The Broncos open the 2026 season with a heavyweight test, and the early read from the Mile High Huddle roundtable is pretty clear: Denver thinks it can walk into Arrowhead Stadium on Monday Night Football and walk out 1-0.
That’s no small belief against Kansas City, even with the Chiefs coming off a playoff miss and dealing with a roster that has plenty of new faces. Still, Denver spent last season taking control of the AFC West, winning its 16th division title all-time and sweeping Kansas City for the first time in more than a decade. Now the Broncos get the Chiefs first, under the lights, with both teams carrying injury questions at quarterback.
Patrick Mahomes is back from his multi-ligament knee injury, and Bo Nix is also back at full speed after two offseason surgeries to repair a fractured ankle. Nix is 3-1 all-time agains the Chiefs and 1-1 against Mahomes head-to-head. Sean Payton has also had Andy Reid’s number since arriving in Denver, turning around the years-long run of Kansas City dominance over the Broncos from 2016 to 2022.
So what happens when the division’s familiar rivals meet again? Around the roundtable, the staff leaned Denver.
James Campbell sees a tight one, but one the Broncos finish. He pointed to Nix building chemistry with Jaylen Waddle and said Denver’s defense should create steady pressure against a Chiefs offensive line he described as beleaguered, with Mahomes working back from his ACL/LCL injury.
Keith Cummings also expects the Broncos to come away with a statement. He called Nix against Mahomes “serious box office viewing” and said Nix may have already passed Mahomes as the AFC West quarterback most likely to reach the Super Bowl. In his view, shaky blindside protection leaves Mahomes vulnerable and Denver’s defense ready to feast, with Nix throwing three touchdowns in a comfortable win.
Carl Dumler took a similar line, saying the Broncos are catching Kansas City at the right time with its left tackle injured, the offensive line unsettled and Mahomes returning from a serious knee injury. Dumler expects Denver to get the run game rolling early, with J.K. Dobbins going for 100 yards and the Broncos controlling the game from the start.
Chad Jensen predicted a much tighter finish, saying past history points to a one-score game. But he likes Denver’s start under Davis Webb as play caller, with Nix testing Kansas City’s relatively new secondary. He also expects Nik Bonitto to make life miserable for Mahomes, including two sacks against an undrafted rookie left tackle, before Wil Lutz nails the game-winning field goal.
Nick Kendell was the bluntest of the bunch: “The Broncos are the better team.” He pointed to Kansas City’s issues in the secondary and the uncertainty at offensive tackle, and said Denver wins on the road unless Mahomes “pulls a genie out of a hat.”
Zack Kelberman expects a Week 1 grind rather than a runaway, calling for a lower-scoring defensive battle that reaches the fourth quarter. He said both teams will try hard to establish the run, but that Nix’s clutchness swings it for Denver.
Bob Morris noted that Kansas City is likely to be without left tackle Josh Simmons, while the Broncos have all 53 active players healthy and fully practicing. He expects the Broncos’ defense to take advantage while the offense does enough to leave Arrowhead with a win.
Lance Sanderson wants Denver to attack Kansas City’s rookie cornerback situation head-on. He said elite quarterbacks often pick on rookie corners and wants Nix targeting Waddle against Chiefs top-10 pick Mansoor Delane. Sanderson believes Denver has an edge nearly everywhere and should “dismantle” the Chiefs in what he called a statement game.
Erick Trickel framed the matchup as a chance for the Broncos to answer the preseason doubters. With many projecting Denver to regress and Kansas City to bounce back, Trickel said the Broncos can send a message on Monday night and remind everyone the division still belongs to them.
Dylan Von Arx rounded out the group by saying Denver can take the first step toward keeping the AFC West crown. He expects Mahomes to be limited by the knee injury and the blindside pressure, with the Broncos’ defense setting the tone and Nix throwing two touchdown passes to Waddle.
The verdict from the roundtable: Denver has a real shot to start the season with a road win in one of the league’s toughest buildings.
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