The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off their 2026 season with a strong victory over the Denver Broncos, winning 31-10 on Monday Night Football at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs dominated from start to finish, never trailing after the first quarter.
Kenneth Walker III made an impressive debut for the Chiefs, rushing for 173 yards and scoring twice. Patrick Mahomes, who returned from a knee injury, threw two touchdown passes and added another score with his feet. Kansas City’s offense piled up 220 rushing yards and 392 total yards, while Denver managed just 176 yards.
The turning point came early in the third quarter when Walker broke free for a 60-yard touchdown. He explained that he saw the Broncos’ defense collapsing inward, allowing him to burst outside and sprint untouched to the end zone. His second score came on a short catch near the start of the fourth quarter.
Mahomes, wearing a knee brace, completed 15 out of 27 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He showed his confidence early with a scrambling touchdown in the first quarter. Despite some early rust, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a solid win.
Denver’s offense struggled, highlighted by Bo Nix’s turnover-prone performance. Nix threw an interception and lost a fumble, limiting the Broncos’ chances. Jaylen Waddle, a new addition, saw little action.
The Chiefs improved to 1-0, while the Broncos dropped to 0-1. The win snapped a three-game losing streak against Denver and gave Kansas City an early statement after the Broncos claimed the AFC West last season.