LIVE: Chiefs open 2026 season against Broncos at Arrowhead

The wait for the 2026 season is over.

The Kansas City Chiefs welcome the Denver Broncos to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.

Denver snapped the Chiefs' near-decade-long dominance of the AFC West in 2025, while Kansas City slumped to 6-11.

Follow live updates below.

Here are nine things to watch Monday night.

1. Patrick Mahomes is back

Nine months after suffering season-ending injuries to his ACL and LCL, Mahomes says he's ready to go.

It's a tough first assignment. Denver led the NFL with 68 sacks last season while allowing the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points.

The Chiefs will also be without starting left tackle Josh Simmons.

2. Bo Nix is back, too

Mahomes isn’t the only quarterback returning from injury. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is also returning from a serious injury.

Nix broke his ankle during Denver's 2025 playoff run and missed the AFC Championship Game.

He had an impressive season before the injury and delivered in key moments, including leading Denver to a late victory over Mahomes and the Chiefs last November.

3. Jaylen Waddle makes his Denver debut

The Broncos were aggressive in the offseason, acquiring Waddle to give Nix another weapon.

He joins a group led by Courtland Sutton, who topped 1,000 receiving yards last season.

Waddle's speed should provide an immediate test for Kansas City's new-look secondary.

4. Some fun coordinator matchups

Look around and you'll find connections everywhere.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph were teammates on Colorado's 1990 national championship team.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo coached Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb when they were with the New York Giants. Webb and Mahomes were also college teammates at Texas Tech.

One of the bigger questions: How much will the Chiefs' offense change with Bieniemy back?

5. How much will the Chiefs run — and how?

The Chiefs prioritized the running back room after 2025, signing Kenneth Walker III and drafting Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska.

Running effectively could help offset the loss of Simmons and open up the passing game.

One thing to watch: How often does Mahomes go under center, and how committed is Kansas City to getting Walker the football?

6. Webb gets the play sheet

Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been one of the NFL's most successful offensive minds this century, but he's turning over primary play-calling duties to Webb.

That means Kansas City doesn't have regular-season film of a Webb-called Broncos offense to study.

His first assignment is a simple one: Monday night at Arrowhead against Spagnuolo.

7. A new Chiefs secondary gets its first test

Kansas City's secondary will feature several new faces and will be without Chamarri Conner.

Denver counters with Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Waddle.

Mansoor Delane is expected to make his NFL debut, while the Chiefs also added veteran safety Alohi Gilman. Jaden Hicks enters the season after a strong preseason. L'Jarius Sneed is back with the Chiefs as well.

8. Can the Chiefs' defense get off the field?

Reid believes Kansas City added speed to its defense after 2025.

That speed will be asked to help fix perhaps the biggest problem from last season: third down. Kansas City struggled to get off the field in those situations in 2025, although third-down defense was a strength during the preseason.

In 2025, the Chiefs allowed 43.6 percent of third-down attempts, which was 29th in the league.

Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, R Mason Thomas and the rest of the pass rush need to make Nix uncomfortable when the Chiefs force Denver into obvious passing situations.

The young secondary will also have to keep plays in front of it.

9. Can the Chiefs finish drives?

This problem has been building for several seasons.

Kansas City ranked second in red-zone touchdown percentage in 2022. The Chiefs fell to 19th in 2023, 21st in 2024 and 28th last season.

Will Bieniemy's return help? He was the offensive coordinator when Kansas City ranked second in 2022.

Will the new-look running back room make a difference?

We'll start finding out Monday night.

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