Denver
Broncos
0-0
24
FINAL
12
Kansas City
Chiefs
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a commanding performance to kick off the 2026 season, the Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 24-12. The win not only secures an early advantage in the AFC West but also sets the tone for a promising season ahead for the Broncos, who showcased a balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
Leading the offensive charge, J.K. Dobbins was a force on the ground, racking up an impressive 174 rushing yards and finding the end zone to help secure the victory. Quarterback Bo Nix contributed with a solid passing game, tossing one touchdown while managing the game effectively. Courtland Sutton also made his mark with 75 receiving yards, providing crucial support in the passing game.
Defensively, the Broncos were relentless, with Zach Allen wreaking havoc on the Chiefs' offense, recording three sacks that disrupted their rhythm. Pat Surtain II led the defense with three total tackles, maintaining control of the field. The turning point came in the second half when the Broncos' defense stifled a Chiefs drive, allowing Denver to capitalize and extend their lead, ultimately sealing the game and showcasing their potential as a strong contender this season.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Mahomes | QB | 17 | 8 | 47% | 185 | 1 | 2 | 66.6 |
| Bo Nix | QB | 14 | 6 | 43% | 116 | 1 | 2 | 56.5 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | HB | 12 | 174 | 14.5 | 15 | 1 | 59 | 0 |
| Kenneth Walker | HB | 8 | 74 | 9.3 | 11 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| RJ Harvey | HB | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Patrick Mahomes | QB | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | — | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Jonah Coleman | HB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Courtland Sutton | WR | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyquan Thornton | WR | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bo Nix | QB | 2 | -4 | -2.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland Sutton | WR | 3 | 75 | 25.0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Rashee Rice | WR | 3 | 75 | 25.0 | 20 | 1 | 45 | 0 |
| Xavier Worthy | WR | 2 | 56 | 28.0 | 7 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Travis Kelce | TE | 1 | 29 | 29.0 | 27 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Noah Gray | TE | 1 | 24 | 24.0 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Troy Franklin | WR | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Evan Engram | TE | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | — | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Kenneth Walker | HB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Allen | DT | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nik Bonitto | REDG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R Mason Thomas | LEDG | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alohi Gilman | FS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Jonathon Cooper | LEDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Strnad | WILL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Channing Tindall | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ja'Quan McMillian | CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Surtain II | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Talanoa Hufanga | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| L'Jarius Sneed | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mansoor Delane | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bolton | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jadon Canady | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Jones | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| JL Skinner | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Singleton | SAM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jailin Walker | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Karlaftis | LEDG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Drue Tranquill | WILL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wil Lutz | K | 1 | 1 | 3 | 55 |
| Harrison Butker | K | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremy Crawshaw | P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

