The Broncos are heading into Week 1 with the same kind of checklist they use every week: find the danger spots, then go after the weak links. Against the Chiefs, that process gets a little trickier because Kansas City is still reshuffling pieces while still carrying the kind of game-breakers that can wreck a plan in a hurry.
Patrick Mahomes sits at the center of everything, even with the caveat that this is his first game back from a serious injury. Denver’s first job is simple in theory and brutal in practice: keep him boxed in.
If Mahomes starts escaping and extending plays, the Chiefs have already shown how dangerous that can be against the Broncos. If the rush can keep him in the pocket, Denver has a better shot at getting him down, forcing mistakes, and creating takeaway chances.
There’s also the health question. Mahomes has not been seen since Week 15 of last season, when he suffered a multi-ligament knee injury.
Plenty of people expect him to be a little limited, not quite the same creator and escape artist with his legs. But if he looks like the old version anyway, that changes everything - especially for a Broncos team that has never beaten a Mahomes-led Chiefs team at Arrowhead Stadium.
Denver may also have an opening on the edge. Josh Simmons has officially been ruled out for Week 1, and the Chiefs are expected to turn to an undrafted player who has barely played on the left side, much less at left tackle. Kansas City will likely lean on tight end help on that side with chips, but the Broncos have to make the most of the isolated chances they do get against Mahomes.
That puts Nik Bonitto in a prime spot. He’s likely to see most of his work against Benson, and his burst off the line is the kind of thing even veteran tackles struggle to handle. For an undrafted rookie, that’s a tough assignment.
Kansas City’s biggest defensive name is still Chris Jones, but Drue Tranquill is the quieter problem for Denver. He doesn’t get the same attention, but the Chiefs trust him to do a little of everything, especially in coverage. That part of his game matters a lot, because he can take away a big chunk of the field.
This will be Tranquill’s 11th game against the Broncos. He played five against them with the Chargers and five more with the Chiefs, and he’s been a steady issue for Denver throughout those meetings. He may not bring Jones’ headline-grabbing impact in the trenches, but what he does in coverage is a major piece of what Kansas City wants to do.
The Chiefs are also leaning on second-year cornerback Williams as part of a rebuilt secondary. He saw more action as a rookie in 2025 as the season went on, and he started against the Broncos in Week 17 last year. In that game, he gave up three completions on three targets, but he also finished with two quarterback pressures and six total tackles.
Now projected as Kansas City’s top corner, Williams could be tested often. Denver can put him in a bind by forcing him to deal with Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle in succession, and if the Broncos keep making him switch between them, that can wear on a defense fast.
If Denver can keep pressing its advantage against the Chiefs’ top corner and win that matchup over and over, that kind of pressure can start to tilt the game.
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JK Dobbins Has A Chance To Justify Denver's Bet In Week 1
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Week 1 also brings a direct comparison with a marquee opponent, since the Chiefs are planning to lean on Kenneth Walker after making a major commitment to reshape their rushing attack. Walker arrives with a hefty deal and the weight of expectations, while Dobbins gets a chance to show Denver its bet can pay off right away in a game where both backs could say plenty about where their teams are headed. [Read more 🡒]