Mahomes and Walker Power Chiefs Past Broncos 31-10
Patrick Mahomes made his return from a torn ACL and LCL look easy, and newcomer Kenneth Walker III made sure nobody in Denver could forget his name, as the Chiefs throttled the Broncos 31-10 on Monday Night Football to open the 2026 season.
Mahomes needed all of one drive to make a statement, capping Kansas City's opening possession with a 15-yard rushing touchdown of his own. He finished 15 of 27 for 184 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, adding 24 rushing yards on six carries. A healthy-looking performance just nine months after the injury that ended his 2025 season and the Chiefs' playoff hopes.
Kenneth Walker III Goes Off
Walker, added to Kansas City's backfield over the offseason, delivered a debut for the ages: 191 total yards from scrimmage on 23 carries plus catches out of the backfield, including a 60-yard rushing touchdown that blew the game open in the third quarter and a 2-yard receiving score. Wide receiver Rashee Rice added a tough 13-yard touchdown catch, breaking tackles on his way to the end zone to extend the lead.
Denver's night went the opposite direction. Quarterback Bo Nix, himself back from a fractured ankle suffered in last season's playoffs, was picked off early and never found rhythm, finishing with just 131 yards passing and a touchdown in the loss. The Broncos came in having won three straight meetings with Kansas City — including a 2025 sweep, their first since 2014 — but had no answer for Walker or a Chiefs defense that forced the turnover and shut down Denver's offense for long stretches.
The Chiefs did lose rookie sixth overall pick Mansoor Delane to a shoulder injury on an interception return early in the game; he did not return.
For Kansas City, it's exactly the season-opening tone-setter the franchise needed after missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era last year. For Denver, an offseason of high expectations built on 14 wins and a divisional round run took an early hit against the team it had owned the last three meetings.
Both teams turn to Week 2 — the Chiefs looking to build on a complete performance, the Broncos looking to move past a rough reintroduction to the AFC West rivalry.
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