Angela Rae Harris's Blog, page 34

Colorado opponent lookahead: Nonconference play wraps up vs. Wyoming in potential ‘get right’ game

Just over 100 miles separates Boulder and Laramie, college towns with proud football traditions. Yet Colorado and Wyoming have met only four times since 1975.

The fifth comes Saturday (8:15 p.m. ESPN) as Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes look to get back on track after a disappointing loss at Houston in the Big 12 opener against a Cowboys team looking to show last year’s 3-9 record (the program’s worst season in almost a decade) is in the rearview mirror.

Here’s what to expect from coach Jay Sawvel and the Pokes:

Last time out

Wyoming was on the way to a potential statement game against a really good Big 12 team in Utah last weekend at War Memorial Stadium.

It didn’t matter that the offense wasn’t moving the ball, the Cowboys were down just 3-0 at halftime to a team that could go on to make the College Football Playoff in a few months. One big play in the second half could’ve sparked an upset. It never came.

Wyoming cowboys celebrate at haftime after blocking a field goal attemp during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Matthew Idler)

The 3-0 deficit quickly became 10-0 and then 17-0 in the third quarter. With Wyoming’s only offensive possession in that quarter ending in a punt, hopes of a surprise were dashed. But the fact that Wyoming was in the game for a large portion of it is encouraging, especially given Sawvel’s team lost to its Big 12 opponents (Arizona State and BYU) by a combined 61 points last season.

It’s a performance that should give the Cowboys a renewed sense of belief they can enter Folsom Field and win a game as multiple-touchdown underdogs against CU.

On offense

The unit that hampered Wyoming all of 2024 has not taken a step forward through the first quarter of this season.

Only Air Force had a worse offense than the Cowboys last year. Yes, the recent loss to Utah weighs down some of the statistics, but they rank third-to-last in the Mountain West with fewer than 16 points per game.

Sophomore Kaden Anderson returned as the starting quarterback and his play has been unimpressive. Through three games, he’s completed fewer than 60% of his passes for 535 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson (12) passes ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Matthew Idler)

Fellow sophomore wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. has been the favorite target with 17 catches for 284 yards and two touchdowns — tops on the team in all three categories.

On the ground, running back Sam Scott leads the way with 203 yards on 44 carries, while backups Terron Kellman and Samuel Harris have both done well with their limited reps, averaging over 7 yards per carry on 18 attempts each. All three likely will be used against a Buffs defense that has struggled to defend the run in two of three games.

On defense

If Wyoming is to pull off an upset Saturday night, it will be defense-led.

While the Cowboys’ offense ranks near the bottom of the Mountain West in most statistical categories, the defense is at or near the top in a lot of key areas. They’ve allowed the fewest points per game (under 13) and the third-fewest yards per game (313) through three weeks, and that includes the 541 (311 on the ground) from the Utes.

The linebacker duo of Brayden Johnson and Evan Eller has been solid, while nose tackle Ben Florentine has been in the backfield regularly with three sacks. 

The Wyoming Cowboys file

Record: 2-1

Head coach: Jay Sawvel (2nd season)

Offensive coordinator: Jay Johnson (2nd season)

Defensive coordinator: Aaron Bohl (9th season overall, 2nd as DC)

Names to know: QB Kaden Anderson, RB Sam Scott, TE John Michael Gyllenborg, WR Chris Durr, OL Jack Walsh, NT Ben Florentine, LB Brayden Johnson, LB Evan Eller, S Andrew Johnson

Denver moves forward with composting and recycling enforcement

More than two years after Denver voters approved a ballot initiative aimed at increasing recycling and composting across the city’s businesses, residential buildings, and construction sites, the city will now finalize implementation and enforcement.

Denver City Council members voted 10 to 2 to approve Council Bill 25-0628, which amends the city code related to the 2022 “Waste No More” ballot initiative. 

Under the new ordinance, which would not go into effect until September 2026, composting will be required for multi-family residential buildings, non-residential buildings that handle food, such as restaurants, large outdoor events that serve food, construction and demolition projects larger than 500 square feet, and remodeling and renovation projects larger than 2,500 square feet.

Dissenting votes from Councilmembers Kevin Flynn and Amanda Sawyer cited the bill’s potential to place additional burdens on small businesses.

“September of 2026 is when implementation would formally go into effect,” Tim Hoffman, Director of Policy for Denver Mayor Johnston, told the members of the City Council. “So that gives us about a year of figuring out rules and regulations.”

Once formally implemented, Hoffman said the city administration will be taking an “education-based enforcement approach,” particularly as the matter relates to small restaurants and small businesses.”

In the months leading up to the implementation date, business owners may expect a public process to better define rules and regulations.

Some businesses may have the option to opt out due to hardships.

“I do think a big part of this is going to be a public education campaign, and that will be both from the city and then from outside entities, making sure that impacted businesses know that this is coming in the next year, the possible implications of it,” Hoffman said.

He added: “As we go through the rules and regulations processes, if there still exists a financial hardship exemption, restaurants will be able to apply for on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis.”

The forthcoming rules and regulations would also apply to large public events, i commercial spaces, as well as construction and demolition companies.

“I want to be super clear that you (businesses) can apply for exemption for basically any good reason, as this ordinance stands now,” At-large Councilmember Sarah Parady said. “If you don’t apply affirmatively, it’s not like you didn’t do your taxes. There are not yet any penalties set in place, and you can hear that the agencies are not planning on taking a super draconian approach towards this.”

Although approved in 2022 with a phased implementation schedule, enforcement of the ordinance was postponed to mid-2026 to accommodate adjustments to timelines, fine-tuning definitions and exemptions, as well as outlining the process for enforcement.

EDITORIAL: A promising plan for the Broncos’ new home

The Broncos will move barely a mile from Empower Field at Mile High, just west of I-25, to the old Burnham Yard a little south of Denver’s downtown. Yet, it portends of a whole new, fresh start for Colorado’s beloved football team. On Tuesday, the team ownership announced the historic rail yard is the “preferred site” site for building a new stadium.

The awaited development is exciting and welcome for a number of reasons.

For starters, it erases any lingering doubts fans may have had, however remote, about the team’s commitment to Colorado. Sure, the NFL franchise was born and raised here — and belongs in our state forever as far as every last Coloradan is concerned. But sports franchises do move, so it’s reassuring that in this move, the Broncos won’t even be leaving town.

Instead, they will play a central role in revitalizing the capital city’s historic La Alma-Lincoln Park neighborhood by repurposing dormant land that needed a new lease on life. A major sports venue like the Broncos’ future home is sure to incubate scores of new businesses and more, serving fans as well as the surrounding community. The team will work closely with state and local government on public infrastructure and other aspects of the project as the site develops.

Significantly, the new stadium will be privately financed. Public funding of sports venues can stir heated debate, which the Broncos’ ownership is rendering moot. That will move the endeavor forward, and it’s a big stride.

As reported by The Gazette, the team’s ownership released a public statement that addressed months of mounting anticipation — following years of concerns about the Broncos’ current, aging stadium and its ability to remain competitive.

“In the spirit of a true civic partnership, the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group will privately fund this investment and work with the community, city and state to reconnect historic neighborhoods — with no new taxes,” said the joint letter from Bronco co-owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also signed the letter. “These shared public improvements will ensure benefits extend far beyond game days with better accessibility, connectivity and multimodal transit options.”

The letter envisioned, “a world-class retractable roof stadium anchoring a dynamic mixed-use district” in time for the 2031 NFL season. 

“Our goal for this ambitious project is to build a community that connects fans, neighbors and future generations across Colorado,” the letter stated. “In addition to creating a modern new home for the Broncos, this vibrant hub will attract premiere events driving impact for Denver and the entire Rocky Mountain Region.”

The owners said the area will “be revitalized into a thriving development where sports & entertainment, housing, business and community blend to create a one-of-a-kind year-round destination.”

As the letter notes, “there is a long road ahead” toward the project’s completion. This week’s announcement represents a major stride down that road.

A shared love of the Broncos unites Coloradans from every walk of life, every political stripe and every corner of the state. We all can be grateful to the team’s ownership for reaffirming the team’s singular place here and its devotion to Broncos fans everywhere.

EDITORIAL: Pretrial policies must prioritize public safety

A legislature notoriously lax on law and order has rendered Colorado’s justice system a revolving door, letting lawbreakers loose all too soon to prey upon the public. Plenty are set free even before they have to answer for their charges. Sometimes, dangerous suspects who should be held held in jail are back on the streets on their own recognizance.

It can amount to a get-out-of-jail-free card and, at times, a one-way ticket out of the justice system. And it imperils public safety.

Consider the latest policy codifying such recklessness. 

Colorado’s offender-friendly legislature made it easier in 2024 for criminal suspects awaiting trial — but deemed mentally incompetent — to sidestep jail and enroll in a “wraparound” program. It’s supposed to return them to competency. In reality, it can let them off the hook.

As profiled in a Gazette news report last week, the Bridges Wraparound Care Program now being implemented under last year’s legislation theoretically should help rehabilitate mentally incompetent suspects more quickly so they can stand trial or enter a plea on the charges against them. Currently, some incompetent suspects languish in jail while they await in-patient placement in a state mental-health facility.

Yet, participation in the new program requires a suspect’s release on a personal recognizance bond. Given the poor accountability over recognizance releases in general in some of Colorado’s biggest judicial districts, the program almost guarantees more suspects who pose a threat to society will be back on the streets. Some will even be dangerously violent.

Last January, 24-year-old Elijah David Caudill allegedly went on a knifing rampage in downtown Denver, stabbing four random victims. Two died. Not only should he have been in jail at the time — he was on probation with a lengthy, violent criminal record — but he also had been released on his own recognizance only months earlier on other charges. 

It turned out Caudill’s “OR” bond had been granted by the court so he could get treatment for mental illness in the interest of restoring him to competency to face those prior charges. He  was released under the auspices of the state’s Bridges of Colorado office although not under the new wraparound-care program.

Bridges only coordinates pretrial mental-health services for defendants with psychosis and other mental disorders; it doesn’t provide such care. And it had no legal authority to take custody of, or even supervise, Caudill. 

Once released, he was able to walk away and disappear onto Denver’s streets — until he resurfaced, allegedly, to carry out January’s gruesome melee.

Caudill’s was one of several recent, high-profile cases involving dangerous suspects with lengthy records who had been free on bond due to mental-competency issues.

Suspects are rightly regarded as innocent until proven guilty in our justice system, and they are constitutionally protected from being adjudicated on charges if they are not mentally competent to comprehend those charges or the proceedings surrounding them.

But that doesn’t mean they should be released — almost inevitably, to commit more crimes.

Former 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner pointed out in a Sunday Perspective in The Gazette last month that another law passed by the legislature in 2024 requires the dismissal of charges if a defendant is deemed incompetent and not restorable to mental competency. Yet, as Kellner also pointed out, there’s no provision in the law at present to link the dismissal of those charges to the involuntary civil commitment of that defendant to a mental health program. Kellner called compellingly for, “legislative reform so that a finding of permanent incompetence triggers automatic admission and care at a mental health facility.” We agree.

That approach not only would assure defendants of the help they need, but it also would assure the public of the safety it deserves.

EDITORIAL: Density zoning’s drumbeat drones on

Longtime “Simpsons” fans will recall the satirical series’ riff on Broadway’s “The Music Man.” The citizens of mythical Springfield are beguiled by a huckster who pitches them on the idea of building a monorail — which, of course, the town can’t afford and doesn’t need.

Before even unveiling his proposal, the pitchman slyly plays the townsfolk off of their rival city just down the road. He pretends to hesitate and appears about to leave as he observes aloud to a gathering at Springfield City Hall, “…Oh, it’s not for you. It’s more of a Shelbyville idea.” 

Incensed, Springfield’s mayor shoots back from his podium, “Now just a minute! We’re twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville. Just tell us your idea, and we’ll vote for it!”

It’s how Gov. Jared Polis and his “affordable housing” braintrust must view Colorado’s communities — as the state government attempts to foist its sweeping rewrite of land-use rules on them. The state-imposed changes to local zoning codes, pushed through the General Assembly by the governor over the past two years, force Polis’ untested vision for affordable housing onto the most populous parts of the state whether citizens want it or not. 

The legislation mandates a host of changes to local zoning rules on considerations ranging from housing units per parcel to parking. It all boils down to an attempt to cram more housing into less space.

Like a 19th century snake-oil salesman — and much like the original “Music Man’s” Professor Harold Hill — Polis has resorted to assorted means to peddle his product to those he presumes to be provincial rubes. He has used fear — invoking the affordable-housing crisis; threats — to withhold state funding from cities that balk, and promises — notably, the cure-all of density zoning. Density is billed as a tonic for all ailments — from climate change, to congested roads to urban sprawl. Above all, Polis insists, it’ll mean more affordable housing. 

Don’t bother trying to connect all of those dots. While there’s some theoretical plausibility to some of it — build enough housing, and prices will drop at some point — it hardly justifies upending the state’s single-family-home neighborhoods to make way for multifamily housing, as Polis’ agenda intends.

While the governor rattles his saber at cities that won’t go along, his political allies in some other Colorado cities already seem to have drunk the Kool-Aid — much like The Simpsons’ fictitious Mayor Quimby.

Last week, for example, Lakewood’s City Council took steps toward implementing the state’s dictates locally. As The Gazette reported, the council appears to be ramming the zoning changes through, over the objections of locals. 

Perhaps that’s what Polis is really counting on — local collaborators who’ll do his bidding through the back door while he creates a diversion out front. 

The good news is some other cities are pushing back in earnest. In May, the cities of Aurora, Arvada, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Lafayette and Westminster sued in Denver District Court to stop Polis and the legislature from steamrolling them and their citizens. They contend the governor and legislature are trying to trample constitutional and statutory authority long reserved to Colorado cities to chart their own course on fundamental land-use matters.

Meanwhile, other cities are watching and waiting. Some, like Colorado Springs, are adopting changes to their zoning codes that work for their citizens but don’t conform to the new state laws.

Good. They all are a lot smarter than the governor seems to think they are. And as far as they are concerned, he can pack up his medicine show and take it down the road. To Shelbyville, perhaps.

EDITORIAL: Another wakeup call for Colorado’s ruling Dems

A Gazette news report this week on a sweeping, new survey of Coloradans opens with some helpful context — noting for readers that almost half the state’s registered voters are now unaffiliated. 

So, it’s probably no surprise a near-majority of the survey’s respondents regard the policies and politicians of both major political parties as off putting. And it may also explain respondents’ dim view of the state’s current crop of elected leaders, who all happen to be Democrats. 

Surprising or not, it’s a wakeup call for any politicians willing to listen. 

Fully 52% disapproved of Gov. Jared Polis while Colorado U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper got only 38% and 37% approval ratings, respectively. The state legislature’s approval rating was hardly better at 39%.

And Coloradans see their state going adrift in general, according to a survey metric always closely watched by pollsters: 53% of Colorado voters believe the state is “headed in the wrong direction.”

Only the remaining two quarters of the state’s electorate — comprising the Democratic and Republican voting blocs — expressed enthusiasm for their respective politicos and platforms. But it is the unaffiliated voters whose opinions matter most; they dictate the outcome of Colorado elections. 

The respected Magellan Strategies survey of voters statewide, conducted in late July and early August, reaffirmed state data on party affiliation: 49% of respondents identified as unaffiliated, dwarfing the 26% who were Democrats and 23% who were Republicans. And it is telling that the rapidly rising number of voters who wish a pox on both parties soon will constitute a majority in the Centennial State.

To be sure, the trove of wide-ranging data gleaned by Magellan doesn’t point to any advantage for the GOP as a party in Colorado, nor does it necessarily portend of brighter prospects for its candidates in a state where statewide races have come to be dominated by Democrats. 

Yet, some of the noteworthy findings do strongly suggest the Democrats are dominant only by default — not because they’ve won hearts and minds.

While almost 60% of all respondents said they disapprove of the job President Donald Trump has done thus far — no shocker in a state Trump lost by 14 percentage points last November to Democrat Kamala Harris — Democrats as a party fared even worse in the Magellan survey. Some 68% said they had an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party, citing poor leadership and a lack of direction in recent years as well as the belief that Democratic policies often constituted government overreach and imposed too much spending.

It’s a telling takeaway. 

It’s one thing for voters to define Republicans in context of a distant, yet often-polarizing president who never has been popular in Colorado. He’s the only “Republican” who comes to mind for a lot of voters in a state where no Republicans have held statewide office in years. 

But it’s another matter when over two-thirds of the state’s voters give a thumbs-down to the party in power. Colorado’s governor has been a Democrat since 2007. Both of Colorado’s U.S. senators and all its state-level elected officials are Democrats, and each legislative chamber at the State Capitol is only a vote or two shy of a Democratic super-majority.

To be sure, it’s not disaffected Democrats who are driving that eyeopening data; it’s unaffiliated voters. But it’s also that same unaffiliated voting bloc that has been growing at an astonishing rate in Colorado and, by all indicators, will continue to do so.

Is Colorado’s political establishment paying attention?

Colorado gets its first 2-star Michelin restaurant

The 2025 Michelin Guide for Colorado is out. And not only are there new Bib Gourmand and one-star additions, the state now has a two-star restaurant, too.

The Wolf’s Tailor at 4058 Tejon St. received two stars, Michelin announced Monday, making it the first restaurant in Colorado to get the highly-coveted distinction.

“Offering a seamless dining experience as intriguing as its name, this comfortable haven blends together creativity, attention to detail, and charm,” an anonymous Michelin inspector said in its review.

Michelin highlighted The Wolf’s Tailor, a restaurant from Id Est Hospitality, for its sustainable food practices, its Berkshire pork dumpling with a turmeric and dill broth, and its Colorado bison loin with apricot and grilled zucchini glazed with dried shrimp caramel. 

“A rigorous commitment to local sourcing, as well as gorgeously manicured presentations underpin these far-flung creations,” the inspector said.

The new guide is in its third year since Michelin inspectors began rating Colorado restaurants in 2023, with the financial support of the Colorado Tourism Office and tourism agencies of Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Snowmass Village and the Town of Vail and Beaver Creek Resort. Cities like Aspen, Aurora and Colorado Springs that did not pay into the Michelin Guide are not inspected.

Getting a Michelin star is among the highest honors in the culinary world. Michelin inspectors use a criteria to evaluate quality of products, cooking techniques, flavor, how the food showcases the personality of the chef and consistency across the menu.

In total, Michelin highlighted 32 restaurants across the state. 

Mezcaleria Alma in Denver won a Michelin star, joining its sister restaurant Alma Fonda Fina.

Denver was the big hot spot in the 2025 guide. 

In addition to The Wolf’s Tailor, Michelin awarded three other restaurants with a star all within the city. Kizaki, Margot and Mezcaleria Alma joined the state’s five other one-star restaurants. 

Kizaki, a Japanese Omakase restaurant, and contemporary American dining spot Margot are both located on South Pearl Street. Mezcaleria Alma, a Mexican restaurant in the Highlands neighborhood, is Chef Johnny Curiel’s second one-star restaurant, after Alma Fonda Fina. 

The 2025 guide also named Mexican-inspired Alteño, Japanese omakase-style eatery Ukiyo and Italian-Mexican fusion Wildflower as the newest Michelin-recommended restaurants.

Visit Denver CEO and President Richard W. Scharf said he’s grateful for the restaurateurs who chose Denver to open their concepts — and noted how it helps the city stand out on the map.

“In doing so, they invite visitors from around the world to discover the city’s unique and fresh flavors that make Denver home to some of the best food in the world,” Scharf said in a news release.

In Boulder, Cozobi Fonda Fina (another restaurant led by Curiel) received a Bib Gourmand award, which celebrates good food at a great price that inspectors would order from on their personal time.

Michelin also gave out special awards this year to Dustin Lawlor at Hop Alley for exceptional cocktails, Heather Morrison at Olivia for outstanding service and Aiden Tibbetts of Wildflower won the Young Chef or Culinary Professional Award.

Pat Surtain updates ankle injury after Broncos’ 29-28 loss to Colts | Broncos notebook

INDIANAPOLIS — Midway through the second quarter Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II had to be helped off the field by two trainers and went straight to the medical tent with an injured left ankle. 

Surtain returned to the game after missing one defensive play in Denver’s 29-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. It remains to be seen how his ankle will feel as the week goes on. 

“Something to take just day-by-day and see how it goes, but it’s nothing crazy,’’ Surtain said at Lucas Oil Stadium. “So I’m just going to get treatment and feel better.”

Surtain sustained the injury with 7:48 left in the second quarter. He sat out the next play when the Colts failed to convert on fourth-and-1 at the 50. Then he returned for Denver’s next defensive series.

“I sort of twisted it a little bit,’’ Surtain said. “I planted wrong, going in a different direction. So just one of those those things that I just need to monitor.” 

The Colts threw at Surtain much more than most teams usually do against the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Broncos coach Sean Payton insisted Surtain was “good” after his injury. 

“That’s no excuse,’’ Surtain said of whether his injury hampered him. “When I’m out there, I expect to play to the best to my abilities. I had a little injury here but I got back in and was feeling confident.” 

Regardless of how his ankle felt, the loss hurt for Surtain. The Colts won on a 45-yard field goal on the final play by Spencer Shrader. It came after Shrader had been short on a 60-yard attempt but he was given a much easier attempt after a 15-yard leverage penalty on Denver outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman.

“You got to win the close ones and find a way to win and we didn’t,’’ Surtain said. “It was gut-wrenching for sure. We had them with a 60-yard field-goal (attempt). You can’t get much better than that.”

Franklin steps up

Payton has said the Broncos don’t have a defined No. 2 wide receiver after Courtland Sutton, but Troy Franklin might be emerging as that guy.

The second-year man Sunday had career highs of eight catches for 89 yards. He had a 42-yard grab and scored on a 3-yard reception from Bo Nix for a touchdown in the second quarter.

“He played well,’’ said Nix, who played with Franklin at Oregon from 2022-23 before both were Denver rookies last season. “He was everywhere. He played with great effort. I think it goes to show him just from his practice, man. … It’s good to see him have a day like that. I’ve seen that from him for as long as I’ve known him. … He’s starting to look like his college self again.”

Franklin didn’t have a lot to say about his strong showing. 

“I’m just kind of taking it day-by-day, week-by-week and letting the coaches handle all my opportunities and stuff like that,’’ he said. “Just out there doing my job.”

While Franklin came up big, Sutton had just one catch for 6 yards. And tight end Evan Engram had just one grab for 12 yards.

Taylor’s redemption 

Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor sure made up for last year’s game against the Broncos.

At Denver last December in Week 15, it looked as if Taylor had scored on a 41-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to put the Colts potentially up 20-7. But a replay showed he had dropped the ball just before the goal line and it rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. The Broncos took over on their 20 and scored 24 straight points to win 31-13.

On Sunday, Taylor had 25 carries for 165 yards. That included a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“He ran tough, he ran physical, he ran downhill,’’ said Colts coach Shane Steichen. “We had some inside zone stuff up, some trap plays. I thought the offensive line did a nice job for him.”

Badie again active

For the second straight game, Tyler Badie was Denver’s No. 3 running back over Jaleel McLaughn behind starter J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey.

Badie had one carry for 3 yards and two catches for 19 yards. That included a 19-yard in the third quarter on third-and-15.

The Broncos had the same players inactive as for the 20-12 win over Tennessee to open the season Sept. 7 in McLaughlin, linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad), tight end Nate Adkins (ankle), tackle Frank Crum, outside linebacker Que Robinson, defensive end Sav’ion Jones and quarterback Sam Ehlinger. 

Briefly

Broncos rookie Jahdae Barron got his first NFL start, getting the nod at nickel over Ja’Quan McMillian. … Linebacker Justin Strnad started his second straight game in place of the injured Greenlaw. He had Denver’s only sack Sunday, the second straight game he has had one. …. Denver All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. had two kickoff returns for a 26.0 average. But with teams kicking away from him, Harvey had three returns for a 23.3 average. … Rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw had his second straight strong game, having three boots for averages of 44.7 yards gross and 43.3 net. … In the penalty-plagued game, the Colts had 11 for 68 yards and the Broncos eight for 83 yards.

Mark Kiszla: Dumb and dumber is no way for Broncos to become legit contenders

INDIANAPOLIS – Super Bowl rings are not awarded to the stupid.

Although this NFL game saw more than 125 snaps, the Broncos’ 29-28 loss to Indianapolis can be summarized in three succinct words.

Dumb.

And dumber.

“We shot ourselves in the foot too many times,” Denver coach Sean Payton said Sunday, when his team somehow managed to snatch defeat out of a victory that was firmly in their grasp.

Yes, it would be easy to lay blame for this loss on a mindless penalty committed during a 60-yard field goal attempt that Indianapolis kicker Spencer Shrader had no hope of making as the final seconds of the fourth quarter expired.

But such a simplistic explanation, as Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey so curtly debunked, would be total B.S.

“One play doesn’t define a football game,” McGlinchey said.

It doesn’t, however, excuse the brain freeze suffered by Denver linebacker Dondrea Tillman for his illegal use of leverage to rise up in an effort to block the kick of Shrader, a 26-year-old journeyman who had never nailed a field goal of longer than 54 yards, dating all the way back to his college career at Notre Dame.

“I was just going for the ball, trying to make a play,” Tillman said.

It was unclear if Tillman had a clue what he did to merit a penalty.

Well, if that indeed was the case, ignorance is never an excuse.

But perhaps even more damning: Wasn’t it the job of Payton and his coaching staff to be absolutely certain Denver players didn’t give a mulligan to Shrader, who gladly accepted a reprieve provided by the penalty to put the game-winning kick through the uprights from 45 yards out with no time remaining on the scoreboard clock?

“It’s going to be painful to watch that film,” Payton said. “We’ll get the corrections made. It starts with me, our staff.”

On a September afternoon when the Kansas City Chiefs, who have long claimed the AFC West their kingdom, fell in a Super Bowl rematch with Philadelphia and watched their record drop to 0-2, the Broncos failed to capitalize on the opportunity to go two games up in the standings on their most-envied division rivals a mere two weeks into this season.

Hadn’t Payton, whose record as a head coach during the NFL’s opening month is an extremely unimpressive 30-29, harped on the importance of the Broncos getting off to a fast start if they wanted to be regarded as legit championship contenders?

“It was gut-wrenching,” said Denver cornerback Pat Surtain, who dropped to his knees under the heavy weight of woulda, shoulda, coulda as the Colts strutted and danced on the turf in Lucas Oil Stadium. “Thought we had ’em.”

In addition to Tillman’s glaring miscue, the Broncos failed to put away Indianapolis in the final quarter due to a complete and utter lack of discipline and execution under pressure.

For die-hards feeling blue in Broncos Country, I won’t recount the undisciplined offensive penalties, 42-yard field goal try that normally reliable Wil Lutz doinked off an upright or careless interception thrown by quarterback Bo Nix.

“Great teams don’t … beat themselves,” Nix said.

At the risk of rubbing the salt of a pain-killing Margarita in an open wound, let me ask:

If Nix is well on his way to becoming a top five quarterback in this league, as Payton recklessly claimed in recent weeks, does that mean Daniel Jones, who’s in Indy now after being run out of New York, should be ranked No. 4?

With Denver in possession of the football with a two-point lead midway through the fourth period, Nix was unable to put the Colts away.

Jones, who torched the Broncos’ ballyhooed defense for 316 yards, was simply better at crunch time than Nix.

One bad loss need not define these Broncos.

But with the next three dates on Denver’s schedule against the very playoff-worthy Chargers, Bengals and Eagles, Payton could quickly be forced to eat his big talk about a young team that hasn’t proved a thing with a side of crow.

“There’s no way we should’ve lost that game. We had probably six or seven opportunities in the second half to end it. And we didn’t ,” McGlinchey observed.

“Coach said after the game: ‘You’ve got to learn to win.’ But in order to do that, you’ve got to stop losing.”

Although there’s undeniable talent on this Denver roster, the Broncos have yet to learn that the truth of what it takes to win a championship is in the details.

“There will be a bitter taste in our mouth for a little bit,” Payton said

So can we please keep the words “Super” or “Bowl” out of their mouths until the Broncos fully comprehend how much focus and commitment is required to win a championship?

Broncos lose 29-28 to Colts on 45-yard field goal on final play

INDIANAPOLIS – Last year, the pain was in Kansas City. On Sunday, it was in Indianapolis.

For the second straight year, the Broncos lost a game at the end due to a screw-up on the field-goal team. The latest one came when Spencer Shrader took advantage of a leverage penalty on Denver outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman and drilled a 45-yard field goal for a 29-28 Colts win at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The winning kick came after Shrader had missed a 60-yard attempt on a play that started with 1 second on the clock. But after the penalty for Tillman illegally going over the right guard was assessed, he was given a chance at a much easier attempt with no time on the clock.

“There’s no way we should have lost this game,’’ said Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey. “Coach (Sean Payton) said it best after the game, ‘You got to learn to win.’ But in order to do that you got to stop losing and we gave that game away.”

Sound familiar?

On Nov. 10, 2024, Wil Lutz had a chip-shot 35-yard field-goal attempt on the final play with the Broncos trailing the Chiefs 16-14. But offensive lineman Alex Forsyth was bowled over and the attempt was blocked.

The Broncos then made a change on the field-goal team by moving Forsyth farther to the outside. It will be seen if any changes are made after Sunday’s game.

“I got to go back and watch the film and just see how I can learn from it,’’ Tillman said. “I’m trying to do everything I can to help this team out. I just got to be better.”

Before Tillman’s penalty, the Colts strangely had stuck to the ground and ran the clock down even though Shrader in five previous NFL regular-season games had never made a field goal longer than 48 yards.

“That’s football,’’ said Colts coach Shane Steichen, mostly shrugging off his late-game thinking. “We got the penalty that helped us out and found a way to win it. … It’s electric (in the locker room) right now.”

It was incorrectly announced on the field that the leverage penalty was on defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike. Tillman didn’t find out until later that the flag was on him.

Referee Craig Wrolstad told a pool reporter that Tillman “came across the line to the right guard and he put his hands on the right guard and pushed off him to elevate himself.” That by rule is not allowed.

“Obviously, a disappointing loss,’’ Payton said. “We did a lot of things late in that game to keep us from winning. It will be painful to watch that film. We’ll get the corrections made. It starts with me and my staff. … We shot ourselves in the foot too many times. … It will be a bitter taste in our mouth for a little bit. … We’ll look at the (penalty on Tillman)”

The Broncos (1-1) led 28-23 and had a chance to put the game away but Bo Nix threw an interception to Cam Bynum at the Indianapolis 9-yard line with 11:25 left in the game on a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage with the Broncos facing third-and-3 at Colts 28. A field goal would have given Denver an eight-point lead, but the Colts (2-0) instead drove to cut the deficit to 28-26 on a 28-yard field goal by Shrader with 8:33 remaining.

Lutz then missed a 42-yard field goal with 3:15 left that could have put Denver up 31-26.

“The ball didn’t feel good at all,’’ Lutz said. “I missed. … The team deserved to win this game. So, my number was called on fourth down and the ball didn’t go in. Got to be better.”

At least the Broncos’ offense was better than it had been in a 20-12 win over lowly Tennessee in the opener the previous Sunday. Nix in that game threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

Against the Colts, Nix completed 22 of 30 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns while having one interception. He had scoring throws of 23 yards to Marvin Mims Jr. in the first quarter and of 3 yards to Troy Franklin and 2 yards to Adam Trautman in the second quarter.

“I felt like it slipped away from us,’’ Nix said. “It got away. … We played well for three quarters, but we’ve got to finish in the fourth against a good team like that.”

Franklin looked good, having eight catches for 89 yards, including a 42-yard grab. The Broncos had some good moments on the ground, with J.K. Dobbins carrying 14 times for 76 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown run that put Denver up 28-20 with 11:13 left in the third quarter.

“I thought we ran the ball well,’’ Nix said. “Our O-line did really good.”

Denver’s defense was another story. After allowing a meager 133 yards to the Titans to rank No. 1 in the NFL in total defense after Week 1, the Broncos gave up a whopping 473 yards. A week after having six sacks, they had just one on Daniel Jones, that by linebacker Justin Strnad.

Jones completed 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown. The Colts got 165 yards on 25 carries by Jonathan Taylor, including a 68-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter.

“We got to finish certain areas, especially on defense … and just kind of get out of our own way some times,’’ said linebacker Alex Singleton.

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto put some of the blame on himself. He pointed among other things to a personal foul he had for a hit on Jones and for a missed tackle he had.

“It’s heartbreaking,’’ Bonitto said of the loss. “A lot of mental mistakes.”

During the drive that ended with Lutz’s missed field goal, the Broncos got a five-yard delay penalty when Dobbins spiked the ball after a run and Trautman had a 15-yard penalty for a face mask.

“You get behind the chains that severely, first and 20-some, the percentage of making a first down just bottomed out,’’ McGlinchey said of the penalty on Trautman making it first-and-25.

McGlinchey didn’t want to compare the loss to some other tough ones he has had in his eight-year career but said “it definitely hurts because this one should have been ours.”

Broncos players said basically the same thing last November after the loss to the Chiefs all but ended their chances to overtake them in the AFC West. And Sunday’s defeat denied Denver a chance to move two games in the division ahead of Kansas City, which dropped to 0-2 with a 20-17 loss to Philadelphia.