ defense the last five weeks.

7.4: Broncos quarterback Bo Nix’s average yards per passing attempt across his past five games.

11: Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey’s touchdown total through 15 games this season, the most among any NFL rookie from scrimmage.

4: Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones’ sack total through 15 games in 2025, his lowest sack total since his rookie season in 2016.

44%: Percentage of passes Chiefs QB3 Chris Oladokun threw behind the line of scrimmage against the Titans last Sunday.

X-factors

Broncos: CB Jahdae Barron. Joseph has to take the training wheels off Barron at some point, as Denver needs serious passing-game help. Barron was Denver’s only answer for Kelce in their November matchup, and the first-round rookie has played a key role as a tight-end shadow in varying degrees of usage in 2025.

Chiefs: RB Isaiah Pacheco. Pacheco’s become more involved in the past couple weeks than Hunt, catching six passes against the Titans. Both backs are still averaging under 4.0 yards per carry in 2025, and Kansas City desperately needs someone to churn out consistent yardage against Denver’s front to give Oladokun a chance.

Post predictions

Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer: Broncos 23, Chiefs 13

The Broncos are 2-2 on Thursday nights under Sean Payton to date and they’ve really only played well offensively in 1.5 of those games —- last year against New Orleans and in the first half against the L.A. Chargers. Two of the only times Sean Payton’s criticized his own game plan has come on TNF (2023 at KC, earlier this year against Las Vegas). But this Chiefs team is done and buried. It should be decisive, even if it’s not pretty.

Luca Evans, Broncos writer: Broncos 24, Chiefs 16

The vibes feel somewhat sinister here. It’s a Thursday of Christmas week. There’s little riding on this matchup for Kansas City, and everything riding for these Broncos. Teams with nothing to lose can generally pack a punch. But the sheer talent and success differential is much too hard to ignore, as is Kansas City’s overwhelming heap of injuries.

Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 26, Chiefs 10

The Broncos owe the Chiefs in the worst way. They have lost nine straight games at Arrowhead, with Kansas City delighting in embarrassing them. Time for the Broncos to go full Cobra Kai. Show no remorse. Break out a few gadget plays, aim for at least six sacks and keep the dream alive for an AFC West title and the No. 1 seed

Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 22, Chiefs 17

Great holiday party game: See who in the family can name name at least two of Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun’s three college football stops without looking it up on their phones. It’s Thursday night, so it probably won’t be pretty. If the Broncos can keep Oladokun from going all Mariota on them with his legs, they should be fine. Although Al Michaels might not be after this one.

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Luca Evans

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December 25, 2025

Renck: With Bo Nix, offense playing like this, it’s time to start looking for Broncos Super Bowl tickets

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Bo Nix belongs to the past. And that is why the Broncos have such a bright future.

Feel cheated you never saw John Elway execute a two-minute drive? Or Peyton Manning carve up a defense with a surgeon’s precision?

All those are yesterday’s roses. It is time to give Nix his flowers. He is doing it right before your eyes.

Qualifying standards are no longer measuring Nix. He is not playing well for his second season. He is playing well for any season.

Pat Surtain II, Broncos defense shows championship mettle in second-half torrent vs. Packers

There are still things that absolutely remind us of his inexperience. But they don’t matter. Not anymore. Not this season, because the Broncos have reached the point of no looking back.

Against the best opponent they have faced, the Broncos knocked out the Packers, 34-26, on Sunday to clinch a second-consecutive playoff berth, while moving closer to securing the AFC’s top seed with a one-game lead over the Patriots.

If the road to the postseason goes through Denver, then it ends in Santa Clara for the Broncos. It is that simple.

No team is coming to Empower Field at Mile High with this altitude and with these fans and walking away with a win. For so long, the Broncos’ play suggested they would be an easy mark in the postseason, a notion reinforced by their winning their last five games by a combined 17 points.

Nobody is suggesting that anymore. Not now. Not after Dre Greenlaw screamed in the Packers’ face before the game and Nix punched them in the throat during it.

The Broncos will host Jacksonville next week, then face the Chiefs on Christmas without Patrick Mahomes, and finish with the Chargers. They can win out. Writing the sentence seems blasphemous since not even the 1998 powerhouse won 15 regular-season games.

If nothing else, the Broncos forced critics to shut up. By Nix playing the way he did, the Broncos squelched doubts. He was the reason they were so vulnerable, right? He sat in the cockpit of a mediocre offense that required finishes featuring everything but Al Michaels screaming, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

Keeler: Broncos, Alex Singleton get last laugh as Packers’ pregame intimidation hilariously backfires

Say that now with a straight face. The Texans are the best defense Nix has encountered, but the Packers are the most balanced. And all Nix did was complete 23 of 34 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) of the Denver Broncos pulls down a touchdown reception in front of cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)

“He had a day, didn’t he?” mused receiver Courtland Sutton, who caught one of Nix’s touchdowns.

Green Bay’s Jordan Love looked like a more talented quarterback, especially when he collected 215 yards in the first half. But Nix was more efficient, more versatile, and once again closed like Mariano Rivera.

A fourth-and-2 from the 41-yard line with 9:08 remaining provided a snapshot of his performance.

Sean Payton called a timeout. The Broncos clung to a 27-26 lead.

Earlier in the season, they punt, and let the defense go to work. No questions. No discussion. There was no debate this time, either. It was time to go for the bold, a choice unthinkable two months ago when the Broncos’ offense looked more awkward than a giraffe on ice skates.

Payton dialed up a sideline strike to Sutton, which was eerily similar to the third-down play that failed. Forget what a coach says. You can tell how much he believes in a quarterback by the way he calls the game.

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, left, greets head coach Matt Lafleur of the Green Bay Packers after a 34-26 Broncos win on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)

In the biggest moment, Payton put the ball in Nix’s hands. And he lofted it into Sutton’s paws for a 26-yard gain. Four plays later, the Broncos scored. All the theories that Love would outplay Nix, that the kid would wilt in the spotlight were drown out by the full-throat cheers of 75,555 fans.

“Bo has every single trait imaginable,” explained tight end Adam Trautman. “He’s super smart, super mobile; a huge part of his game that I don’t think a lot of people understand. You saw it all kind of come into fruition today.”

Nix was in his bag.

His dart to Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a score was the equivalent of a Paul Skenes’ fastball on the black. His pass to a leaping Troy Franklin was such a tight spiral you could have hung laundry on it. And the corner rainbow to a diving Sutton came with a velvet touch.

Earlier in the week, Nix was asked about nobody believing in the Broncos. He said his mother thought Denver would win. He delivered the answer tongue in cheek. He delivered passes on Sunday with a fist into the chest.

“After that first score he had this swagger about him that was really, really cool to see,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “It’s been building the last few weeks and he was on fire. He is feeding off us as much as we are feeding off him. You look into his eyes and he’s saying, ‘Give me the ball.’^”

Faced with scrutiny and pointed criticism after a vomit-on-sweater performance against the Raiders last month, Nix regained his footing, finding traction as coach Payton started calling plays for who Bo is, not who he wants him to be.

The results are eye-opening over the past four games: 69.4 completion percentage on 154 passes with five touchdowns and one interception.

Against the Packers, Nix was supposed to get exposed. But it was Pat Surtain II’s interception of Love that flipped the script, left the Broncos playing downhill.

Denver looked nothing like a team that has trailed in all but one victory this season.

Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (97) of the Denver Broncos celebrates the defense sacking quarterback Jordan Love (10) of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)

“We continue to prove over and over that our defense is going to play stout when need to and and our offense, we deliver when we have to,” Nix said. “As a team I think we are playing as good as we can play right now.”

The Broncos were better offensively, outgaining the Packers 391-362. They pressured with more purpose, posting three sacks to the Packers’ goose egg.

And the red-faced zone became a rumor. The Broncos went 4-for-4 on touchdowns inside the 20-yard line, compared to 1-for-4 for the Packers. Watching Brandon McManus kick field goals brought back memories of why Denver used to lose with regularity before Payton arrived.

The difference? The Broncos did not have Nix. A quarterback they trust. We no longer have to squint our eyes and think of Elway was like or what Manning could do. Those are heirlooms of the mind.

This was always Nix’s team. Sunday showed, it’s his time.

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Troy Renck

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December 14, 2025
Renck: Von Miller will always be a Bronco, even if playing for Denver again unlikely

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ASHBURN, VA. – Von Miller knew the answer. But he could not resist asking the question.

A free agent last summer, training camp approaching, Miller had not decided on a new team. Garett Bolles, in attendance at a Von’s Vision event in Colorado, urged his good friend to call the Broncos.

Von had not played in Denver since 2021. Russell Wilson had him on a group text with Chandler Jones in 2022, asking for him to return. Von wisely sidestepped that “disaster of a season,” signing with the Buffalo Bills as Denver added Randy Gregory.
Three years later, there was a new coach and new quarterback. Maybe the remodeling needed an old antique to complete the project.

Von picked up his iPhone and dialed general manager George Paton.

“When Garett brought it up, I was like, ‘Come on, man.’ You have Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. But I started thinking, ‘You have all these people on the team and there’s not a spot for me? I know there probably won’t be, but let me check and see.’ I talked with George and I already had an idea how it was going to go. And that is exactly what he said.”

There was no room for the 36-year-old Miller, not with backups Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman capable of playing special teams. The conversation with Paton, the man who traded him to the Rams in 2021, was productive, but not for the reason he expected.

“It was more about me taking the steps to get into a front office. He knows I want to be a GM someday (a goal inspired and encouraged by Bills GM Brandon Beane),” Miller told The Post on Friday. “I am still happy I did it. That was this season. What about next year?”

Sitting below the No. 24 name plate — an ode to Champ Bailey and Kobe Bryant — in the Washington Commanders locker room, Von flashed that devilish grin, the one that appeared so often after his franchise-record 110.5 sacks with the Broncos.

Truth be told, he would “love to return” to the Commanders. Would like a “rain check” after a lost season because of a battery of injuries to stars, including quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels is why Von chose Washington over the Seahawks.

“Nothing against Sam Darnold, but it was Jayden Daniels. In my opinion, it was the best situation,” Miller said. “They were coming off the NFC Championship Game. And (coach) Dan Quinn had a plan for me as a veteran player. He gets it.”

Of course, nothing has worked out, save for Von delivering as an effective situational rusher. He has five sacks in 11 games. He wants a third Super Bowl ring. But he is also motivated to collect eight more sacks, and have his sons, Valor and Victory, gain a better understanding of what their dad does for a living.

That is why he fully intends to play next season. Get that number, and he will reach 142.5 for his career, ranking sixth all-time.

“Myles Garrett is like 14 sacks behind me, and he came into the league six years after me. I don’t want to make the top 10 and get knocked out,” Miller said. “I want to stay there for 10 or 20 years. So, yeah, I definitely want to play another year, and who knows after that?”

With Washington hosting the Broncos on Sunday night, Miller cannot avoid becoming nostalgic. He never wanted to leave, but knew his time was up after he called a captains meeting with coach Vic Fangio and Paton to discuss turning the season around and aiming for a division title.

“It fell on deaf ears. What I realized later is that we were were so far removed from that. That’s all I knew from playing with Peyton Manning. But we had guys who couldn’t relate. It’s hard to get somebody to miss something they never had,” Miller said. “I was talking about winning a Super Bowl, and they were like, ‘What? We are try to win a single game.’ ”

A few weeks later, Von was shipped out. He was surprised, the news bringing him to tears. He still wonders if he would have played his entire career in Denver if the Broncos had drafted someone like Bo Nix.

“We never had a quarterback for a lot of years. No one special or elite,” Miller said. “And Bo fell in their lap. And you’ve got him with one of the greatest minds in NFL history, Sean Payton. And they have Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims, and that offensive line is way better than what we had in 2015. This year’s team is special. And if Bo Nix continues to take those leaps.”

Miller catches himself. There he goes again. He cannot help it. When it comes to the Broncos, Von is a fan.

He spent a decade in Denver, morphing into a future Hall of Famer. He made mistakes, grew up before our eyes, became a father — his third child, a daughter named Virtue, is due in January — a leader and a champion.

“I constantly reflect back on those times. The orange and blue, that’s my squad, that’s my city. Broncos Country, those are my fans. I think they are the main reason I miss it,” Miller said. “Anytime I post something on Instagram, they comment, ‘Come back to Denver, we love.’ They are 90 percent of why I still love the Denver Broncos and why I will always root for them.”

Von will always be a Bronco whether he plays for the team or not. He can always sign a one-day contract and retire in Denver before heading to Canton.

Honestly, it is amazing Von is still playing. His legacy is secure.

But this season explains it. There is a fountain pen. Von sits in the front of meetings — “I am that guy now” — taking down every word. He wants to be challenged, even though the easiest thing would be to tip his helmet and walk off into a Broncos orange-colored sunset.

“I take more notes now than I ever did. I date it, put a timestamp on it. Man, I love everything about the sport, the locker room, the training room, the weight room, the film room,” Miller said. “I have been playing football for 26 years. This is my life. If I don’t have to leave, I am not going to.”

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Troy Renck

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November 28, 2025
Renck: With his salary, CU’s Deion Sanders doesn’t have luxury of rebuilding. This mess is his to fix

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BOULDER — Leave it to Deion Sanders to refer to a Brazilian butt lift when trying to explain how his team got its (bleep) kicked last weekend.

He was citing society’s obsession with instant gratification — pizza with a phone call, dinner dashed to our doorstep. You know, how nobody has patience anymore.

It is fair after watching what unfolded Saturday night if that patience is starting to wear thin with Coach Prime.

He was the most celebrated hire in school history. He made CU relevant, attracting TV networks to the games, NFL Hall of Famers to the sidelines.

Three years into this experiment, the reality no longer matches the hype. The Buffs are a laughingstock again.

And let’s be honest, in the current college landscape, coaches making $10.8 million per year don’t get the luxury of rebuilding seasons or failing to qualify for a bowl — even a bad one. CU requires victories in its final three games at West Virginia, against Arizona State and on the road versus Kansas State to be eligible for the postseason.

Good luck.

Arizona mauled the Buffs, 52-17, on a chilly night before 48,223 fans at Folsom Field. The first smattering of boos cascaded down after CU’s second offensive play. Half of those in attendance never wandered back to their seats after halftime.

It is getting harder to see the whippings as an aberration. When a team gets outscored 81-7 in the first half in back-to-back weeks, it seems like what is happening on the field is a symptom of larger dysfunction. The Buffs have one conference win. Only Oklahoma State, which canned legendary coach Mike Gundy in September, is worse.

Coach Prime handpicked this coaching staff and this overhauled roster. And the Buffs have done nothing well over the past two games. They fall behind, they miss tackles, they turn the ball over, and they lack discipline, which spawns visible anger and on-field arguments.

“Don’t attack the players, come at me. Don’t attack the coordinators, come at me,” Sanders said, opening his news conference with a directive and announcing no players would be made available to talk.

OK? So what went wrong?

“I have no idea,” Sanders said, before hinting he was holding back his thoughts. “If I knew where the disconnect was, I would tell you.”

At halftime, CU trailed by 31 and had more penalties (nine) than points (seven).

A loss like this, it goes looking for people to blame, and it does not go wanting. The only hard part is where to start. A sequence in the second quarter captured problems that go far beyond the personnel to the leadership of the program.

Quarterback Kaidon Salter, who was mercifully benched, delivered a 75-yard scoring strike to Sincere Brown when CU still had hope. The touchdown, and assumed point after, would have cut the deficit to 24-14. But a scan of the field showed as much yellow as black and gold.
Omarion Miller was ruled an ineligible receiver downfield, suggesting he lined up wrong since, well, he is a receiver. How does that happen?

Worse, the Buffs were pushed back another 15 yards for offensive lineman Yahya Attia “brandishing a weapon” while taunting an Arizona player. Finger guns? Really?

Arizona wide receiver Tre Spivey runs for a touchdown after catching a pass as Colorado defensive end Arden Walker pursues in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The offense was terrible, collecting 117 yards in the first half while receiving a Bronx cheer when it made its initial first down.

Coordinator Pat Shurmur has been something less than competent for years, so we really should not start the finger-pointing there.

What about Salter? He has been a disappointment since the season opener and stayed true to form. As did backup Ryan Staub, whose first two passes were interceptions.

Those who stuck around in the second half witnessed five-star prospect Julian Lewis connect on a 59-yard strike to Miller for the first touchdown of his career. But, even that created questions — namely, is he going to play the final three games and burn his redshirt season? If so, why?

“Common sense,” Sanders said. “I don’t know his thought process or his parents’. I just can control what we can control. I am for the kids. If (a redshirt) is what he wants, that is what he will get.”

Defensive boss Robert Livingston must be held accountable for his unit’s shortcomings. He lacks beef up front, a trademark of all of the teams under Coach Prime, leaving CU susceptible to any team that likes to run the ball. But the poor tackling, the lack of physicality, the bad angles, the blown assignments, remain jarring.

All of the improvement Livingston fostered last season seemed like a long time ago when Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita stepped up into a pressure-free pocket and found Javin Whatley streaking wide open for a touchdown with 21 seconds left in the half. The referee on the goal line shrugged and slowly raised his arms in the air, unsure if he was inbounds. It is always best to assume the worst against this defense.

No, this loss wasn’t the fault of Shurmur, Livingston, Salter, Staub, or any forgettable defender. It is on the man who hired them, recruited them and coaches them.

Sanders talks about practice more than Allen Iverson. He promised things would change after getting walloped 53-7 by Utah. He was right. The Buffs got worse.

Sanders brought in the latest gold jacket to campus this week with Ray Lewis questioning the players — “If you guys don’t believe in each other, how do you win?” — and pleading for them to improve communication and take their preparation seriously.

Lewis was not wrong. But eventually, the message is just background noise in a lost season.

Colorado safety John Slaughter, left, upends Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita after a short gain in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The sobering truth is that these are not the good old days — like 2024, when Coach Prime could stack the roster with skill players, notably his son Shedeur and Heisman Trophy-winner Travis Hunter, and deliver a winning record.

Without generational talent on offense, the details become amplified. College has become the NFL with the money paid to players and coaches.

You cannot miss on evaluations, especially at quarterback, running back and the offensive line. Prime gets guys who want to work and play for him. But what is he doing for them in terms of Xs and Os?

Coaching matters. Schemes matter. Improving during the week is non-negotiable.

“I don’t doubt me,” Sanders said. “Or my confidence level in doing the job.”

The Buffs stink right now. And it is not just on the players and assistants.

Coach Prime has to own this mess, or there is no reason to believe it will get fixed.

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Troy Renck

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November 1, 2025
Renck & File: Dre Greenlaw’s body let him down. Then he let down Broncos. Time to change that Sunday

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You thought we forgot about Dre?

Everything Dre Greenlaw brings to a team, we have not yet seen. His leadership, controlled violence and sticky coverage. That was the hype. Eight months later, it is time to examine Greenlaw’s reality in Denver.

Hmm. Absent or incomplete? Which one fits best?

First, his body let him down, a quadriceps injury costing him the first six games. Then he let his team down, yelling at official Brad Allen after the walk-off win over the Giants, resulting in a one-game suspension.

This must change Sunday at Houston. A Broncos upset could hinge on his performance.

Greenlaw has made an impact behind the scenes, setting an example with his work ethic and daily intensity. But it has not translated to the field, where his season consists of six tackles on 21 snaps against the Giants. Greenlaw showed accountability on Thursday, admitting he should not have put the Broncos in position to play without him because of his outburst. This was an important step.

Now, the Broncos need the best of Greenlaw moving forward. They are a contender. Whether or not they can win the AFC West or host a playoff matchup hinges on games like Sunday. The Texans are scrambling for a wild-card berth. The Broncos can move 3.5 games ahead of them with a win. After demolishing the hapless Raiders, the Broncos would then host the Chiefs on Nov. 16 in the franchise’s biggest game since Super Bowl 50.

This will not happen without Greenlaw returning to his 2023 form, without the former star filling the vacuum left by Pat Surtain II’s absence. There is evidence that Greenlaw’s ability remains; that he can instill fear for roughly 45 snaps on Sunday.

But he cannot talk about it. He has to be about it.

Will the real Dre Greenlaw please stand up?

Return of Naz: Lost in the Avs agreeing to an eight-year, $92 million extension with Martin Necas, rumors continue to percolate about Colorado pursuing Nazem Kadri in a trade. It is way too early to get excited about the prospect. But it cannot be dismissed out of hand. The Flames are going nowhere, and Kadri’s history in Colorado was real and spectacular. He played himself into a huge contract after helping the Avs win the Stanley Cup in 2022. Making his $7 million salary fit would be messy. But when has GM Chris MacFarland ever shied away from a challenge? If Kadri is willing to return, the Avs have to look into it.

Lost season for Hunter: This brings no joy to write. Travis Hunter’s rookie season is a bust. The Jaguars spent two months showing they had no idea how to use him. Now, he might not play again after landing on the injured reserve with a non-contact knee injury. Hunter boasts 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown, and 15 tackles. This is not the return the Jaguars expected when they shipped the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland to draft him. This week, the Jags promised to make him the focus of the passing game. So if there is any good news, it is this: When Hunter returns, either this season or next, the Jaguars might actually have a plan for him. Imagine that.

Shohei-Wemby comp: Shohei Ohtani is already a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Those of us lucky enough to stay up for the Dodgers’ 18-inning Game 3 win will never forget his 4-for-4, two-homer, five-walk performance. But as soon as baseball ends, we are blessed with another unicorn. With apologies to Nikola Jokic, that is Victor Wembanyama. He is the future, a 7-foot-5 pterodactyl who is averaging 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.8 blocks and 3.4 assists, while shooting 31.2% from the 3-point line. As with Ohtani, no one has ever seen anything like this.

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Troy Renck

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October 31, 2025
Renck & File: Giants’ Jaxson Dart is having fun. He won’t be smiling vs. Broncos on Sunday

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Time for the anvil to drop on Arm&Hammer.

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo have injected enthusiasm into the veins of a long-suffering fanbase, hope into a long-suffering franchise. They have a cool aforementioned nickname.

Skattebo has been a revelation. Cast as a situational player in the draft, he boasts 338 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He is Brian Bosworth meets Mike Alstott, inspiring teammates with his rock’em, sock’em robot running style. He leads with his chin in every conversation and carry.

But Dart needs to cool his jets. If, for no other reason, based on what just happened to the Jets.

Some cayenne pepper got sprinkled on Sunday’s game with trash talk, sanitized as it was. Reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week Jonathon Cooper made it clear he is not impressed with Dart, saying, “He’s feeling himself a lil’ bit. He’s out there running around. He’s got the chain on. He’s dancing. I feel like everybody needs something, you know.”

It was a warning. Dart found it amusing.

“I think a lot of guys wear chains and dance when they score touchdowns,” Dart told the New York Post. “I appreciate him following my dance touchdowns.”

Covering players like Dart is a blast. But quarterbacks lacking humility get clobbered by reality.

Drew Lock ring any bells?

He was the singing QB with the nifty backpack celebration until he wasn’t. He has been cast as a career backup since 2021. Dart is more athletic than Lock, but his total disregard for his body and overconfidence have helped him lead the league in blue tent visits the past three weeks.

This Broncos defense is frothing, eager to put on a show to impress the Super Bowl 50 champions, who will be honored at halftime.

Dart is great for the Giants, even if his yards per play are worse than Russell Wilson’s. He loves attention. He just picked the wrong week to engage in verbal jousting. The Broncos have not allowed a touchdown at home, while posting nine sacks.

Good luck “Hanging with Mr. Cooper” on Sunday, Dart.

It is the team, not QB: Time to stop pointing the finger at first-round quarterbacks who fail when history shows coaching and organizational dysfunction is largely to blame. Baker Mayfield is 5-1, and an MVP candidate. Daniel Jones is 5-1 and an MVP candidate. Sam Darnold is 4-2 for Seattle. Here are the records of the teams that drafted them: Cleveland is 1-5, the Giants are 2-3-1 and the Jets are winless.

Wrong tone: The Chiefs welcome back receiver Rashee Rice this week. Can folks stop acting like he is returning from knee surgery? He was suspended for six games for his involvement in a six-car crash that resulted in multiple injuries and led Rice to plead guilty to two felony charges. His absence had nothing to do with his health.

Latin for winning: Talked to Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas. And teammates about Jonas Valanciunas. It is clear he has bought into his role as Nikola Jokic’s backup on a team with championship expectations, following the “Age Quod Agis” message posted on the practice wall. Translated, it means: “Do what you do.” Valanciunas gets it.

“Whatever it takes to win. We all got to put our egos away and come into the building knowing that only together can we do big things,” Valanciunas said.

Stats don’t always lie: Some good news has surfaced in the Rockies’ promised front office overhaul. According to Patrick Saunders, the club will create a chief revenue and strategy officer position to help invest money in data, analytics and strategy. For all of the reasons the Rockies stink, not understanding the infrastructure of the sport ranks high on the list. The job title is eyewash. But modernizing the baseball operation, which has been operating in the Stone Age for more than a decade, is absolutely necessary.

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Troy Renck

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October 17, 2025
Renck: With Broncos’ offense out of sync, time for Sean Payton to let Bo Nix go more uptempo

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Denver is well known for LoDo and RiNo.

GoBo better join that list if the Broncos are serious about becoming a Super Bowl contender.

The Broncos delivered a second-half performance against the Jets that was embarrassing. So, you let me have it.

Preparing to board my flight from London Heathrow to DIA, the criticisms veiled as questions included, “Who calls a pass on the 1-yard line and risks a safety? Was that a fullback draw on third-and-10? Why doesn’t Evan Engram play more?” And my personal favorite from a man with a heavy British accent, “If I wanted to watch a game with no scoring,” you guessed it, he could have saved his money for a fútbol game.

The fans are mad. They are angry. They are right.

We will find out more about the Broncos, so much more with a normal practice schedule and no travel, when they host the New York Giants. We will find out an answer to the question hanging over this season: Will coach Sean Payton do more to help Bo Nix?

Will he employ doses of uptempo?

Until Payton provides that answer, the question on whether or not the Broncos are a legitimate AFC threat will remain an unequivocal no.

Teams that play deep into January don’t rank in the middle of the pack or worse in every meaningful offensive category.

The reason this is the case? Nix and Payton are not in rhythm.

This season has been an exercise in frustration.

For every eye-opening quarter, there has been a dizzying array of punts. Nix admitted Wednesday that it was “a relief” when Engram converted a first down on the cgame-winning drive last Sunday.

Is that the new reality for Nix and this offense? It better not be or the Broncos will waste one of the greatest defenses in franchise history.

What unfurled against the Jets was so odorous that it suggests that the Nix and Payton have contrasting visions of how to achieve success.

Nix needs to go fast. At least for the foreseeable future.

He was 11-for-15 for 96 yards in uptempo against the Jets, according to Next Gen stats. He excels at the quick hitters, not surprisingly since he mastered it over his final two years at Oregon. The Jets and the Giants are the not the same defensively, but they have this in common: they bring the heat.

Nix is already getting rid of the ball quickly. Why not add wrinkles with sprinkles of tempo? The quarterback sure sounds like he would be all for it.

“It gets the defense off balance. We play well from the quick game. It’s tough on defenses,” said Nix, who is completing 64.6 % of his passes with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. “You are more attacking them, instead of letting them attacking you.”

Will Payton consistently hit the throttle? Unlikely. He has pumped the brakes anytime the issue has been raised over the past two seasons. His reasoning is sound, that going too fast too much will compromise his own defense.

Let’s be clear, I am not suggesting there is a disconnect between the coach and the quarterback. But there appears to be a difference in preference.

Nix believes uptempo “can limit what the defenses will do, and they may not be in the right set.”

Payton sees its value, but likes it more as a situational weapon.

“I think a lot of it is dependent on what personnel we’re in, what do we want to get to. I think it’s always part of our plan. It’s just a matter of where we’re at field position-wise and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Payton said. “I can’t recall that we went away (from it last week). There are times when— like the touchdown was kind of an up-tempo play. We’ll use it each week where we see fit.”

He’s the boss. But it is obvious the Broncos need more of it and fewer personnel groups.

As it stands, Denver’s passing attack is akin to an NBA team that relies on layups and 3-pointers. There is no intermediate game, though Engram could change that if, you know, he ever becomes a focal point of the offense.

Given the reliance on the short passes to set up deep strikes, it makes sense to press the pedal. Nix admits that he picks his spots when going over the game plan with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and Payton, a concession to their experience.

But the six-game sample size is something. Nix has raised his voice before during games, and would be well-served to speak up now with a third of the season over. This could shift him into high gear.

The offensive issues are more than a Nix problem. But wouldn’t the speed game help solve some of them?

“Yeah, I think he likes that we’ll probably get a really simple or base defense, or coverage from lining up fast and putting tempo on ’em. For example, like, with the Giants, those guys up front – they’re real. It also has a little bit to do with like, wearing guys down,” receiver Troy Franklin said. “Just getting them to move fast, they’re bigger guys. So it’ll help us in the long run and stuff, for sure.”

This week will begin answering questions. No matter how you break down the numbers, the Broncos’ offense has been average at best, disappointing at worst. Payton is fond of saying that all teams begin the season a race to find their identity.

It is clear that the coach can speed up that process for his quarterback by going uptempo.

It is time for BoGo.

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Troy Renck

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October 15, 2025
Renck vs. Keeler: Bigger concern for Broncos’ offense, the play-caller or the players?

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Troy Renck: The exit brought an insult. As Broncos fans left the overground train at White Heart Lane, an NFL usher offered, without prompting, this assessment. “You all need a new chant. Go Broncos! is lazy work.” Hate to think of what he thought of the offense. The Broncos were a mess against the Jets. They collected 246 yards on 57 plays, a total that would have spelled doom if not for a Denver defense delivering of the most dominating performances in franchise history. The Broncos have yet to take the step forward that was expected. So is it because of the play-caller or the players?

Sean Keeler: It takes a village to build that much ugliness. But I’ll give the edge to Sunshine Sean here. Let me ask you this, my friend. Was it Adam Prentice’s fault that his coach calls a fullback draw on third-and-10 with 1:56 left in the third quarter while trailing by one in a foreign country? Was it Jaleel McLaughlin’s fault that he had a screen dialed up for him on third-and-4 in the third quarter while Denver was nursing a 1-point lead? And should we mention that this was McLaughlin’s first action of the young season? The same five words kept banging in my head Sunday afternoon, and I hope they’re banging in Payton’s: What are we doing here?

Renck: The Broncos’ lack talent at skill players. In four of the first six games, the opponents have boasted better receivers, tight ends and running backs. Enough with the experiments, coach. This problem traces back to Payton. It’s time for the best players to get the lion’s share of reps. That means more cJ.K. Dobbins and Evan Engram and less everyone else. The Broncos lack consistency offensively because they lack consistency with the personnel. At one point in the second quarter, Payton used Dobbins on first down, R.J. Harvey on second and Jaleel McLaughlin in three downs. Uncle. Time to taper off the line changes that would make Jared Bednar blush. The Broncos need to establish an identity. But, It is hard to know who you are when you don’t know who is in the game.

Keeler: Payton’s worst enemy? Sean Payton. Sean Payton, Offensive Genius. Sean Payton, Riverboat Gambler. Sean Payton, Super Bowl Champ. The shadow of a mad scientist is always creeping over his shoulder, tapping on it, reminded him to be clever. To experiment. Reminding him of the pressure, the expectation, to prove that he’s the smartest guy in the room. The problem with being the NFL’s Baron Frankenstein is that the creature that rises from the slab is inevitably a patchwork job — but it’s rarely a monster.

Renck: Payton is not solely to blame. It was new left guard Matt Peart that was flagged for three penalties, including a holding penalty erased a red zone trip, not him. Receiver Pat Bryant had a false start that stalled momentum. There must be consequences to these mistakes, perhaps benching Peart. But Payton can help by streamlining the offense. He is a brilliant offensive mind, but there are times he is seeing the game through his play sheet instead of his eyes. The Broncos need to take their cue from rescues on “Restaurant: Impossible.” Simplify the menu, pare down the items, determine what you do well and do it the most.

Keeler: Bo Nix and this offense have more juice when the run sets up the pass, not the other way ’round. On Denver’s initial 21 first-down plays, the Broncos ran it 12 times for 3.1 yards per carry, which is, let’s just say, sub-optimal. But the alternative wasn’t much better — they threw it at least nine times on first down but completed only four of those. Throw in a run for no gain, and the Broncos faced a second-and-10-or-longer at least six times in London. No amount of genius can cute your way out of that.

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October 13, 2025
Renck: In signature win for Sean Payton, Broncos prove they’re afraid of nobody with remarkable comeback vs. Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA — The quarterback fought frustration. The tight end remained in witness protection. The cornerback got cooked.

The penalties, each more ridiculous than the last, mounted. The Broncos were on the verge of getting skunked.

Then something remarkable happened. They finished.

They met the moment. At last.

Trailing by 14 points against the defending champion Eagles, who had not lost a home game in 13 months, the Broncos rallied for a 21-17 victory, surviving a heart-in-a-blender Hail Mary pass.

Broncos Analysis: In dominating trenches vs. Philly, Sean Payton’s team finally has road map to loftier goals

This game threatened to become a blowout. Instead, it became the blueprint. You saw it. Run the ball. Convert third downs. Use the middle of the field. Turn Nik Bonitto loose (not sure if he showers after games or just licks his paws).

As the football sat lonely in the corner of the end zone with time expired, safety Talanoa Hufanga taunted Philadelphia fans, raising his arms in the air for dramatic effect. The swagger and confidence were no longer just a locker room thing, but in the light for everyone to see.

The Broncos are back in every January conversation.

They are 3-2 and should be favored in their next seven games. In a remarkable final 15 minutes, they transformed the lingering narrative that they were frauds into a story inspiring fear.

These players, who were the equivalent of a clenched fist after walk-off losses to the Colts and Chargers, punched back.

Enough was enough.

“When that ball went up in the air and those two (Eagles receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown) thought they had it, there was no way I was letting that happen,” Surtain said. “It wasn’t going to be a horror story. Not today. We were writing the perfect story.”

Puff out your chest, Broncos Country. Embrace this group.

Why not? Sean Payton wants the bright lights, the biggest challenges, and his team beat the champs as he passed mentor Bill Parcells on the NFL’s all-time wins list. The Broncos knocked out a great team. In a close game.

Want to be taken seriously? Beat teams you are not supposed to beat in games you are not supposed to win.

That was Sunday.

“That is just who we are,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “We believe in each other.”

They were all they had through three quarters. At one point, the Broncos punted six straight times. CBS did not assign Jim Nantz and Tony Romo this game to narrate a documentary on Jeremy Crawshaw. The excuses were lining up. Short week. Early start back East. Visiting teams prior to a game in London were 10-17.

“And then we come out and make mistakes. I obviously had one,” said cornerback Riley Moss, who Smith outran for a 52-yard completion on third-and-17. “But guys never stopped competing.”

The fourth quarter turned paint-by-numbers into Picasso.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) on a keeper against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Oct. 05, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Bo Nix looked like an elite quarterback.

He led three scoring drives, completing 9 of 10 passes for 127 yards. He found Evan Engram, who was called out by Payton for bad body language. Engram responded to the challenge with two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Nix turned to the one player he never had chemistry with last season, college teammate Troy Franklin, drilling a strike for a two-point conversion. And when it mattered most, he leaned on Courtland Sutton — they share the same biorhythms on third down.

Even then, the Broncos needed one more drive to close out the Eagles, and J.K. Dobbins became the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki.

They won between the lines. But also conquered demons between their ears, improving to 3-8 in one-score games over the past two years, including 2-2 this season.

“Today we showed we’re mentally tough,” Dobbins said. “We showed we are a dangerous team.”

Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (27) finds running room against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Oct. 05, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Let’s be clear. This is Payton’s signature win with the Broncos. Better than the victories at Buffalo, at Tampa Bay and the streak-buster against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles were 20-1 in their last 21 games.

“You always get a chance to see where you are at. We talked a lot about that,” Payton said. “Our guys did a good job of preparing, and I think the locker room prior today felt like this would be the result. I have done this long enough. I have pretty good instincts.”

And you wonder if the message to run the ball — written again on his play sheet — finally seeped into his brain as the Broncos imposed their will. Unable to win at the line of scrimmage, the Eagles crossed the line. The Broncos benefitted from a suspect personal foul on linebacker Zach Braun that extended a late drive. And Denver’s patience was rewarded when Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo committed malpractice.

With Philadelphia holding a 14-point cushion, he kept passing. At one point, the Eagles had a 20-second drive. Saquon Barkley finished with six carries. One in the fourth.

The same criticisms we have lobbed at the Broncos applied to them. The Eagles abandoned the run. They got cute. And they did dumb stuff.

Sunday, the Broncos were not the same ol’ Broncos. They were the old Broncos. Like from 2015. A team that had the discipline, defense and determination to beat anyone, anywhere.

No, Denver was not without sin. This was not perfection. But it was retribution.

In the smoke-filled celebratory locker room, Payton stood in front of the team and asked a simple question: Who are you afraid of?

The answer? Nobody!

“It was electric,” Moss said. “We proved something today.”

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Troy Renck

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October 5, 2025
Renck: No Michael Malone. No MPJ. No excuses for Nuggets, Nikola Jokic to not win another title

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MPJ with a mic is OMG. Michael Malone remains an angry emoji.

And without these two, the Nuggets are no longer bitter and a whole lot better.

This is not a reset. It is a cleansing of negative vibes, paranoia and a bench that was thinner than Flat Stanley.

When last season ended, there was a feeling the Nuggets were going to run it back, throwing their arms in the air and asking coach David Adelman to sprinkle pixie dust on an aging roster increasingly defined by injuries and a lack of versatility.

Four months later, that’s all changed.

The Nuggets hired two general managers, Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer, who made a trade that immediately restored title expectations. Those have only grown stronger with the unfortunate season-ending injury to Houston’s Fred VanVleet, the possibility of mental and physical fatigue in OKC, and the inclusion of six Nuggets on ESPN’s NBA Rank Top 100 released this week.

This is the deepest team Jokic has ever played with, and it’s the best chance he will have to win another title in Denver.

Sure, Jokic, who was No. 1 on the aforementioned list, has four more years left of his prime. But he will never have another prime opportunity like this.

He has Jonas Valanciunas, ESPN’s No. 87, as his backup. Are you kidding me? Valanciunas will deliver double-doubles. The previous backups for Jokic were lucky to deliver double-figure minutes. Jokic, yes, Jokic, will be fresh for the playoffs.

Everything has fallen into place this offseason as the Nuggets prepare to hold their media day on Monday, starting with the subtractions.

Multiple things can be true when discussing Michael Porter Jr. and Malone.

MPJ was candid, accommodating, and earned high marks for playing through three back surgeries and assorted other ailments. He won a ring, but wanted an offense to run through him. His departure has featured a series of revelations about his off-court life, former teammates and, this week, an admission that he is unsure if he wants to play beyond this year.

What does it say about the Brooklyn Nets that they are trying to tank and want the 2018 first-round pick to set the culture for their battery of younger players? Wish MPJ nothing but success, but if this deal nets another Nuggets title, Wallace and Tenzer will deserve a statue.

Malone deserved a news conference and a proper goodbye upon his firing. He also deserved blame for helping create the heavy pall that hung over the Nuggets last season because of his distrust of former GM Calvin Booth. It permeated the organization and oozed into the locker room as players tuned out an increasingly irritable Malone.

Porter and Malone are what the Nuggets needed two years ago. Cameron Johnson, ESPN’s No. 67, and Adelman are what they need now.

Johnson is not the floor spacer that MPJ was. But he is smarter and more equipped to contribute defensively. There is a selflessness about his game that has drawn comparisons to Aaron Gordon, No. 40 in the rankings. Durability is a question. Nothing else is. He is exactly the type of player Jokic makes better.

As for Adelman, the players like him — and not just because he is not Malone. Will his meritocracy and message work on the second night of a back-to-back in Dallas on Jan. 14? Not sure. But the players’ loyalty to him gives it a decent shot.

Who knew that Wallace’s return to the organization would have such an impact on Jamal Murray? With Wallace in Murray’s corner, while also challenging him, the guard has enjoyed a tremendous offseason. He is in great shape and has had a positive effect on team chemistry because of the way he has communicated and hooped with the young players.

Who knew that Tim Hardaway Jr. would sign a veteran minimum deal after starting 77 games for the Pistons last season? For all of the legitimate handwringing about bench scoring, Hardaway is one of the league’s most underrated signings. He profiles perfectly for the spot-up 3s created by passes from Jokic and Valanciunas.

And who new that Bruce Brown would want to come back? OK, we all did. Brown is not the player he was two years ago due to injuries. But he is a trusted reserve and creates a fight for Adelman’s up-for-grab minutes between Jalen Pickett, another player expected to take a big step forward, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson.

It is impossible to look at the Nuggets and not think of a championship.

There is no guarantee that Denver will beat the Thunder or solve the Timberwolves. But they match up as well against the champs as anyone, and the shiny offensive options give them different ways to counter Minnesota.

No one in the East is beating them — or anyone else who advances out of the West.

If the Nuggets had kept the band together, Jokic would have given them a puncher’s chance. But last season, one in which he averaged a triple-double, showed he needed help. The Nuggets have better shooters, more depth and less drama.

Jokic turns 31 in February. He will not be the best player forever. That honor could belong to Victor Wembanyama as soon as this season.

Of all the problems the last two years — exhaustion, tension, lack of 3-point shooting — there are none left. Jokic is still here. Still in his prime. And he has teammates and a fresh voice from a coach worthy of his talent.

Now is the time for him to get another one. Likely his last in Denver.

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September 25, 2025
Renck: Blaming refs for Broncos’ loss to Colts is just plain dumb. This one’s on Denver

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INDIANAPOLIS — Time to run mental lapses.

And extra gassers at the end of practice.

Here in Naptown, a poster with Colts players adorns the J.W. Marriott, paying tribute to late team owner Jim Irsay. It reads: For the Boss. For the City. For the Shoe.

For the love of God, this ending was stupid. A series of cognitive disconnects, each more costly than the last, resulted in a 29-28 walk-off loss for the Broncos.

This wasn’t just a Denver loss; this was the ultimate brain freeze. Like guzzling a 32-ounce Slurpee through a straw in a single drink.

Unwisely conceived: Darren Rizzi, why ask Dondrea Tillman to try to block a 60-yard field goal from a kicker who has never made a 50-yarder? Poorly executed: If you are going to speed, even if by one mile per hour over, don’t get caught — and stained by failure.

The Broncos were dealt their first loss of the season in their first road game of the season in a way that, as far as the internet can tell, was a first.

In four weeks, if your friends ask you how the Broncos’ special season became ordinary, the story starts here. When they ask you at the office Christmas party why they have to win out against Kansas City and the Chargers to make the playoffs, remind them of the Colts.

The Broncos put themselves in a dangerous position with upcoming cage matches against the Chargers, Bengals and Eagles by squandering a game the Colts were begging for them to win. Or at least coach Shane Steichen was as he performed his best Nathaniel Hackett Clueless in Seattle impersonation.

When writing the Broncos’ history since Super Bowl 50, what unfolded before our wide eyes demands an entry. Let’s start at the end and work backward.

Leading 28-26, the Broncos took possession at their 35-yard line with 8:29 remaining. On an afternoon when the offense finally awoke from its summer hibernation, this represented a chance for a statement drive in a benchmark game. Siphon the clock. Kick a short field goal, and let the beleaguered defense leave with its dignity with a clinching sack of Daniel Jones.

It set up according to script. Until it didn’t. The Broncos were MacGyver, poised for the dramatic ending, and suddenly forgot the difference between the blue and red wires. They made a series of mistakes that had coach Sean Payton shaking his head and admitting, “It is going to be painful to watch this film.”

Payton prides himself on building a roster full of smart, disciplined and competitive players. They got the competitive part right against the Colts.

The unraveling began with running back J.K. Dobbins. He burst up the middle for 23 yards, placing the Broncos at the 20 for a chip shot from Wil Lutz. But Dobbins slammed the ball to the turf in celebration not once, but twice. He was called for delay of game, costing five yards and undermining momentum.

“They just said I can’t do that. I didn’t know I couldn’t. I have always done it,” said Dobbins, who finished with 76 yards on 14 carries. “I don’t know — I’ve just got to keep my composure and not do that.”

His excess celebration would have been forgotten, except tight end Adam Trautman, who is clearly getting more snaps than Evan Engram, committed a face mask penalty, his hands smushing the face of the defender on a block. The 20 became a memory. The Broncos were pushed back to 40 and needed a 15-yard tunnel screen to Troy Franklin to claw back into field goal range.

OK, Lutz, erase two foolish penalties with one good kick. Uh-oh. Lutz knew off his foot that the 42-yarder was in trouble. It sliced hard right like every duffer’s tee shot and doinked off the upright.

Indianapolis Colts place kicker Spencer Shrader (3) kicks the game-winning field goal against the Denver Broncos, winning 29-28 in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez (8) holds for Shrader, Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) tries to block it. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Even then, the Broncos had one last chance. They were Dumb, but Steichen was Dumber.

The Broncos’ vaunted defense should not have had to rely on help, but it couldn’t get a stop. After the two-minute warning. Payton called three timeouts on three consecutive plays, a strategy that made sense if Denver was able to get off the field. When the Colts converted on third-and-6, as Pat Surtain II was unable to deflect the ball from Alec Pierce, the Broncos deserved to lose.

Pick a reason. The missed assignments on coverage against tight end Tyler Warren and running back Jonathan Taylor. Bo Nix, who otherwise played well, “missing” on an unnecessary pass over the head of Courtland Sutton on an interception with the Broncos in field goal range early in the fourth quarter.

Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) walks past the Indianapolis Colts football team after losing 29-28 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)It should have been over. But Steichen wouldn’t let them surrender.

He ran Taylor into the line for one yard on three plays as the clock ticked, setting up a 60-yard field goal. It was the return of Hackett. Pure idiocy.

Steichen said he wanted to leave no time for the Broncos to get a kickoff return. OK. But to set up a monster boot for Spencer Shrader, who had never even attempted a 50-yarder as he bounced from three different teams over the last two seasons?

You all know what happened next. Snap. Short kick. Broncos celebrate and find out they were playing the role of a human Whoopee cushion. The officials announced a 15-yard leverage penalty on defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike. After the game, it was assigned to Tillman. Replays showed Uwazurike had a hand on the long snapper, and Tillman knifed in for the block. This call has been made roughly three times a season over the last 15 years.

By letter of the law, it was a foul, even though Rizzi, the special teams coordinator, told players afterward he did not see the penalty. Uwazurike and Tillman were genuinely surprised that it was called, wondering what they had done wrong. Did the Broncos get hosed? Probably. Was the play unnecessary? Absolutely.

When your friends ask you when the offseason bravado became hollow, bring up Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium and an ending that was just plain dumb.

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Troy Renck

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September 14, 2025
Renck & File: CSU’s Jay Norvell approaches stretch that will determine his future

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When Jay Norvell talked about creating Canvas Chaos, this isn’t what he had in mind.

The Rams are 1-1, but it feels worse after their escape against Northern Colorado. There are no Secret Santa gifts needed for Norvell at the office Christmas party after an all-time shocking reversal of a touchdown catch by the Bears.

And whether it was or wasn’t a reception is not even the biggest issue surrounding the program. Norvell has a quarterback controversy. He called it a competition during the bye week practice. But that is never the case, especially when the three-year starter is losing his grip on the position.

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi sure looks like he peaked that chilly night in Boulder two years ago. He can’t help himself, falling into bad habits of throwing off balance, firing sidearm and into traffic. This is not the return Norvell expected on his investment. Not in BFN’s third season.

Jackson Brousseau is getting first-team reps as Norvell mulls his choice. This decision should determine whether Norvell receives a contract extension. That’s because the Rams enter a seven-game stretch that will provide clarity on whether he should keep the job.

CSU hosts five home games, including Sept. 20 against the University of Texas San Antonio on FS1. Washington State follows. These are not Cam Ward’s Cougars. The optics of this game remain important since CSU will be joining Wazzu in the revamped Pac 12 next season. Are the Rams competitive? Do they look the part?

And Norvell knows after the latest white-knuckle scare that he better beat Wyoming. Nobody cares that the game is on the road. Waking up on Nov. 9 with a 6-3 record provides hope that Norvell made the right choice. The temperature is not dropping on this topic until Fowler-Nicolosi plays better or Norvell moves on from him.

CSU’s athletic program is on a heater. The men’s basketball program, after a terrific March Madness run, was invited to the Maui Invitational in 2026 and recently signed guard Gregory “Pops” Dunson, the highest-ranked recruit since rankings became available in 2000. The volleyball team remains a force, and the women’s soccer team has entered the national polls at No. 25 for the first time in school history.

Football, however, is the window into the university for donors. Norvell cannot afford a 6-6 record with a boring offense and uncertainty at quarterback.

Rams fans, especially the students, did their part last week. It’s on Norvell to reward their chaos with better performances.

Tight fit: The Joke was on us in Week 1. Evan Engram finished with three catches for 21 yards on four targets. He only played 26 of the 76 offensive snaps, and it wasn’t only because of his injured calf. Engram appears ready to go on Sunday. If the Broncos run the ball better, as expected, there should be at least four RPO or cross-route strikes to Engram in the first half alone, or coach Sean Payton is doing it wrong.

Bowl it over: The retractable roof is a point of debate among Broncos Country as it relates to this week’s new stadium announcement. It allows for multiple events, including a Super Bowl, Final Four and Wrestlemania. But here’s another addition: a bowl game. There has been interest over the last year in bringing a bowl to Denver, and this offers a chance to accelerate that conversation even before shovels are in the ground.

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Originally Published: September 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM MDT

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September 12, 2025
Renck: Time to worry about Broncos’ Bo Nix? Check back after this week vs. Colts

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Bo Nix has more in common with Reggie Jackson than Lamar.

Maybe the explanation for his slow starts is that simple. Nix is the Broncos’ Mr. October. His play changes with the leaves and pumpkin spice lattes.

It was this time a year ago that Nix looked like a baby giraffe on roller skates. And it only got worse in Week 4 when he couldn’t grip the football in the rain against the Jets.

And here we are in September again, and Nix isn’t exactly inspiring confidence. It was one week. And specifically Week 1. But man, the offense was ugly, forgettable and boring, wasn’t it? Sean Payton seems fine with Nix, blames himself for the play-calling and shields his quarterback from criticism to such a degree that it is weird.

We have not reached the “everyone freak out stage.” Not yet. But with games on the horizon against the Chargers and Bengals, it will be time to worry if Nix plays poorly this week.

This is suddenly a scary matchup against the Colts after they demolished the Dolphins. They looked like a playoff team last Sunday. The Broncos did not.

No quarterback performed worse in a Week 1 win than Nix.

“I know I can be a lot better,” he admitted after Wednesday’s practice.

What happened against the Titans reminded me of Texas’ Arch Manning at Ohio State. We weren’t sure what it was going to look like, but we know it wasn’t supposed to look like that. Nix threw off balance. He threw into double coverage. He threw sidearm.

He finished with two interceptions and lost his first fumble in 19 NFL games. Sometimes disappointment is traced to expectations. And that definitely applies to Nix after he led the Broncos to their first playoff berth since 2015.

My concern is one that surfaced over the summer. He never caught fire in June, failed to wow in training camp, save for a few scrimmage series against the 49ers and Cardinals, and remained uneven in two preseason games. His play has been a mirror of the offense. There are glimpses of improvement that are quickly overshadowed by long bouts of ineffectiveness.

The Broncos can win Sunday because their defense is so (bleeping) good. But they cannot stand more carelessness.

Nix needs to stop chasing perfection and focus on precision.

There’s nothing wrong with a couple of first downs and teeing up Vance Joseph’s charges with a long punt. Nix knows who he can be. He has to understand who he is on game day. If he’s not feeling it, put the ball in your pocket.

You can’t lose to the Colts because you can’t control an impulse. Nix, a coach’s son through and through, recognizes this. But will he do it?

Well……

“In the future, maybe not be so aggressive,” Nix said. “But at the same time, it’s what makes quarterbacks good. It’s a fine line.”

It really isn’t. It is a flashing neon sign in the construction zone at Dove Valley, screaming, “Proceed with caution.” This is not about taking the wag out of the puppy’s tail. We want Nix to play with passion and enthusiasm, but he must be more strategic.

Some of you don’t see it. You see Nix as the face of the franchise, the future, the reason for hope. And it makes sense. I was right there with you after last season. But give me space to remind you that Nix never went on a heater this summer. He has earned our faith that everything will soon be all right. The time is now to minimize the wrong.

“It’s not about the stats and perfection, for me it’s a standard I have for myself. With our defense, we can definitely make sure at times to give them great field position and we will get the ball back and go right back to work,” Nix said. “Overall, we want to play complementary football, but we definitely have high standards for our offense.”

Nix must prove he can do it this month.

In September games, he has completed 60.7% of his passes with two touchdowns and six interceptions in 178 attempts. In all other games, including the postseason, he boasts a 66 completion percentage with 28 touchdowns and eight picks.

Amazingly, he owns a 3-2 September record because the Broncos have held opponents to 9.3 points per game in the wins. If Payton always has Nix’s back, the defense is his bodyguard. There are very few times when a quarterback will be smiling after three turnovers and 40 pass attempts.

In his second season, Nix is smarter, better prepared. But there are things he must clean up, punches he must counter. Regardless of what Payton calls, Nix has to iron out the wrinkles. He cannot throw like he’s shooting a fallaway jumper or with his shoulder flying open. These are easy fixes given his film study and work ethic.

The other part is harder. As the Titans showed, Nix will face defenses determined to keep him in the pocket and force him to throw outside the numbers. Those passes must be made with “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” conviction.

And don’t let the mind lie to the eyes. Be prudent. Nix does not have to carry the Broncos.

The best way to shake a September Slump? Remember that his teammates have his back.

“He’s a competitor. He challenges himself to be perfect. It’s something I love to see from a quarterback. That’s who he is. But no single person is going to win the game for us,” Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said. “I love looking at him — it doesn’t need to be this whole monologue or inspirational speech — and just saying, ‘Hey, bro, we’ve got you.’ ”

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Originally Published: September 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM MDT

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Troy Renck

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September 10, 2025
Renck: Broncos’ Super Bowl champion Glenn Cadrez pulls man from burning car: ‘I am not a hero. I just wanted to help’

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Had it happened on another day, Glenn Cadrez figures he would be dead.

The former Super Bowl champion Broncos player was driving home from a pizza party after his 14-year-old son Kannon’s Pop Warner game on Aug. 23. He was two miles from his exit around 9:30 p.m. on Interstate 15 in California, when a huge cloud of dust caught his eye in the northbound lanes.

Seconds later, a black BMW M4 sailed through a concrete divider, veered into the southbound lanes and smashed into an oncoming car, according to a Los Angeles Times report citing the California Highway Patrol.

“It happened so quick. I was like, ‘What the (heck) was that?’ Then it slammed into the car, maybe two seconds in front of me. Just boom!” Cadrez recalled from his Temecula home Sunday night. “Normally, I would have been in that left lane. But I wasn’t on a Saturday with my kids in another car following me. I was driving slower in the middle lane. Thank God. I don’t think I would have survived.”

What happened next has caused Cadrez multiple sleepless nights. He said he swerved left to avoid the wreck, jumped out of his truck and ran to the scene. He saw a man hunched over outside the Nissan Sentra that was struck, so he raced to the BMW that was on fire. When he pulled open the door, his face became engulfed in black smoke and flames.

“I couldn’t see really anything in the car, not even the passenger seat, just the silhouette of the driver. I grabbed and felt his body and began pulling him out,” Cadrez said. “It looked like he had a compound fracture in his leg, and he was in a lot of pain. … I was able to get him out, and another guy showed up and we moved him away. A few seconds later, the car was fully engulfed.”

Cadrez’s two sons arrived with their mother not long after — and braced for the worst. When they saw his truck stopped on the shoulder, they thought he had been hit. Cadrez was overjoyed to see them, but struggled to make sense of the scene. How did that car end up here, going the wrong way?

The 25-year-old man Cadrez removed from the vehicle sustained major injuries and charges are pending, the L.A. Times reported. But he was alive.

Three others in his car — a 23-year-old woman in the passenger seat and a 14-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl in the backseat — were killed, the L.A. Times reported. The news hit Cadrez like a thunderbolt.

“It was really hard to hear that. Those are the ages of my sons. It’s so sad,” Cadrez said of the crash that also took the life of the driver in the other car, according to the CHP.

“When I got there, I was yelling to see if anyone was there. I was asking the driver if anyone else was in there. I never heard anything. No voices. Maybe I couldn’t have saved them. But I wish I could have done more to help. It hurts.”

His mind and heart racing, Cadrez barely slept in the days following the wreck. It never entered his mind, however, not to do something.

“I have got kids. Everything I do is with them in mind. I would like to think if they were in trouble, someone would help them,” Cadrez said. “So my only thought was, ‘I have to get this guy out.’ I just wish I could have been there maybe a few seconds sooner. It just torched so fast. The heat was unbelievable. I thought it was going to blow.”

Glenn Cadrez attends Big Game Kick-Off Event, hosted by Jay Glazer, Merging Vets And Players, at Academy LA on February 09, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)

Cadrez, 55, served as a critical special teams member in 1997 and a starting linebacker in 1998 during the Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl championships. We like to think that we would all be good Samaritans. But let’s be honest, it takes a special person to run toward a fire.

When news spread of Cadrez’s actions, his former teammates were not surprised. This is how they described him.

“Glenn was an absolute rock star teammate. He showed us what it means to be tough and committed,” said former star fullback Howard Griffith. “He made sure we were all on the same page. And he always put the team first.”

Cadrez called Hall of Famer Steve Atwater not long after the crash. About 30 Broncos from those glory days remain in a group chat as a way to stay in touch.

“He saved a young man’s life!” Atwater said. “… Glenn was an awesome teammate, a great player.”

As the texts came in about Cadrez, they carried a common theme. Smart. Athletic. Selfless.

“He knew every position on our defense,” said edge rusher Alfred Williams. “He is a great dude.”

I covered Cadrez during those Super Bowl years, and can vividly recall how popular he was in the locker room. He was someone who could be trusted, who was more concerned with playing for his teammates than personal accolades. Told of their recollections, Cadrez paused.

“That means a lot,” Cadrez said.

What happened on that Saturday night, what he did, makes Cadrez even more special. Even if he doesn’t see it that way.

“I was there at the right time to do something. That’s it. There wasn’t really a thought process,” said Cadrez, who flies a Broncos flag outside of his home on game days and plans to attend an alumni function in Denver this season. “I am not a hero. It happened so quick. I just wanted to help. That is what it is really all about.”

Denver Broncos linebacker Glenn Cadrez celebrates the Broncos’ overtime win over the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 25, 1999. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)

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Originally Published: August 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM MDT

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Troy Renck

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August 31, 2025
Renck & File: Shedeur Sanders in danger of becoming Tim Tebow. That’s not a good thing

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In college, Shedeur Sanders was him. In the NFL, he is becoming Tim.

And that’s not good.

The only thing NFL coaches hate more than pre-snap penalties are distractions. And this is where Sanders’ star power works against him with the Cleveland Browns. Remember Tim Tebow? Of course you do. He is the only drafted Broncos quarterback to win a playoff game. He was traded after that season, started two games for the New York Jets, and disappeared into TV work.

Sanders profiles as an NFL starter. Should be one.

But the league did not see him that way, with 143 players selected before the Browns pulled the ripcord on his free fall. Even that was a mess since they had drafted Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel in the third round. Fifth-round picks are not guaranteed roster spots. Sanders needed to show up in Cleveland with a low profile — no personal media crew, and, in hindsight, an Uber gift card to avoid speeding tickets.

Sanders is better than Gabriel, whose helmet is already hitting his ceiling. But that doesn’t matter. If the Browns believe Sanders is a backup — and foolishly keeping four quarterbacks on the opening roster will scream as much — then they will want him to blend into the furniture.

CU fans love Shedeur’s brand. The style. The watch flex. It worked famously in Boulder. But for all the advantages of playing for his father, Deion Sanders, there was a clear downside of facing no consequences or competition.

His success was legendary. In the NFL, he is currently viewed as ordinary. It’s not fair. However, unless you are a first-round pick, have a huge contract, or are a coach’s favorite, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt.

Coaches don’t want celebrity quarterbacks. And they definitely don’t want celebrity backup quarterbacks. Don’t believe it? How quickly did the careers of Cam Newton and Jay Cutler end?

Sanders, who sat out last week with an oblique injury, will play in the Browns’ final preseason game after 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco and Gabriel.

Sanders’ popularity is a multiplier. It works great when you are leading the team. Right now, he could fit anywhere from second to fourth on the depth chart.

This might be Sanders’ best shot to start in the NFL. There is only one way to beat the system: Quiet all the noise and beat out the players ahead of him.

MPJ Talks the Talk: Michael Porter Jr. clearly wanted out of Denver. He aims to be featured on the floor and off. MPJ has spoken freely about numerous issues since being traded to the Nets, including having a “vice in the form of women.” Porter was always a candid interview. But word of advice: MPJ, your podcast is becoming TMI (too much information).

Schaeffer’s future: Fans falling for the Rockies’ 15-17 record after the All-Star break are missing the larger point. They have some good young players. But, they have no can’t-miss starting pitchers in the minors. It is a reflection of a draft-and-development problem that demands an entirely new front office. That said, manager Warren Schaeffer has shown he is capable. Same with hitting instructor Jordan Pacheco, who has helped reduce strikeouts over the last month. They deserve praise, but no guarantees of jobs, because the next general manager must have freedom to hire his own staff and scouts.

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Troy Renck

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August 22, 2025