Chiefs Open Season With 31-10 Win Over Broncos Behind Walker's Career Day

The Kansas City Chiefs opened their 2026 season with a dominant 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday night, powered by a career-high rushing performance from running back Kenneth Walker III in his debut. The win marked a strong return for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who played his first game since tearing his ACL and LCL in December 2025. Walker, who signed with the Chiefs as a free agent after winning Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seattle Seahawks, rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. He also caught three passes for 18 yards and a score. His 60-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the second half broke open a 14-7 game and was the longest by a Chiefs running back since Damien Williams in 2019. "Kenneth Walker appears to have fixed the run game," one analyst noted, highlighting how the performance addressed a key weakness from the Chiefs' 6-11 season in 2025. The Chiefs leaned heavily on the ground attack, with 38 rushing attempts for 220 yards compared to 27 passing attempts for 184 yards. Mahomes completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for a 15-yard score on the opening drive.