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Keeler: Broncos should’ve given Nathaniel Hackett’s keys to Jerry Rosburg sooner

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Keeler: Broncos should’ve given Nathaniel Hackett’s keys to Jerry Rosburg sooner


That crew? That crew doesn’t lose to Josh McDaniels twice. No means. No how.

The Week 18 model of the Broncos, Jerry Rosburg’s model of the Broncos, finds a approach to end at Tennessee and at Baltimore. It will by no means have dug itself an enormous gap, at residence, in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

As soon as is probability, however twice is a sample, youngsters. The Broncos that defeated the playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday had been reduce from the identical jib that scared the dwelling cheeseburgers out of Chiefs coach Andy Reid in Week 17.

In opposition to a Chargers crew that saved rolling out its starters within the face of standard knowledge, logic and coach Brandon Staley’s sanity, Denver was bodily on the level of assault (205 speeding yards). With a patchwork offensive line in opposition to Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, it in some way saved quarterback Russell Wilson (two sacks allowed) comparatively intact.

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The Broncos turned wideout Jerry Jeudy free (154 receiving yards, 39 speeding yards) and made tailback Latavius Murray (103 speeding yards on 15 carries), who turns 33 on Jan. 18, look 25 once more.

The soccer at Empower Area was air-tight, frenetic and enjoyable. A 12-loss Broncos crew led a 10-win Chargers crew with all these starters by 11 factors roughly 4 minutes into the fourth quarter. The Mile Excessive crowd that remained for the beginning of the ultimate stanza sang alongside to John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain Excessive” with full-throated glory as if the earlier 17 weeks of torture occurred to anyone else.

Ought to Rosburg have had the providers of a reliable punt returner over the ultimate 9 minutes, his guys would’ve wiped that model spanking new ground at Mile Excessive with the Bolts’ collective backsides.

“(The) type of soccer we performed is the type that I imagine is profitable soccer,” Rosburg mentioned after the Broncos’ 31-28 victory, his first-ever as an NFL head coach and a profitable completion of two weeks as an interim substitute for the fired Nathaniel Hackett.

“Watch that … you run the ball, (you) have the explosive performs we talked about final week … they had been attempting to run the ball, they couldn’t, and that put us in such a significantly better scenario. That’s profitable soccer.”

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Certain was. To the final. Frankly, it was the sort of soccer that made you surprise, in hindsight, why the heck the Broncos didn’t hand the keys to Rosburg sooner.

“I believe initially, the factor that coach Rosburg actually confirmed is his expertise of profitable, the expertise of profitable on the highest stage, profitable a Tremendous Bowl … solely so many individuals get to try this,” mentioned Wilson, who appeared to thrive throughout Rosburg’s fortnight in cost. “And that goes a good distance. I imply, to know what it seems like, feels like, smells like, talks like — you already know, all that. And I believe all of that has been actually superior to look at and expertise.”

They seemed like grown-ups, led by a grown-up. In Weeks 17 and 18, the Broncos dedicated six penalties mixed — three in every sport — for a median of 29.5 yards per contest.

Context: The Broncos had been flagged six instances throughout Week 16’s Christmas Day Bloodbath alone. Denver dedicated a median of 5.4 penalties within the 5 video games — all losses — that came about instantly after that victory over playoff-bound Jacksonville in London. They dedicated 25 penalties in Hackett’s first two video games in cost.

Would the Broncos be a postseason crew now in the event that they’d turned issues over to Rosburg’s regular arms after the Week 9 bye, with a report of 3-5 and previous wounds nonetheless festering? Perhaps.

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However they wouldn’t have dropped 5 straight video games. Heck, no. Defensive deal with Mike Purcell wouldn’t have confronted Wilson publicly the way in which he did at Carolina, the primary indicators of the locker-room fissures that will finally value Hackett his job after that 51-14 shellacking by SpongeBob SquarePants and the Rams.

Based mostly on the final two video games, it’s not onerous to think about them trying like Vegas did within the second half of final season, when interim Wealthy Bisaccia calmed the post-Gruden Raiders to a 7-5 end and gorgeous postseason berth.

“I’ve a robust perception in a sure type of soccer,” Rosburg, the 67-year-old interim, who’d been employed simply this previous September to assist Hackett’s shoddy sport administration, defined quietly.

“I prefer to see us run the ball. I prefer to see us play bodily run protection and reject the run. And I prefer to see us be affected person. I prefer to see us hit large performs and get the ball in your playmakers’ arms … I suppose, one phrase (could be) imaginative and prescient — that (type) suits my imaginative and prescient.”

It’s the sort of type that ought to grant Rosburg, on the very least, an interview with GM George Paton for the everlasting gig. And the sort of imaginative and prescient that Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, Dan Quinn — or whoever’s subsequent — could be silly to not construct upon.

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Denver, CO

‘I’m good.’ Bengals’ Amarius Mims says he’ll play vs. Denver Broncos after ankle injury

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‘I’m good.’ Bengals’ Amarius Mims says he’ll play vs. Denver Broncos after ankle injury


Amarius Mims thinks he’ll be ready for the biggest game of the Cincinnati Bengals’ season.

In Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns, Mims, an offensive tackle, was hampered by an ankle injury. He was in and out of the game as he battled the injury.

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With a make-or-break home game against the Denver Broncos coming Saturday, Mims told The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway he anticipated playing in the game.

“No, I’m good,” Mims told The Enquirer in the Bengals’ locker room post-game.

Absent Mims, the Bengals would be thin at tackle. That would make for less than ideal circumstances for quarterback Joe Burrow in a game of real significance.

After dropping to 4-8 on Dec. 1, the Bengals have played their way back to 7-8 and are attempting to overtake several teams including the Broncos for the final AFC Wild Card spot.

Saturday’s game against Denver is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast on NFL Network.

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Suns lookahead: Phoenix looks to end Christmas skid in holiday matchup vs. Denver Nuggets

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Suns lookahead: Phoenix looks to end Christmas skid in holiday matchup vs. Denver Nuggets


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The Phoenix Suns will play in their fourth consecutive Christmas Day game Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center.

The week begins with a Monday game at Denver and finishes with a back-to-back set: Friday’s home game against the Dallas Mavericks and Saturday’s matchup at Golden State.

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It’s nice to play on the most celebrated holiday of the year, especially at home.

Family and loved ones in town. Everyone watching on national television.

A festive time for celebrating and gift-giving, but the Grinch keeps showing up and ruining Christmas for the Suns.

Phoenix is 1-7 in its past eight Christmas games, losing the past three to the Golden State Warriors, 116-107, in 2021; at the Denver Nuggets, 128-125 in overtime, in 2022; and against Dallas, 128-114, last year.

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What’s even crazier is the Suns lost to teams that either won an NBA championship or reached the finals that season.

The Warriors won it all in the 2021-22 season, the Nuggets took it in 2022-23 and the Mavericks advanced to the finals before losing to the 2023-24 NBA champion Boston Celtics.

The Suns last won on Christmas in 2009, beating the Los Angeles Clippers, 124-93, at home. Phoenix went more than 10 seasons without playing on the holiday until the 2021-22 season, the year after it reached the 2021 finals.

Phoenix is 12-9 overall on Christmas.

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Christmas 2021: Curry leads Warriors past Suns

The Suns played the centerpiece Christmas game in 2021 against the Warriors during their historic 64-win season. They entered the marquee matchup with a 26-5 record and on a five-game winning streak, but lost at home.

Phoenix bolstered the best home record that season at 32-9 with one of those rare losses coming on Christmas. The Suns didn’t score in the final three minutes while Otto Porter Jr. scored the game’s final seven points.

Stephen Curry punched out a game-high 33 points to go with six assists to just one turnover while Chris Paul led the Suns with 21 points and eight assists to two turnovers and six rebounds.

Devin Booker managed just 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting.

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Christmas 2022: Booker injured early, Suns fall in OT

In 2022, the Suns lost Booker within the first five minutes of their Christmas loss to the Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver as he aggravated a groin injury. Scoring just two points, he had missed the previous three games.

Landry Shamet came off the bench to deliver 31 points to match a career-high, and Nikola Jokic posted another insane triple-double of 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists, but the game will forever be remembered for Aaron Gordon’s ferocious one-handed dunk in overtime over Shamet, who tried to take the charge on the play.

Gordon was first called for an offensive foul, but after review, the call was overturned because Shamet was ruled outside of the restricted area.

Gordon missed the ensuing free throw, but his dunk gave Denver a 126-123 lead with 24 seconds left.

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Christmas 2023: Doncic 50-piece dooms Suns

Then last season, Luka Doncic cooked the Suns for 50 points in leading Dallas to victory at Footprint Center. Shooting 8-of-16 from 3, Doncic became the seventh-fastest to reach 10,000 career points.

Grayson Allen scored a team-high 32 points to lead the Suns, going 8-of-17 from 3 while Kevin Durant and Booker combined for just 36 points on 10-of-25 shooting.

The Suns were without Bradley Beal (right ankle sprain) and Jusuf Nurkic (personal reasons) while the Mavericks won despite Kyrie Irving being sidelined due to a heel injury.

The Suns now have another chance to win on Christmas.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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Denver, CO

Esther Romero

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Esther Romero



Esther Romero


OBITUARY

Esther Romero (Lopez), 84, entered into eternal rest surrounded by her loving family. Born in Mt. Harris, Colorado, a small coal mining town near Steamboat Springs, her family moved to Denver in 1950. She graduated from North High School in 1957 and was the first in her family to attend college. She left for Colorado State College now UNC in 1958 where she soon met the love of her life and future husband Richard Romero. Esther graduated in 1961, married a week later, and together moved to Castle Rock where she began her career as an educator. Before long they returned to Denver where their three daughters were born. In 1972, Esther became one of Denver Public Schools first bilingual bicultural teachers and soon earned her Masters Degree from UNC. A passionate advocate, she understood the value of building a strong educational foundation in a child’s home language and honoring culture while also learning English. She taught at Elmwood, Del Pueblo, and Fairmont elementaries. A founding member of the Congress of Hispanic Educators (CHE), Esther served as president for many years helping to ensure children in DPS had access to a quality bilingual education. She continued this work through her final days. Esther taught for 30 years, was recognized as a master teacher of children, an exceptional mentor and coach to future educators, and served as a liaison between CU-Denver and DPS. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.

Esther enjoyed traveling with family and friends to Mexico, Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and almost all fifty states. She and Richard were avid Broncos fans holding season tickets since 1970, traveling to two Super Bowls. She loved organizing family gatherings, gambling trips, camping, reading, puzzles, and playing games with family. She had the unique ability to make everyone feel seen, heard, valued, and loved.

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She was preceded in death by her parents Luis and Tommie G. Lopez, devoted husband Richard Romero, brother Baltazar Lopez ( Lourdes) and survived by her loving daughters Rosana (Dean) Trujillo, Carla (Arturo) Perez, Diana (John) Romero Campbell, and her grandchildren Arturito, Juliana, Claudia, Sofia, Orlando, Geronimo and Alicia, her sister Alice (Joe) Marquez, brothers Louie (Pat dec.) Lopez, Davey (Pat dec.) Lopez, Robert (Shari) Lopez, Ray (Melva) Lopez, and numerous extended family members. Please see www.cfcscolorado.org for service details.



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