![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c8ea29aa-4041-4b44-a925-ad5cfee06ed4_1686229092.file.png\")
KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014<\/p>\nChiefs vs. Broncos: 9 things to watch in Monday night season opener<\/p>\n
KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014<\/p>\n
The wait for the 2026 season is over.<\/p>\n
The Kansas City Chiefs welcome the Denver Broncos to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.<\/p>\n
Denver snapped the Chiefs’ near-decade-long dominance of the AFC West in 2025, while Kansas City slumped to 6-11.<\/p>\n
Here are nine things to watch Monday night.<\/p>\n
1. Patrick Mahomes is back<\/p>\n
Nine months after suffering season-ending injuries to his ACL and LCL, Mahomes says he’s ready to go.<\/p>\n
It’s a tough first assignment. Denver led the NFL with 68 sacks last season while allowing the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs will also be without starting left tackle Josh Simmons.<\/p>\n
2. Bo Nix is back, too<\/p>\n
Mahomes isn\u2019t the only quarterback returning from injury. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is also returning from a serious injury.<\/p>\n
Nix broke his ankle during Denver’s 2025 playoff run and missed the AFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n
He had an impressive season before the injury and delivered in key moments, including leading Denver to a late victory over Mahomes and the Chiefs last November.<\/p>\n
3. Jaylen Waddle makes his Denver debut<\/p>\n
The Broncos were aggressive in the offseason, acquiring Waddle to give Nix another weapon.<\/p>\n
He joins a group led by Courtland Sutton, who topped 1,000 receiving yards last season.<\/p>\n
Waddle’s speed should provide an immediate test for Kansas City’s new-look secondary.<\/p>\n
4. Some fun coordinator matchups<\/p>\n
Look around and you’ll find connections everywhere.<\/p>\n
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph were teammates on Colorado’s 1990 national championship team.<\/p>\n
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo coached Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb when they were with the New York Giants. Webb and Mahomes were also college teammates at Texas Tech.<\/p>\n
One of the bigger questions: How much will the Chiefs’ offense change with Bieniemy back?<\/p>\n
5. How much will the Chiefs run \u2014 and how?<\/p>\n
The Chiefs prioritized the running back room after 2025, signing Kenneth Walker III and drafting Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska.<\/p>\n
Running effectively could help offset the loss of Simmons and open up the passing game.<\/p>\n
One thing to watch: How often does Mahomes go under center, and how committed is Kansas City to getting Walker the football?<\/p>\n
6. Webb gets the play sheet<\/p>\n
Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been one of the NFL’s most successful offensive minds this century, but he’s turning over primary play-calling duties to Webb.<\/p>\n
That means Kansas City doesn’t have regular-season film of a Webb-called Broncos offense to study.<\/p>\n
His first assignment is a simple one: Monday night at Arrowhead against Spagnuolo.<\/p>\n
7. A new Chiefs secondary gets its first test<\/p>\n
Kansas City’s secondary will feature several new faces and will be without Chamarri Conner.<\/p>\n
Denver counters with Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Waddle.<\/p>\n
Mansoor Delane is expected to make his NFL debut, while the Chiefs also added veteran safety Alohi Gilman. Jaden Hicks enters the season after a strong preseason. L’Jarius Sneed is back with the Chiefs as well. <\/p>\n
8. Can the Chiefs’ defense get off the field?<\/p>\n
Reid believes Kansas City added speed to its defense after 2025.<\/p>\n
That speed will be asked to help fix perhaps the biggest problem from last season: third down. Kansas City struggled to get off the field in those situations in 2025, although third-down defense was a strength during the preseason.<\/p>\n
In 2025, the Chiefs allowed 43.6 percent of third-down attempts, which was 29th in the league. <\/p>\n
Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, R Mason Thomas and the rest of the pass rush need to make Nix uncomfortable when the Chiefs force Denver into obvious passing situations.<\/p>\n
The young secondary will also have to keep plays in front of it.<\/p>\n
9. Can the Chiefs finish drives?<\/p>\n
This problem has been building for several seasons.<\/p>\n
Kansas City ranked second in red-zone touchdown percentage in 2022. The Chiefs fell to 19th in 2023, 21st in 2024 and 28th last season.<\/p>\n
Will Bieniemy’s return help? He was the offensive coordinator when Kansas City ranked second in 2022.<\/p>\n
Will the new-look running back room make a difference?<\/p>\n
We’ll start finding out Monday night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chiefs vs. Broncos: 9 things to watch in Monday night season opener KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 The 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