Heading into 2024, Mile High Sports’ Mark Knudson is offering up his long predictions for the sports year to come. Strike 1 dealt with the early months of the year.
Strike Two: Summer and Fall.
June 2, Denver – Accepting that they’ll most likely be playing a rookie quarterback next season, the Denver Broncos formally release quarterback Russell Wilson, who in February had participated in his 10th Pro Bowl. Head coach Sean Payton tells the media that he’s looking forward to having Jarrett Stidham, who replaced Wilson for the final two games of the 2024 season, take over as the team’s starter for next season. “He gives us a spark,” Payton said. Payton does not mention rookie first-round draft pick J J McCarthy.
June 16, Boston – The Colorado Avalanche complete an unlikely postseason run by defeating the heavily favored Boston Bruins 5-4 in Game 7 to win their second Stanley Cup title in three years. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each have a goal and an assist, and backup goaltender Ivan Prosvetov, pressed into full time service after a late season injury to starter Alexander Georgiev, earns the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. The Avs didn’t have home ice advantage in any series after the first round, but rallied behind their new captain Devon Toews and the stellar play of MacKinnon and winger Valeri Nichushkin to capture road Game 7 wins in Las Vegas and Boston. In the champagne soaked visitors’ locker room at TD Garden, MacKinnon, cigar in hand, says simply, “Home ice is overrated.”
Sept. 7, Lincoln, Nebraska – In what’s currently their last scheduled meeting, the Nebraska Cornhuskers get a measure of revenge on Colorado, beating the new-look Buffaloes 38-24 in front of a sellout crowd at a revved up Memorial Stadium. Freshman quarterback Dylan Riola throws three touchdown passes to lead the Husker offense, which does not commit a turnover against CU for the first time since 2010. CU QB Shedeur Sanders throws for 285 yards and two scores, but is sacked eight times and gives up a fumble on a strip-sack that leads to the Huskers final touchdown.
After the game, CU coach Deion Sanders says he plans on taking over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Pat Schumer, and adds that the Buffs entire starting offensive line will be benched for next week’s game at Colorado State.
Sept. 14, Fort Collins, Colorado – One week after losing at Nebraska, the Colorado Buffaloes rebound with a 30-27 nail-biting win over Colorado State in Fort Collins. Shedeur Sanders, who reportedly needed pain killing injections during the week and did not practice, throws for two more touchdowns as the heavily favored Buffs hang on despite almost blowing a 17-point fourth quarter lead.
The game’s opening kickoff was delayed by 45 minutes because the Buffaloes were late in arriving at Canvas Stadium. This was reportedly due to their traveling party not knowing where CSU’s on-campus facility was located. According to a source on the team bus, the lead bus driver drove to the site of the since-demolished Hughes Stadium, west of the CSU campus, before finding out that CSU had built a new facility in 2015. CU athletic director Rick George was quoted after the game as saying, “How were we supposed to know they built a new stadium? Nobody told us.”
Sept. 15, Denver – The Denver Broncos move to 2-0 on the young season behind new hometown hero running back Austin Ekeler. Ekeler scores a pair of touchdowns, including a scoring pass from rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy, in his first home game in his home state as a member of the Broncos. Denver defeats the New Orleans Saints 27-17 to give Sean Payton his first coaching win over his former team. After the game, Payton is asked about the significance of beating the Saints.
“Great organization, gave me my first head coaching job. Nothing but good things to say about that team, except that they should have gotten more in the trade.”
Sept. 30, Los Angeles – the Colorado Rockies salvage the final game of a three-game season ending series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, beating LA 6-1 behind lefthander Kyle Freeland. The Dodgers (112-50), who clinched the National League West title on Aug. 30, send out a lineup that features just two regular starters, but it doesn’t matter to the Rockies (63-99) who avoid a second consecutive 100-loss season with the victory. “We are pleased with our progress and the direction of the franchise,” says Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt, noting that no significant changes would be made before next season.
