Chiefs, Broncos draw record audience for Monday Night Football opener

The Kansas City Chiefs faced the Denver Broncos in a Week 1 Monday Night Football matchup on September 16, 2026. This historic game attracted 23.2 million viewers across various ESPN platforms, marking it as the most-watched Week 1 game in the network's history. The Chiefs' strong performance featured notable contributions from running back Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who successfully returned from injury. The Chiefs' defense played a key role in the team's performance at Arrowhead Stadium, where the atmosphere contributed to the record-setting viewership. The game also saw Travis Kelce move up in all-time tight end receiving yards and head coach Andy Reid reach his 150th win with the team.

• 11:00 PMYahoo Sports — Chiefs vs. Broncos sets new record in ESPN’s Monday Night Football era