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Vance Joseph deserves a raise. Or three. The Broncos defense has carried the flag for one of the most fun, outta-nowhere seasons in team history — a heady mix of kids and vets raising Cain while allowing Bo Nix and a young receiving corps time (and space) to grow up on the fly. That being said: What the heck was that this past Thursday night, VJ? Seriously.

Denver Post beat writer Bennett Durando opens up the Nuggets Mailbag periodically during the season. You can submit a Nuggets- or NBA-related question here. Been hearing a lot of talk about the NBA TV ratings being down, and fans not showing interest in the games. It feels like old-school fans such as myself are tired of constant 3s being thrown up.

The 2024 All-Colorado football team, as selected by The Denver Post staff based on statistical analysis, relative value to team success, postseason production and the old-fashioned eye test. Austyn Modrzewski All-Colorado selection Austyn Modrzewski of Mountain Vista poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.

The tendency to believe remains strong until a game like Portland comes along. Then it’s clear the Nuggets need to be shaken up like a snow globe. Against a bad team, the Nuggets fell back into a familiar trap this season, sleepwalking through long stretches with questionable effort. Operating with no safety net left them vulnerable to getting beat, and Anfernee Simons obliged with a game-winner at the buzzer. The acrobatic shot made it clear it is time to have the conversation: Should the Nuggets trade for Chicago’s Zach LaVine? For me, the answer is yes. They owe it to Nikola Jokic, whose prime can not be wasted with an underachieving lineup and a bench that is an island of misfit toys.

On a blistering cold Christmas Eve in 2023, the Broncos attempted to keep their playoff hopes alive against the New England Patriots when Sean Payton got carried away. Denver’s head coach was ultra-aggressive during the final stages of the game, burning timeouts and giving the Patriots the chance to march down the field to convert a game-winning field goal. A year later in Los Angeles, the Broncos once again faced a high-stakes situation.

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — Lindsey Vonn was not about to put everything on the line in her first World Cup race back after more than five years of retirement. Not with her history of crashes and injuries. Not with her new titanium knee. Not at age 40. Vonn took a low-risk approach and finished 14th in a super-G on Saturday, crossing 1.18 seconds behind Austrian winner Cornelia Huetter. “This was the perfect start,” Vonn said.