Analyzing the Chiefs' win over the Broncos

• Nate Taylor

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• Jeff Legwold

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  Jeff Legwold

  ESPN Senior Writer

  Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.

Sep 14, 2026, 11:26 PM ET

KANSAS CITY -- Back on the field inside Arrowhead Stadium for the first time in nine months, quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn't the biggest star -- or the biggest difference maker -- in the Kansas City Chiefs' resounding 31-10 win Monday night over their AFC West rival Denver Broncos.

Running back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP who joined the Chiefs in March, was stellar in his Kansas City debut.

Monday's outcome was exactly what the Chiefs wanted from their offense, as Walker's speed and ball-carrying abilities took much of the burden off Mahomes, who made his much-anticipated return from the surgery that repaired the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, an injury that occurred Dec. 14. In 26 touches, in a variety of ways, Walker ran through, around and past the Broncos for an outstanding performance, finishing with 191 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.

Walker converted on four short-yardage situations, including a 60-yard touchdown on fourth-and-inches early in the third quarter. Since 2000, Walker became just the third player with least 100 rushing yards in his Chiefs debut, joining running back Kareem Hunt (148 yards in 2017) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (138 yards in 2020), according to ESPN Research.

The Broncos never led and were never able to get quarterback Bo Nix into rhythm.

Nix, who also was returning after having two offseason surgeries to repair his fractured right ankle -- which forced him to miss last season's AFC Championship Game -- struggled throughout, including throwing an interception on the Broncos' opening drive. The Chiefs sacked Nix four times, and speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle, one of the Broncos' biggest offseason acquisitions, was limited to just one reception for 2 yards.

Here are the most important things to know for both teams:

Kansas City Chiefs

What to make of the QB performance: Mahomes wasn't perfect, but he didn't need to be to beat the Broncos. The Chiefs' opening drive demonstrated Mahomes' toughness and impressive speed when he scrambled out of the pocket inside the red zone to score a 15-yard touchdown. Mahomes' top speed on his highlight was 15.8 mph, which was 2.5 mph faster than his average speed on rushing attempts last season, according to Next Gen Stats. In the second half, Mahomes improved his passing rhythm to finish with 184 yards and two touchdown passes.

Most surprising performance: The Chiefs' defense dominated the Broncos, doing so with the help of an influx of rookies. Cornerback Mansoor Delane, the sixth pick, intercepted Nix to set up the Chiefs' first touchdown. Defensive end R Mason Thomas finished with a sack and defensive tackle Peter Woods generated pressure on passing downs. Even cornerback Nohl Williams, a second-year player, did an excellent job in coverage against receiver Courtland Sutton, who finished with just two receptions for 11 yards.

Next game: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, Sept. 20, at 8:20 p.m. ET)

Denver Broncos

The Broncos spent an offseason outlining just how much they needed an improved run game and new wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

And then they spent their opening night of the season with little action from either. Denver ran the ball just 12 times in the game.

Waddle, who did show his potential impact on Evan Engram's touchdown catch in the first quarter when several Chiefs defenders leaned toward Waddle as Engram ran free, had one catch for 2 yards when the game was still in the balance.

This was not the debut the Broncos wanted. They're still searching for that improved run game -- and for Waddle to be a big part of the offense.

Most surprising performance: On a night the Broncos held Mahomes to 15-of-27 passing, Walker did the most damage. He romped for a 60-yard touchdown on Kansas City's fourth play of the second half, giving Walker 149 yards on 16 carries to that point, leaving a pile of missed tackles in his wake. Walker finished with 173 yards to go with a rushing TD and a receiving TD, more rushing yards than any back had against the Broncos in all of 2025.

What to make of the QB performance: Nix showed some quick bounce-back ability early. After he took a sack and threw an interception in the first and third plays from scrimmage, respectively, he went 5-for-5 on a touchdown drive in the Broncos' next possession. But overall he, like the rest of the Broncos' offense, looked out of sorts. Nix fumbled three times, losing one, and threw an interception. It was just the third lost fumble for Nix in his career, with one of those being in last season's opener.

Trend to watch: Running back J.K. Dobbins was one of the league's rushing leaders when he suffered a season-ending foot injury in a Week 10 win over the Raiders last November. Payton said re-signing Dobbins in the offseason was one of the team's highest priorities because the Broncos had big plans for the 27-year-old back. One game does not a season make, but in Davis Webb's first regular-season game as a playcaller Dobbins had just three carries in the first half and the Broncos were down two scores before Dobbins got carries on consecutive plays.

Stat of note: While Payton has called Nix's ability to be "hard to sack'' one of the quarterback's superpowers, the Chiefs sacked Nix four times Monday. Nix was sacked more than twice in only two games last season -- three by the Raiders and four by the Chargers in the regular-season finale.

Next game: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, Sept. 20, at 4:05 p.m. ET)