Renck: The fake games are over. Time for real impressions. The Broncos enter Week 1 with a new quarterback, a dramatically reshaped roster and the insatiable hunger that comes from being young and overlooked. Now that the roster is set, did coach Sean Payton morph into Gordon Ramsay and create a culinary masterpiece, or will the Broncos once again be devoured by superior opponents? Sean, what do you think? Will the Broncos win more than their sportsbook over-under total of 5.5 victories or fall below into an abyss that nets them a top-five pick?

Keeler: Ramsay? Sunshine Sean’s been as chummy as Bobby Flay lately, my friend. Mind you, he also hasn’t lost a game in eight and a half months, so let’s see what happens once the seas get choppy. That said, Payton’s a high-floor coach with a resume that doesn’t do tank jobs. I believe in the back of the baseball card. Or football card, in this case. Which is why I believe Payton cajoles, twists and drags this roster to seven wins — at the worst.

Renck: Maybe I spent too much time in the sun this weekend, leaving me with fever dreams of adequacy, but I believe the Broncos trip the over. My prediction before camp was six victories with a wink, wink. Now? Give me six with conviction. Bo Nix might as well be Bo the Builder as the Broncos’ construction project takes shape. I think the Broncos were better after the cuts. Losing Tim Patrick hurts, but it means more targets for Courtland Sutton, and Jaleel McLaughlin will emerge as the third-down back to replace Samaje Perine. It’s not like they broke up Don “Air” Coryell’s 1970s Chargers. Denver has plenty of weapons to flirt with mediocrity.

Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Country music artist Cody Johnson performed the national anthem without a hitch before the All-Star Game in his home state of Texas, a night after a widely panned performance by Ingris Andress that led to an apology and an admission that she was drunk.

Johnson walked toward the microphone between the mound and home plate at the home of the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night wearing a white cowboy hat and cream-colored blazer. The 37-year-old Texan removed the hat just before he started singing and raised it in his right hand several times along the way.

Johnson had already thrown out a ceremonial first pitch at Globe Life Field earlier this season before drawing the assignment for the anthem.

Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

Kyle Freeland pitched with the precision of a Rolex in the Rockies’ 6-5 victory over the Reds on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.

The veteran left-hander got a big assist from center fielder Sam Hilliard, who hit two big flys in his first two at-bats to spark a Colorado offense that banged out 12 hits.

“I had the best seat in the house in center and Kyle’s stuff was dancing tonight,” Hilliard told Rockies.TV.

Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.