Magic's Pietrus The 'x-factor' In East Finals (ap)

WASHINGTON — Parker Kelly’s initiation as a center in the NHL was a bit like taking a first swimming lesson in the middle of an ocean. He felt it most when he settled into his position for a faceoff during his first exhibition game for the Avalanche and was nose-to-nose with Matt Duchene.

The NFL flexed, and once again fans were muscled out. For the first time in league history, the league moved a Sunday game into Thursday prime time, pitting the Broncos at the Chargers on Dec. 19. The NFL wanting viewers to watch the Broncos is a welcome change, indicating they have finally been forgiven for burning retinas with the Nathaniel Hackett-Russell Wilson pairing in 2022. But it stinks for fans with plans.

Colorado has been supplying the NWSL with top-end talent for years. Soon, the league could be paying it back with an expansion franchise in the Mile High City. National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman named Denver as one of three finalists for an expansion team in a news conference on Friday. Speaking to media members ahead of Saturday night’s championship match in Kansas City, Berman confirmed three ownership groups are vying for one slot: Denver, Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Even before the NFL draft dust settled, Sean Payton felt good about the Broncos’ seven-man rookie class. By the time training camp rolled around, he wasn’t afraid to say so publicly. The calendar hadn’t yet turned to August when Payton told NFL Network, “I think you’ll see this as the season unfolds with this draft class: It’s been an impressive group.

Around the AFC Race is on. The Steelers bungled a prime chance to stay near the top of the conference standings when they lost 24-19 to Cleveland in the snow Thursday night and fell to 8-3. They’ve got a tough schedule with Kansas City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cincinnati twice still to go.

The Broncos are moving to prime time. In a first-of-its-kind move, Denver’s Week 16 game at the Los Angeles Chargers has been flexed from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night. That means the game moves from Dec. 22 up to Dec. 19. The NFL can’t force teams to play two Thursday night games on the road, meaning the Broncos signed off on the move from a Sunday afternoon game to prime time. As a result of the change, Denver will have less time to prepare for the Chargers after a Week 15 home game against Indianapolis, but more time going into its Week 17 game at Cincinnati. Related Articles Denver Broncos | Renck & File: NFL flexing Broncos to Thursday night muscles out fans yet again Denver Broncos | Broncos’ rookie class, which Sean Payton predicted could be special, is starting to make its presence felt Denver Broncos | NFL picks: AFC race for the No.