The first “Monday Night Football” game of the 2026 season brings Kansas City and Denver together in Week 1, and it arrives with a familiar problem for the Chiefs: the Broncos have had their number lately.
Denver has won three of the last four meetings, including one at Arrowhead Stadium, and the common thread has been how well that defense has handled Patrick Mahomes. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported that since 2023, the Broncos have held Mahomes to a 55.7 QB rating - the lowest mark against any coordinator he has faced in that span, with Vance Joseph calling the shots.
That history matters because Mahomes is expected to be working his way back into game shape after not playing since Dec. 14 of last year. Kansas City does have reasons to feel better about the offense than it did in 2025, though. Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Kenneth Walker III is in place to help fix a run game that struggled, and Rashee Rice is back healthy and active.
“Truthfully speaking, I think I'm more in shape than I was [last season],” Rice told the media on Thursday. “I'm more confident in being in the spots that I have to be, as far as being on the same page as [Mahomes] because we're both coming off an injury. We're kind of seeing ourselves get back to our full potential.”
Rice has been productive whenever he’s been right. The Mahomes-Rice connection has flashed real pop, even if the two have barely had time together over the last two seasons. They’ve played just 12 games together after Rice appeared in 16 as a rookie in 2023.
The numbers against Denver are encouraging for Rice, too. He has averaged 11.5 yards per catch in his career, and that climbs to 11.9 in three games against the Broncos. Last season, in a 22-19 loss to Denver, he caught six of nine targets for 38 yards.
Still, the Chiefs may be asking a lot of a unit that needs time to settle in. Mahomes and Rice could need a little runway, and the loss of left tackle Josh Simmons is another issue that could show up as the game goes on, even with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson emerging.
On the other side, Denver’s defense looks like the sort of group that can make Kansas City pay for any early-season rust. That’s why the Chiefs’ opener feels like a tough one, especially with Kansas City’s defense also taking a step back during the offseason after losing key pieces.
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Chiefs Face A Real Test Up Front With Walker In Focus
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There is still a real test waiting up front, though, with Kansas Citys offensive line under scrutiny as the team tries to make the run game work consistently. Walkers ability to impact the offense is part of the appeal, but how much he can do in the passing game remains part of the equation as the Chiefs look for balance against a defense that can punish mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Rebound Hype Is Already Building Despite One Huge Risk
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Patrick Mahomes is the reason the conversation can even start there, and the concern is just as obvious as the hope. The quarterback tore his ACL late in the year, leaving the Chiefs to answer the biggest question of their rebound before anything else on the field can matter. Until there is more clarity on how that recovery unfolds, the gap between preseason buzz and a real return to form will be the story in Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]