KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A week before the Kansas City Chiefs kicked off the 2026 season, Patrick Mahomes told fans at their kickoff luncheon the Chiefs were going to return to their winning ways, just in a different style.
Those comments provided a pretty grand foreshadowing -- at least for Kansas City’s Week 1 performance.
Leaning heavily upon newly signed running back Kenneth Walker, the Chiefs ground and pounded the Denver Broncos in a 31-10 season-opening win on Monday Night Football.
Walker finished his Kansas City debut with 191 total yards of offense and two touchdowns, one in the receiving and one in the rushing department. Walker ran 23 times for 173 yards, knifing throught the Denver defense frequently for big gains. He ran for a 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter and put the finishing touches on a dominant win with a 2-yard touchdown reception out of a unique two-quarterback formation early in the fourth quarter.
It didn’t take long for Mahomes to prove that he was back to full strength. On Kansas City’s first drive of the game, Mahomes capped a 10-play, 46-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, scrambling out of a muddy pocket and diving for a score that tied for his longest rushing touchdown in his regular-season career.
The opening touchdown came immediately following the Broncos three-play opening drive, which ended with an interception by sixth overall pick Mansoor Delane.
Delane was banged up on the play when he was tackled by several members of the Broncos. The Chiefs said Delane injured his shoulder, and he did not return for the remainder of the game.
Just before halftime, after the teams exchanged six consecutive drives that ended with a punt, Mahomes capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a quick pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice. The fourth-year pro out of SMU broke a tackle from Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, bounced off another Denver defender, and scampered to the corner to score a 13-yard touchdown that gave Kansas City a 14-7 lead.
In the second half, it was all Chiefs. Kansas City outscored Denver, 17-3, with Kansas City’s defense stringing together nine straight third down stops throughout the second quarter and into the second half.
Patrick Mahomes finished his return by going 15 for 27 for 184 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also ran 6 times (twice for kneel-downs) for 24 yards and the game’s opening touchdown.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones holds the football after recovering a fumble by...preloaded gallery imagepreloaded gallery imagepreloaded gallery imagepreloaded gallery imagepreloaded gallery image
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones holds the football after recovering a fumble by Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Walker gets involved
Early and often, head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs showed off their shiny new free agent acquisition. Running back Kenneth Walker III, fresh off Super Bowl MVP honors in February, was tasked with a heavy workload.
In the first half alone, Walker touched the ball 16 times, carrying it 14 times for 89 yards, including a 28-yard rush on what turned out to be Rice’s go-ahead touchdown. The 25-year-old led the Chiefs in rushing and receiving yards in the first half, as Kansas City’s passing game struggled with receivers failing to get open early.
Facing a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, Walker was tasked with moving the chains and did all that and more. After bouncing the run to the outside, Walker ran for a 60-yard touchdown, the longest run by a Kansas City Chief since December of 2021.
Up next
Off a short week following the Monday night game, Kansas City stays home for Week 2 and hosts the Indianapolis Colts (0-1) on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff at Arrowhead on Sunday, Sept. 20, is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. CT.