Chiefs Crush Broncos Behind Mahomes' Return From ACL Injury
Patrick Mahomes makes his first start since tearing his ACL and LCL in December, suiting up for Kansas City against Denver in a Week 1 divisional matchup.
- Kansas City finished 6-11 in 2025, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
- Mahomes wore a customized knee brace throughout training camp and will wear it Monday.
- Denver's pass rush led the NFL with 60-plus sacks in each of the past two seasons.
- Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons is out for Monday's game.
Why it matters: The matchup tests whether Mahomes can return to form without preseason reps against one of the NFL's top defenses.
- Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said he hopes the franchise can win more championships and spark a debate about who is the greatest of all time.
How 14 sources split on this story
Where they split: The central disagreement is whether Mahomes can perform at his previous level immediately, or whether a surgically repaired knee and no preseason action will limit him against an elite defense.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center frames this as a high-stakes divisional opener with genuine uncertainty about Mahomes' readiness and both teams' Super Bowl trajectories.
USA Today3hChiefs' team rehab looked a lot like a revival after tougher training camp | Opinion
Heavy8hFans Laugh at What Patrick Mahomes’ Wife Brittany Did After Chiefs Win
Newsweek12hSean Payton unlikely to make big change Broncos fans are demanding
ESPN1dAnalyzing the Chiefs' win over the BroncosKSAKSAT 12 San Antonio1dPatrick Mahomes shines on his surgically repaired knee in Chiefs' season-opening rout of Broncos
Reuters15hBroncos' Sean Payton: Beatdown by Chiefs 'a slap in the face'WYWKBN Youngstown1dChiefs beat up Broncos 31-10 on Monday Night Football
Right coverage, 5 sources: The right emphasizes Mahomes' personal comeback narrative — his sacrifice, leadership, and the emotional stakes of returning from the most serious injury of his career.
Daily Mail1dChiefs' season opener erupts in cheating controversy as conspiracy theorists claim NFL is rigged for Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes
New York Post11hChiefs have Chris Berman to thank for 90-year-old trick play
Fox News1dChiefs' new stud Kenneth Walker runs wild, Bo Nix melts down as Kansas City obliterates Broncos in MNF blowout
The Epoch Times2dWeek 1 NFL Records and Milestones: Historic Performances From Kelce, Henry, and More
The Western Journal1dWatch: Chiefs Used a Clever Bit of 'Gamesmanship' During TV Timeouts to Gain an Edge Over the BroncosWhat’s next: Sportsbooks list Kansas City as 2.5-point favorites, with the over/under at 43.5 points.
- Mahomes said his first hit of the game will tell him whether he is fully back.
- Will Mahomes show full mobility and downfield accuracy, or will protecting his knee limit his style of play?
- How will the Chiefs' offensive line hold up against Denver's pass rush without Josh Simmons?