Mile High Sports

The Year in Pictures 2017: Defeat

This story originally appeared in Mile High Sports Magazine. Read the full digital edition.

For every champion that is crowned, there is someone who comes up just short. For every winner that walks off the field of play, there is another who will use defeat as motivation.

The Colorado sports scene had many moments of triumph in 2017, but it was also met with its fair share of disappointment. These photos capture the losses that will linger and inspire improvement for the future.

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In an admirable early season effort against SEC powerhouse Alabama, the CSU Rams ultimately fell to the Tide 41-23 in Tuscaloosa.

The bar is always set high for the Denver Outlaws, a team that has advanced to the MLL Championship seven times in its 12-year existence. This August, the Outlaws once again advanced to final. Unfortunately, Denver fell to the Ohio Machine 17-12 in the championship game, coming up just short of their third Steinfeld Cup.

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Pretty Instant

The 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche were bad – colossally bad. In fact, they mustered only 48 points and became the worst team in the NHL’s shootout era.

Apr 6, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. The Wild won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Giants defensive tackle Damian Harrison added a little injury to insult as Trevor Siemian unloaded one of his 21 incompletions in their Week 6 matchup. Until facing the Broncos, the Giants had yet to win a game. That defeat in Denver spurred a Broncos losing streak unmatched since 1967.

Oct 15, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) throws under pressure from New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison Sr. (98) in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona backup quarterback Khalil Tate spoiled a fine evening at Folsom Field by pasting 327 rushing yards and three touchdowns on a weary Buffs defense.

Oct 7, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate (14) runs for a long gain as Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ryan Moeller (25) defends at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports

Things were looking up for Tim Howard and the USMNT in June, as the good guys beat Trinidad and Tobago in front of a sellout crowd at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The outcome was not as favorable when the team visited T&T in October. A loss there knocked the United States out of World Cup qualification, an omission that hasn’t happened since 1986.

Jun 8, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; United States goalkeeper Tim Howard (1) reacts after a play in the first half against Trinidad & Tobago at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

For as good as Rockies ace Jon Gray was in his injury-shortened season, he was wildly ineffective in the NL Wild Card Game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gray went just 1.1 innings, giving up seven hits, one home run and four earned runs in the start. The Rockies battled back, but eventually lost 11-8.

Oct 4, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (55) reacts on the mound during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2017 National League wildcard playoff baseball game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Entering their third Final Four in four seasons, the DU men’s lacrosse team had high hopes of winning a second national championship. Maryland had other ideas, though, as the Terps narrowly won a 9-8 thriller that sent the fifth-seeded Pios packing.

May 27, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Denver Pioneers face-off Trevor Baptiste (9) battles Maryland Terrapins face-off Jon Garino (12) for the ball during the second half of the Terrapins 9-8 win in a NCAA semifinal game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s tough to say when exactly the frustrations of a historically bad season finally boil over, but when a top-line center finally drops his gloves to throw down, that might very well be the moment. Such was the case when Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog decided to knock around Ottawa’s Ryan Dzingel. The fisticuffs didn’t ultimately work, as the Avs fell 4-2 anyway.

Mar 11, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Ottawa Senators left wing Ryan Dzingel (18) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) fight in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Senators won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Unable to discover an effective co-existence for their two big men, the Nuggets opted to trade once-ballyhooed Jusuf Nurkic, who went to the playoffs with Portland while Denver did not.

Mar 28, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) posts up against Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Just one season removed from advancing to the MLS semifinals, the Colorado Rapids removed head coach Pablo Mastroeni amidst a season that saw the club finish second-to-last in the Western Conference and go winless from July 4 through Sept. 2.

Aug 5, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; Colorado Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni reacts to a penalty called in the second half of the match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin certainly did his part to spoil the Broncos’ trip to Los Angeles in late October. Benjamin first scored on a 65-yard punt return, and then capped his performance with a 42-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Amazingly, his first score would have done the trick, as Denver was shut out for the first time since 1992.

Oct 22, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin (12) throws the football after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Denver Broncos at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Fan favorite Carlos Gonzalez struggled mightily throughout the summer, but played his best late in the season; it wasn’t enough to advance in the playoffs, however.

Oct 4, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) reacts after striking out in the 2017 National League wildcard playoff baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Siemian went from starter to backup to inactive in a span of just three weeks, a ride indicative of the mess the Broncos had at Denver’s most-scrutinized job.

Oct 30, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) walks to the sidelines after calling time out during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

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