Kickin' it with Kiz: For Broncos to have any shot at NFL playoffs, here's the key statistic for fans to track

I can’t see how the Broncos are worse than last year, when they finished 8-9. This team already seems more cohesive. Rookie or not, Bo Nix will give Denver better quarterback play than last year. So shouldn’t the Broncos win at least as many games as last season? The national narrative is a bit confusing.

- K.B., walking on sunshine

Kiz: While the knuckleheads here at Kickin’ It Headquarters pay no never mind to what Screamin’ A. thinks about your Broncos, we do value the opinion of those wise guys in Las Vegas. They project Denver might not be the betting favorite in more than two games this season. But we believe it’s within the realm of possibility for the Broncos to sweep the first half of their home schedule, and with one upset on the road, enter November with a 5-3 record.

I figure the Broncos will go 6-11, maybe 7-10. Too many growing pains with Nix this year to make the playoffs, but the future is bright.

- Dennis, Colorado Springs

Kiz: After hearing my prediction the Broncos will go 9-8 and be firmly in the hunt for the final AFC playoff berth, a wise and learned observer of the team called me cray-cray. For all the focus on Nix, here’s the stat I will be tracking most closely: For the Broncos to have any real shot at the playoffs, they need to average 130 yards per game on the ground, a significant leap from their 106.5 rushing average of a year ago.

How should we celebrate another 100-loss season by the Rockies? With a shoulder shrug like every other season. Too bad the owners have no shame, or they would sell the team. Or at least make a little effort to field a good team, instead of insulting and taking advantage of their fanbase.

- Hawkeye, Estes Park

Kiz: Rockies ownership isn’t cheap. The team’s payroll sits in the middle of the major league’s pack, a full 30 percent higher than what the Indians and Orioles are spending on legit playoff rosters. The problem? After all these years, Dick Monfort doesn’t know jack about what it takes to construct a winning team whose home is 5,280 above sea level. While I hear grumbling that skipper Bud Black should be shown the door, it won’t make much difference who pulls the levers in the Rockies dugout if ownership is unwilling to move on from general manager Bill Schmidt’s stale ideas for roster-building.

In Week 1 of the college football season, Colorado should’ve played Texas and Colorado State should’ve played North Dakota State.

- Reggie, Colorado Springs

Kiz: This feels like a make-or-break season for CSU coach Jay Norvell. While it might be a wee bit premature to tie his job security to the ability to secure a bowl berth, if Norvell can’t coax .500 football out of the Rams in his third season, what convincing argument does this program have for future inclusion in the top tier of college football?

And today’s parting shot is from a Rams fan that would prefer to pretend the 52-0 loss to Texas never happened.

As a CSU fan, I didn’t need you there, Kiz.

- Mark, shooting the messenger