Chiefs vs Broncos: How the Chiefs Can Win in Week 1
After what felt like the longest offseason in Chiefs history, it is finally time to watch this team play meaningful football again. Monday night against the Denver Broncos is not the ideal first matchup of the season, but it is the one the Chiefs got. With so much negativity surrounding this team, people seem to have forgotten they still have quality players (including the second greatest quarterback of all time). As boring and nearly unwatchable as the Broncos are, they are no pushovers. They are just months off of losing an AFC Championship game in embarrassing and demoralizing fashion. Making a Super Bowl isn’t so easy, is it Denver? This game is absolutely winnable for the Chiefs, and this is how they can do it:
Run The Ball. A Lot.
The Chiefs did not sign Kenneth Walker to an expensive contract for no reason. This is the exact game they need him for. Mahomes needs to get acclimated to the game again, and the offensive line is missing a key piece. Walker can single-handedly give the Chiefs offensive momentum if he is able to recapture last year’s play. The Chiefs should also consider utilizing him as a pass blocker in support of Khalil Benson, who is filling in for Josh Simmons.
The rookie Emmett Johnson should also not be left unused this game. Using a back-and-forth rotation of Walker and Johnson could make the Broncos’ pass rush much less aggressive towards Mahomes. Especially in the red zone, do not be afraid to just run the ball. The offense under Matt Nagy was always inconsistent in the red zone, but with Bienemy back and an actually good running game, the Chiefs should play to their new strength and carry that rock forward.
Have Mahomes Throw Quick Passes & No Interception
The Josh Simmons injury has made this game a lot more complicated. This was already an undesirable matchup for Mahomes’ first game back from an ACL tear, but now that he will be missing his left tackle, the Broncos could give Mahomes flashbacks to Super Bowl 55 and 59. The Chiefs cannot let Mahomes run around the field getting chased by Denver’s powerful pass rush. Lean on the run game, and throw quick slants and checkdowns so that Mahomes doesn’t risk getting clobbered. Brashard Smith seems to be a much improved player over the offseason and could be a vital addition to the quick pass game.
Asking for 0 interceptions feels like a given but for all his amazing qualities, Mahomes loves throwing interceptions to the Broncos. Throwing quick passes could help with that, but it is still vital to not put the ball in danger. This is not the game to take late-season chances. If there’s nothing there, just accept it and move on. This is why they should rely on the run game and only throw when the Broncos give them an opening.
Make Bo Nix Fear The Color Red
The Chiefs improved their pass rush through the draft, so it is not smart to expect an immediate improvement. However, if the Chiefs want to win this game there’s gonna have to be pressure on Bo Nix. The Chiefs were ranked 25th in the league in sacks in 2025. If the Chiefs want to keep up with the Broncos' efficient offense, they are going to have to break through the walls every once in a while and throw some hands at Nix. Chris Jones has a big task ahead of him, but hopefully the new additions Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas give him some much needed support.
Trust The Young Corners
There is plenty of talk about how the Chiefs’ cornerback room has become the biggest hole on the team. Losing McDuffie and Watson is not great, and Chamarri Conner does not look like he is going to play this game due to injury, which is also not great. However, Nohl Williams is itching to be a breakout second year star after an impressive 2025 season and Mansoor Delane was the best cornerback in the draft. The Chiefs also signed multiple defensive backs to help bolster the pass defense, making this squad somewhat underrated as a whole. It is not a good idea to rely on rookies to win you games this early in their career, but being confident in them will help with their production now and later in the season. The Chiefs should have Delane play like he is their CB1 so that they can immediately find out if he is ready. He was a sixth overall pick, so he better be ready.
Also, let’s not act like Bo Nix is the second coming of Drew “The Statistics” Brees. He is efficient and confident in himself, but no way should the Chiefs’ young players be afraid of him. The Broncos’ new shiny offensive addition this offseason was Jaylen Waddle, who could be very good for them. Putting Delane on an experienced receiver like Waddle doesn’t sound ideal, but may be the only way the Chiefs can win this game. Delane doesn’t have to be perfect, but putting him in this position will make him a better player and he may be able to get acclimated to the game quicker this way. The pass defense is not going this game for the Chiefs, they just can’t be the reason the Chiefs lose.
Stay Healthy
Injuries are unpredictable and difficult to avoid in the NFL. Injuries to key players can often derail game plans, which is exactly what happened Week 1 of last year when the Chiefs’ 2025 season got off to a rough start after Xavier Worthy’s injury and subsequent injuries on both sides of the ball. Their 2024 season also became complicated after Rashee Rice’s ACL injury. The Broncos play tough and are not afraid to be physical, which is quite unnerving with the current state of the Chiefs. As long as no one gets hurt and everyone does their job, this game will come down to how well Mahomes plays. Luckily, Mahomes is the exact player I would want in this situation.
Overall, this is looking to be a great game. Two good teams who absolutely hate each other looking to crush their respective fanbases’ hearts. The last time Mahomes played on one leg he scored 38 points and won the Super Bowl. Mahomes is arguably less injured than he was in that game, so imagine what he can do with a legitimate run game. Congratulations on winning 14 games last year, Denver. The real contenders will take it from here.
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