Paul Klee, sports editor

Colorado sports fans are thankful for… winning. If Las Vegas is Sin City, Denver is Win City. Between the Avalanche and Broncos and Nuggets, the city has never seen a point in time where all three are at or near the top of their respective leagues with legitimate hopes of winning championships in the NHL, NFL and NBA. The Avalanche (16-1-5) are betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup; the Nuggets (13-4) own the second-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals; only one NFL team has more wins than the Broncos (9-2). Their combined record when playing in the friendly confines of Empower Field at Mile High and Ball Arena: 20-2-2. The Avs entered Wednesday on a nine-game win streak, the fourth-longest heater in team history, including the Nordiques days. They’ve lost one game in regulation; no other NHL team has lost fewer than five. The Nuggets opened the season 10-2 for the first time since 1985. The Broncos own the longest home win streak in the NFL, a wild ride that spans a full calendar year. Soak it in. And welcome to Win City.

***

Chris Schmaedeke, digital sports editor

Colorado sports fans should be thankful for … the state’s star power. How many states can say they have the best NBA player (Nikola Jokic), two of the best players in the NHL (Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar) and one of the best defensive players in the NFL (Patrick Surtain)? It’s a pleasure to get to watch these players take the court, field and ice each night. Now is the time to cherish it because it will be gone before you know it.

***

Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets beat writer

The Nuggets are thankful… Jamal Murray has shed his reputation as a slow starter. Heading into Denver’s final two games of November, Murray’s averaging 23.2 points, 6.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals. The points, rebounds and assists are on pace to be career highs. Availability hasn’t been an issue either, as Murray’s played in 16 of Denver’s first 17 games, missing just one with a calf issue on the second night of a back-to-back. A continuation of Murray’s strong start will be crucial as the Nuggets look to maintain their position in the Western Conference without Christian Braun or Aaron Gordon for the next month. Oh yeah, Nikola Jokic has managed to level up once more, and Denver finally has a serviceable back-up in Jonas Valanciunas.

***

Evan Rawal, Avalanche beat writer

Avalanche fans are thankful for…the return of the captain. Colorado is home to two of the four best hockey players in the world and fans should never take that for granted, but it’s not a coincidence that this start coincides with the return of Gabriel Landeskog. Does he look like the Landeskog of four years ago on the ice? Not necessarily, but that’s to be expected after more than three years away from the game. His impact in the locker room is unmatched. As Mackenzie Blackwood likes to say, he’s got “aura.” Opposing players respect him, opposing coaches respect him, refs respect him, and most importantly, he’s got the respect of every single player in that locker room. Spend two minutes in that locker room and you realize exactly what this team has been missing the last three seasons. It’s great to have you back, cap.

****

Chris Tomasson, Broncos beat writer

Broncos fans are thankful for… The resilience of linebacker Alex Singleton and others. Singleton amazingly returned to practice on Wednesday, just 19 days after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer on Nov. 7 and hopes to play Sunday at Washington. This is the same guy who played more than an entire half in Week 3 last year after suffering a torn ACL that would end his season and who played Nov. 6 against the Raiders, the day before his cancer surgery. The Broncos have had other players this season show grit when battling health issues. Guard Quinn Meinerz has been playing at an All-Pro level despite battling an illness he has said hasn’t been diagnosed. Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. had a big game against Cincinnati in Week 4 after it was uncertain he would play due to a hip injury. Offensive linemen Alex Palczewski and Calvin Throckmorton have played in games after being listed the day before as questionable due to illness.

****

Tyler King, colleges writer

CU Buffs fans are thankful for… a young core Deion Sanders can build around in 2026. This season has been nothing short of a disappointment for Coach Prime’s squad, even if those outside the building had far lower expectations than those inside the building. Whether Sanders wanted to admit or not, this was always likely going to be a rest year for his program after losing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and record-setting quarterback Shedeur Sanders. There was never going to be a way to replace that duo in one offseason. Now, after missing on a transfer portal class and on the verge of the worst record of the Coach Prime era, CU will have a chance to rest around a promising young core — QB Julian Lewis, LT Jordan Seaton, WR Omarion Miller, S Tawfiq Byard and others — heading into next season. Sanders just better hope he gets it right this time, or there will be some uncomfortable conversations about his future in Boulder.

***

Kyle Fredrickson, Broncos beat writer

Broncos fans are thankful for… the Walton-Penner family ownership group. The end of the Pat Bowlen era made Broncos Country nervous about the team’s direction moving forward. But it’s been a spectacular success — even considering the blunders of ex-coach Nathaniel Hackett and ex-quarterback Russell Wilson. This ownership group has checked every box, from winning games to making a community impact to privately financing a new stadium project. There are plenty of NFL fan bases fuming this holiday about bad ownership. That’s not a problem in Denver. Broncos Country should be thankful.