The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will reignite their AFC West rivalry under the bright lights of primetime as they headline the first “Monday Night Football” game of the 2026 season. The specific venue for this highly anticipated clash has yet to be announced.
Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is currently recovering from a torn ACL and has set his sights on returning for the Week 1 contest. On the other side, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix ended his season with an injury that required surgical intervention. Head Coach Sean Payton has confirmed that Nix is expected to be “full speed” for training camp after undergoing two procedures on his ankle.
Denver swept Kansas City last season, marking the first time the Broncos won the division since 2015—the same year they last claimed the Super Bowl. The Chiefs, who dominated the AFC West from 2016 through 2024, slipped to third place in the division in 2025.
Rumors had circulated that the Chiefs might visit the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Opening Night game, which traditionally features the defending Super Bowl champions. However, the league has not yet confirmed Seattle’s opponent, with the full schedule set to be released Thursday night.
