What a night it was for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Facing the reigning AFC West champions, a team that took the division’s throne from the Chiefs after Kansas City’s nine-year run sitting upon it, the dynastic Chiefs made a statement:
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We’re back.
With that theme from Monday night, here are three fresh takes from Kansas City’s reminder to the NFL:
1. Andy Reid is willing to adjust
You may have heard local media and certain bloggers talk about the Chiefs’ offensive identity shift to an under-center, run-centric approach this offseason.
I can’t speak for everybody, but even the most optimistic version of myself didn’t see this coming.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under center plenty on Monday night, and that’s the way running back Kenneth Walker prefers it, as he told Kay Adams back in May. Walker did something Chiefs fans haven’t seen from a member of their favorite team’s backfield since 2016!
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The Chiefs’ offense not only adjusted to fit its personnel best, but the coaching staff also stayed committed to the game plan through a couple of stalled drives in the first half. Kansas City punted three consecutive possessions after the opening-drive touchdown, but the offense continued to ride Walker and a downhill ground attack.
It’s a reminder that head coach Andy Reid (and general manager Brett Veach) had a vision for this team and didn’t waver from it since the start of the 2026 offseason. The makeover looks perfectly executed through one week.
2. This defense is very ahead of schedule
Like the 2022 Chiefs, this year’s defense features rookies who will develop on the fly while playing prominent roles.
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However, this year’s unit may be ahead of schedule. Like, way ahead of schedule.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane showed off elite coverage skills from the jump. On the opening drive, Delane manned up wide receiver Courtland Sutton, sticking to his hip pocket and covering up the route so well that when he turned to defend the pass, he barely needed to react, and he had an interception.
Shortly after, Delane left the game with a shoulder injury, but one play is all it took for Delane to show why he could be one of the next elite cornerbacks in the NFL.
Up front, defensive end R Mason Thomas ignited a pass rush that tormented a Broncos offense that surrendered the fewest sacks in the NFL last season. Quarterback Bo Nix was sacked four times and fumbled three times. Defensive tackle Peter Woods flashed as a pass rusher too, batting down a pass at one point.
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The 2022 Chiefs’ defense allowed 21 points to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 and 24 points (and 401 total yards) to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. There were clear growing pains early in that season; this year, it’s harder to tell where these rookies need to improve.
3. The pass game will open up
It took a while for the Chiefs’ offense to get over 15 passing yards. It was almost comical how much of the offense’s output was on Walker’s shoulders for much of the game. In the first half, Mahomes had just two completions over 12 pass attempts; neither catch resulted in a first down.
In the second half, Mahomes was much more efficient. He completed 13 of 15 passes; eight of those catches resulted in a first down or a touchdown.
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The commitment to the run game certainly helped the offense find a better dropback rhythm as the game went on. The biggest blemish in the second half seemed to be a miscommunication between Mahomes and wide receiver Xavier Worthy, one of the game’s most frustrating storylines. The third-year wideout needs to get on the same page with Mahomes one way or another.
That said, Denver’s pass defense is truly elite. Mahomes will find softer coverages to exploit, and continuing to run the ball will only help.
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