KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs began their 2026 campaign with a 31-10 blowout win over the Denver Broncos Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. It was Kansas City’s first victory of any kind in 295 days.

Let’s dive in:

Turning point: Kenneth Walker, as advertised

Facing fourth-and-1 from their own 40-yard line, as he already had done three times in the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid sent Khyiris Tonga into the game on offense along with an extra lineman for a heavy package.

Running back Kenneth Walker rushed up the middle only to find a wall, then kicked the run outside to the left and dashed up the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.

The Chiefs went up 21-7 early in the third quarter and never looked back.

Rapid reaction: A reestablished run game

Kansas City established Walker early — and often.

Reid called Walker’s number on the first four plays as part of a total of eight runs on the first drive alone. Patrick Mahomes finished the job by scrambling up the middle, simultaneously giving the Chiefs an early lead and quieting some doubts about his reconstructed ACL and LCL.

Walker also had a 28-yard run late in the second quarter that moved the Chiefs into Broncos territory. Kansas City finished the drive with a 13-yard screen to Rashee Rice, who broke a tackle on his way to the end zone for a 14-7 lead. Walker added a second touchdown on the heels of a 25-yard catch and stiff-arm by rookie Emmett Johnson.

The passing offense wasn’t great in the first half, as Mahomes started 2 of 12 before heading into the locker room 8 of 18 for 62 yards. Things opened up in the second half, highlighted by tight end Travis Kelce turning back the clock for a 59-yard gain in the open field.

Mahomes’ lone interception looked to be the result of a miscommunication with wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Mahomes appeared to expect Worthy to cut underneath the defender, but Worthy continued upfield, leading to a throw into the waiting arms of safety Brandon Jones.

Mahomes finished 15 of 27 for 184 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

As Kansas City began its season without last year’s top cornerbacks — Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson — new starters Nohl Williams and Mansoor Delane made an instant impact. Williams sacked Bo Nix on the first play of the season, and two plays later, Delane intercepted him.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, that would be Delane’s final play of the game, as he left with a shoulder injury.

Kristian Fulton did an admirable job in Delane’s place, but the injury raises the importance of L’Jarius Sneed’s health and availability. Sneed looked comfortable, and his open-field tackle of Jaylen Waddle early in the second quarter was enough to suggest he has a chance to recapture his old form now that he is back in Kansas City.

Rookie second-round defensive end R Mason Thomas looked explosive all night, and the Chiefs have been missing a third-down speed rusher like him for a long time. On back-to-back drives to end the second quarter, Thomas had a key pressure on Nix, then followed it with a sack.

The Chiefs’ defense did a solid job containing Denver’s run game, putting the pressure on Nix — exactly how they wanted to play the Broncos.

Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s strip-sack of Nix, recovered by Chris Jones, effectively sealed the game.

At first glance, Chiefs safety Jaden Hicks looked like he was caught late on tight end Evan Engram’s touchdown, but he otherwise held up in a spot start for Chamarri Conner.

Critical stat: Holy Walker

The Broncos couldn’t stop Walker all night, even at times when they absolutely knew a run was coming.

His final stat line? 23 carries for 173 yards (7.5 yards a carry) and a rushing touchdown — and three catches for 18 yards and a receiving touchdown.

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