Overview
- The Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN and ABC.
- Patrick Mahomes was medically cleared to play after a nine-month rehab from ACL and LCL tears and plans to wear a knee brace in his Week 1 start.
- Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons is out with a back issue and undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson is expected to make his first regular-season start at the blind side.
- Denver’s defense, which led the NFL with 68 sacks in 2025 and returns key pass rushers such as Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen, presents the primary matchup challenge for Mahomes and the Chiefs’ line.
- Betting markets favor Kansas City by about 2.5 points even as many Broncos fans back an upset and Kansas City’s offseason moves, including adding Kenneth Walker III, set up a test of whether the Chiefs can protect Mahomes and sustain drives.