Latest blog entries from Denver teams across every league
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic believes traditional low-post basketball could largely disappear from the NBA within the next five to 10 years because of the physical contact defenders are allowed to use. The post Nikola Jokic predicts low-post basketball will disappear appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
Broncos coaches Mike Shanahan and Dan Reeves moved a step closer to Hall of Fame selection out of the coaches subcommittee.
The Chiefs win made believers, but Denver's offense has fading targets, a crowded backfield and a deadline decision looming
The Denver Nuggets sit 4-3 but are 0-3 against winning teams, highlighting their reliance on three‑time MVP Nikola Jokic. While Jokic averages 23.4 points, nine rebounds and nine assists with a 50.4% field‑goal rate, his 21.9% three‑point shooting and reduced offensive rebounding raise concerns. A 32‑point, 10‑rebound, 11‑assist performance against Toronto shows his ceiling, yet the bench ranks near the bottom (28th in scoring, 23rd in net rating) and the offense is only 11th overall. Coach David Adelman stresses that the team must trust its role players, as Jokic and Jamal Murray are shouldering too much pressure.
The Nuggets rookie duo of Bryce Hopkins and Trevon Brazile has been dynamite to start the year.
After a 24-13 lead in the fourth quarter, the Kansas City Chiefs blew a 28-24 Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos when their defense surrendered two touchdowns in 11 plays. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo called the collapse “sickening,” urging his unit to “look in the mirror” and rediscover a killer instinct. Despite forcing three three‑and‑outs, the Chiefs’ defense—tied for the fewest sacks in the league—struggled early, recording only nine sacks total, one on third down. However, defensive end George Karlafits leads the NFL with seven batted‑down passes, a rare bright spot. Spagnuolo hopes the unit can translate more early‑down pressure into wins moving forward.
The Denver Broncos are replacing the natural grass at Empower Field for the fifth straight season, citing player safety and optimal footing. After a $400,000 overhaul in January 2023 and a massive 14‑truck delivery of Kentucky bluegrass in November 2024, the latest swap occurs Nov. 4‑5, 2026, timed between a road game at Carolina and a bye week before hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 22. Grounds director Chris Hathaway also uses LED grow lights (95% red, 5% blue) to sustain the turf through Denver’s cold months. The move reflects the NFL’s broader grass‑vs‑turf debate, with 92% of players preferring natural surfaces, and underscores the Broncos’ proactive, year‑round field maintenance strategy.
Colorado Avalanche stave off criticism with a 5-2 home win over the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 29, 2026, despite lingering disjointed play. Nathan MacKinnon’s highlight goal, Jaden Schwartz’s rebound and Nazem Kadri’s third‑period tally spark the comeback, while Connor Brown nets a shorthanded goal for New Jersey. Captain Gabe Landeskog, wearing the player‑of‑the‑game chain, says the team finally “stuck with it,” and coach Jared Bednar praises the defensive effort after a slow first period. The victory raises the question: is this a solid all‑around performance or a win boosted by a tired opponent?
Venezuelan right‑hander Eiberson Castellano spent 2026 climbing the Colorado Rockies ladder, posting a 4‑2 record with a 2.72 ERA in Double‑A before earning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors after a six‑scoreless‑inning Triple‑A debut. A week later the Rockies called him up, and he appeared in a 23‑9 win over the Athletics, delivering three shutout innings in his lone MLB outing. Despite a solid minor‑league showing, he posted a 6.49 ERA over 15 appearances (3 starts) for Albuquerque and was outrighted, clearing waivers on Nov. 3 and entering free agency.
After a sixth straight loss, the Phoenix Suns sit 1‑5 and are scrambling for identity. Coach Frank Vogel’s plan hinged on developing young big Khaman Maluach after Mark Williams’ shoulder surgery, yet Maluach is being pulled early in games. He started all six games, averaging 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds in 19.4 minutes, but has not played a single fourth‑quarter minute in the last three contests, exiting midway through the third against Portland, Denver and Golden State. The Suns, ranked 29th in rebounds (39.5 per game) and dead‑last in rebounding percentage (45.3%), lose an interior presence each time he leaves, contributing to their inability to secure possessions and wins.
Despite the rumors, the Denver Nuggets cannot let Nikola Jokic go anywhere.
The Colorado Avalanche (9-6-1) host the Nashville Predators (6-4-5) on Nov. 5 at 7:38 p.m. MT, welcoming back former GM Chris MacFarland and former Avs forwards Ross Colton and Jack Drury. After a 6-2 loss in Nashville (Oct. 25) and a 7-2 defeat to Columbus, the Avs aim to capitalize on their league‑leading home average of five goals per game and a 6-1-1 Western Conference record. Coach Jared Bednar sticks with the same lines, with Mackenzie Blackwood in goal. The game streams on ESPN+ and 92.5 FM.
Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season; that was just the appetizer
The Las Vegas Raiders halted a four‑game skid with a dramatic 38‑33 comeback win over the New York Jets, improving to 4‑4 and tying the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC’s ninth‑best record. With star quarterback Lamar Jackson out, the Raiders now face a crucial three‑game stretch against the 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos—teams that are 16‑7 combined. After a 3‑5 slide following a 3‑0 start, they must win two of these games to keep a winning record by Thanksgiving and stay in the AFC playoff race.
Former Chiefs running back and Super Bowl hero Damien Williams reacts to Kansas City’s 28‑24 loss to the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1, saying the Chiefs were “bamboozled” despite a 24‑13 lead. The Broncos erased an 11‑point deficit with 15 unanswered fourth‑quarter points, highlighted by Bo Nix’s touchdown to Nate Adkins and rookie Jonah Coleman’s go‑ahead score. Kansas City’s 11 penalties, a missed 54‑yard field goal by Harrison Butker, and a nullified Rashee Rice TD contributed to the defeat, while Patrick Mahomes threw for 321 yards and three TDs. The loss drops the Chiefs to 5‑2, ceding AFC West control to Denver, now 6‑2.
After a crushing 6-2 defeat to Columbus, the Colorado Avalanche (9-6-1) aim to rebound at home against the Nashville Predators (6-4-5) on Nov. 5, 2026. Nashville, riding a two‑game winning streak and fresh off a 6-2 victory over Colorado earlier this season, will look to extend its dominance, with Juuse Saros guarding the net. The Avs must improve offensively and defensively to avoid another shutout, relying on stars Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. Game tips out at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu, with live radio on Altitude Sports 92.5 FM.
After a crushing 6-2 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Colorado Avalanche (9‑6‑1) aim to rebound at home against the Nashville Predators (6‑4‑5) on Nov. 5, 2026, 7:30 p.m. MT. Nashville leads the season series 1‑0 after a 6‑2 win, but the Predators enter on a two‑game streak, fresh from shootout victories over Tampa Bay and Carolina. Colorado must sharpen both offense and defense, with Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Cale Makar anchoring the projected lineup, while goaltender Juuse Saros backs Nashville. The matchup promises a test of whether the Avs can erase the earlier loss and even the scoreline.
The three-time MVP Nikola Jokic can score from anywhere on the floor, but the morning show wants to see him take over more often when games are on the line
The Colorado Avalanche (9‑6‑1) face the Nashville Predators (6‑4‑5) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. MT in a clash that could swap their Western Conference standings, nudging the Avs into the last wild‑card spot. After a 5‑goal loss to Columbus, Colorado seeks revenge for a 6‑2 defeat in the last meeting and must tighten its road play and penalty kill. Nashville, fresh off a 4‑1 win over Carolina and with Adam Edstrom on a two‑game scoring streak, will test the Avs' defense, especially against Juuse Saros, who holds a 9‑4‑2 career edge over Colorado. Projected lines feature MacKinnon, Makar, Josi and Stamkos.
Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II reveals his personal top‑5 wide‑receiver list, ranking Seattle’s Jaxon Smith‑Njigba at No. 1 ahead of Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Justin Jefferson. He can’t choose between Dallas’s CeeDee Lamb and veteran Davante Adams, so he splits the fifth spot. The rankings, shared in a Jordan Schultz interview and posted on X, offer a rare look at how a 2024 Defensive Player of the Year evaluates elite pass‑catchers. Surtain’s picks underscore the difficulty of comparing receivers with differing strengths and give fans insight into his matchup mindset.
The Miami Dolphins host the Detroit Lions in Week 9 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. CBS will broadcast the game with Kevin Harlan and Trent Green, but only Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Myers viewers will see it locally; the rest of Florida gets other matchups. NFC North markets—including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Chicago, and Toledo—will also receive the Lions‑Dolphins game. The Dolphins sit 1‑6 after a Week 8 loss, while the Lions are 5‑2 and aiming for a playoff push. Additional Florida games: Jets‑Chiefs, Broncos‑Panthers, Browns‑Saints on CBS; Cowboys‑Colts, Giants‑Eagles, Packers‑Patriots on FOX; and Buccaneers‑Bears on Sunday Night Football.
The Broncos have been linked to Jonathan Taylor through multiple reports, but if they're going to trade for him, it might have to wait a little longer
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson earns the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honor for his Week 8 performance. Johnson posted 128 receiving yards— the most by any NFL running back this season—and a 73-yard touchdown catch, the longest play for the Chiefs this year. He also added a 15-yard run, totaling 143 all-purpose yards, the fourth‑highest single‑game mark for Kansas City in 2026. Johnson beat nominees Jonah Coleman (Broncos), Mike Washington Jr. (Raiders) and Wesley Bailey (Rams) to claim the vote. He now has 314 scrimmage yards on 34 touches and has moved the chains 11 times this season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have two Silver Slugger finalists: catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Corbin Carroll. Carroll, the 2025 winner, posted a .239/.328/.467 slash line with 22 homers, 33 doubles and an MLB‑leading 17 triples in 156 games. Moreno, a two‑time Gold Glove winner, captured the NL batting title at .311, added 16 homers, 33 doubles and an .874 OPS. Both face tough competition from players like Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow‑Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jordan Walker, James Wood, and Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. The winners will be announced on November 17.
Nikola Jokic brushed off the media critics and had a great game for the Nuggets in their victory over the Raptors.