KANSAS CITY (Interstat) — Patrick Mahomes accounted for three touchdowns and Kansas City opened the 2026 NFL season with a 31-10 victory over Denver on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. A crowd of 73,543 watched the Chiefs improve to 1-0 while the Broncos fell to 0-1. Kansas City scored 31 points on four touchdowns and one field goal, while Denver scored 10 points on one touchdown and one field goal. Mahomes completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards with two touchdown passes, ran seven times for 23 yards and scored once on the ground. Denver quarterback Bo Nix completed 17 of 28 passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and ran three times for 2 yards.

Kansas City initially appeared to score with 8:27 remaining in the first quarter when Mahomes scrambled right end for 5 yards, but the touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty on K. Benson that enforced 10 yards at the Denver 5 and a holding penalty on J. Moore was declined. With 8:11 remaining, Mahomes scrambled up the middle for 15 yards and a touchdown, and Harrison Butker made the extra point. Denver answered with 3:48 remaining in the first quarter when Nix threw deep left to Evan Engram for a 19-yard touchdown, and Wil Lutz kicked the extra point. Kansas City regained the lead with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter when Mahomes connected with Rashee Rice on a short right pass for a 13-yard touchdown, and Butker added the extra point. Kansas City led 14-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, with 12:43 remaining, K. Walker broke free on a left-end run for a 60-yard touchdown. Denver’s Lutz made a 31-yard field goal with 7:34 remaining, and Butker answered with a 28-yard field goal with 3:17 remaining. Kansas City led 24-10 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, with 14:39 remaining, Mahomes found K. Walker on a short middle pass for a 2-yard touchdown, and Butker’s extra point capped the scoring.

Mahomes was the top performer for Kansas City. Rice finished with two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown. Travis Kelce had three catches for 71 yards. Xavier Worthy added three receptions for 18 yards, Noah Gray had one catch for 5 yards, and Jake Briningstool had one reception for 9 yards and two tackles. Emmett Johnson ran eight times for 24 yards and caught two passes for 44 yards while adding one tackle. Nikko Remigio returned three kickoffs for 78 yards and two punts for 7 yards. Matt Araiza punted four times for 218 yards. Butker made his only field goal attempt and added extra points.

Kansas City’s defense got eight tackles from L’Jarius Sneed, seven from Drue Tranquill, four each from Nick Bolton and Jaden Hicks, and three each from Alohi Gilman, Nohl Williams and George Karlaftis. Williams also recorded a sack. R Mason Thomas had two tackles and a sack, while Felix Anudike-Uzomah added one tackle and a sack. Peter Woods, Xavier Nwankpa and Ben VanSumeren each had two tackles. Chris Jones, Ashton Gillotte, Jeffrey Bassa, Marcus Harris, Cooper McDonald, Khyiris Tonga, Jack Cochrane, Kristian Fulton, Jaylon Moore and Jalen Royals each had one tackle. Mansoor Delane intercepted a pass. Kansas City finished with three sacks.

Denver’s Courtland Sutton had two receptions for 11 yards and one tackle. Adam Trautman caught two passes for 10 yards, and Jaylen Waddle had one reception for 2 yards. Evan Engram’s 19-yard touchdown catch accounted for the Broncos’ only offensive touchdown. Lutz made a 31-yard field goal and added an extra point. Denver’s offense scored its touchdown in the first quarter.

Denver was led defensively by Alex Singleton, who made 15 tackles. Talanoa Hufanga, Riley Moss and Dondrea Tillman each had six tackles. Brandon Jones had five tackles and an interception, and Zach Allen had five tackles and two sacks. Jahdae Barron and Que Robinson each had four tackles, while Justin Strnad and Eyioma Uwazurike each had three. Denver’s defense recorded two sacks and one interception.

Denver will next host Jacksonville on Sept. 20 and the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 27 before visiting San Francisco on Oct. 4, the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 11, hosting Seattle on Oct. 15, visiting Arizona on Oct. 25, hosting Kansas City on Nov. 1, visiting Carolina on Nov. 8, hosting Las Vegas on Nov. 22 and visiting Pittsburgh on Nov. 27. Kansas City will host Indianapolis on Sept. 20, visit Miami on Sept. 27, visit Las Vegas on Oct. 4, host the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 18, visit Seattle on Oct. 25, visit Denver on Nov. 1, host the New York Jets on Nov. 8, visit Atlanta on Nov. 15, host Arizona on Nov. 22 and visit Buffalo on Nov. 26.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kansas City 30, Denver 23. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Denver with a 64.5 percent probability to win. Denver had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +2.5. The teams combined for 41 points against an over/under line of 43.5.