Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes prepare for September 14 season opener

The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs open their respective 2026 seasons with a Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium. This matchup follows a division shift that saw the Broncos secure their first AFC West title in a decade last year. Quarterback Bo Nix returns after leading Denver to a 15-4 record last season, though he is recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the playoffs. Opposite him, Patrick Mahomes enters the game following knee surgery that kept him out of preseason play. Both teams enter the contest with significant health considerations as they navigate the start of a competitive division schedule. Denver faces a demanding opening stretch of games against multiple postseason contenders, beginning with this high-profile road meeting in Kansas City.

• 7:19 PMYahoo Sports — Power shift: Mahomes saw it early: The moment Bo Nix signaled a new AFC West era for Denver