Rapids notebook: Colorado looking up, but don't overlook San Jose

A third of the way into the 2024 season, the Colorado Rapids are in fifth place in the Western Conference with as many wins as the entire 2023 campaign yielded. Most recent was a commanding 2-0 win at a formidable NYCFC team in the rain at Citi Field last Sunday, earned thanks to one of the team's most complete defensive performances in recent memory. To secure three more points this Saturday at home against the San Jose Earthquakes, the Rapids would like to be as good or even better on both sides of the ball to emulate the reverse fixture less than a month ago, which ended in a 3-0 win for the Burgundy and Blue. Several factors played into the impressive nature of the win at NYCFC — one of them being the quality of play despite Djordje Mihailovic having to miss the game due to a heel injury.