Chiefs vs Broncos: Mahomes’ return headlines Monday Night Football opener

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in the marquee game of the NFL’s Week 1 slate, and the storyline writes itself: two starting quarterbacks, both coming back from season-ending injuries suffered in last year’s playoffs. Patrick Mahomes is set to make his return for the Chiefs nine months after tearing his ACL and LCL, while Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is also expected back after the ankle injury he picked up in Denver’s AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. Denver arrives as one of the more complete teams in the league. The Broncos reached the AFC Championship last season, have brought in wide receiver Jaylen Waddle over the offseason, and still have one of the league’s most highly regarded defenses. They also have recent history on their side, having swept the season series against Kansas City in 2025, winning 22-19 at home in November before taking a 20-13 decision at Arrowhead on Christmas Day, a result that ended the Chiefs’ run as AFC West champions. Kansas City have made their own additions to try to swing the rivalry back in their favor. Running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl LX MVP, joins the roster and is expected to carry a heavy workload while Mahomes works his way back to full speed following the long injury layoff. With both franchise quarterbacks returning from serious injuries in the same game, how each holds up physically will likely matter as much as the scoreline by the time Monday night is over.