2026 Week 1 Recap: Five Key Takeaways from the Broncos’ Humiliating 31-10 Loss to Kansas City
The Denver Broncos (0-1) entered Week 1 with legitimate expectations of beating Patrick Mahomes II at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time.
Instead, Denver opened up the 2026 campaign with a disheartening loss. The Broncos fell 31-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) on Monday night, remaining winless against Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium while exposing several areas that will need to improve quickly if Denver hopes to repeat as AFC West champions.
One game should not define an entire season, but there were plenty of lessons to take away from the Broncos’ frustrating performance. Here are five key takeaways from Denver’s Week 1 loss to Kansas City:
1. The Broncos’ Run Defense and Tackling Need to Improve in a Hurry
If Denver’s run defense continues to look like it did Monday night, the Broncos could be in for a long season.
Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III gashed Denver for 191 yards from scrimmage and two total touchdowns, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Walker broke off a 60-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that blew the game open, but his big play was hardly the only issue.
The Broncos’ tackling was particularly problematic. Denver allowed 248 yards on plays where they missed tackles, according to Next Gen Stats. That was the most in a single game in the database, while the Broncos’ 29.8% missed-tackle rate was the third-worst single-game mark since 2018.
That makes this more than simply a story about Walker having a great game. Denver repeatedly failed to finish plays, turning routine plays into explosive gains throughout the night.
The Broncos’ defense has been one of the team’s biggest strengths in recent seasons, so there is no reason to panic after one game. But if Denver continues allowing opposing offenses to run the ball this effectively – and continues tackling this poorly – it will be difficult for this defense to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon it entering the season.
2. Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton Were Non-Factors
The Broncos’ passing game did not exactly get off to the start many expected after Denver acquired Jaylen Waddle during the offseason.
Waddle and Courtland Sutton combined for just three catches and 13 yards Monday night. Sutton was targeted five times, while Waddle saw three targets in his Broncos debut.
Waddle’s first game with Denver could not have been quieter. After entering the season with significant expectations following the Broncos’ blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins, Waddle made almost no impact against Kansas City.
It is far too early to panic, though.
Waddle was playing his first regular-season game with Bo Nix, and Denver was facing one of the league’s most respected defenses. One quiet performance does not suddenly mean the trade was a mistake or that Waddle will struggle with the Broncos.
There is, however, a larger question worth monitoring. Denver appeared intent on spreading the ball around Monday night, which could limit Waddle’s target volume and ultimately his upside. Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb spoke throughout the offseason about building an offense with something for everybody, and Week 1 certainly reflected that philosophy.
Still, Denver has no excuse for what happened on Monday night. Waddle, who received fewer targets than Evan Engram, Pat Bryant and RJ Harvey, should never become an afterthought in the Broncos’ offense – especially when Denver is trailing.
3. Bo Nix Delivered a Subpar Performance
Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense showed some early promise Monday night. Unfortunately, it did not last very long.
Nix completed 17 of 28 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He threw an interception on Denver’s opening drive, and the Chiefs scored a touchdown on their ensuing possession. Nix responded by leading a seven-play, 68-yard scoring drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram.
That made the score 7-7, and it looked like the Broncos had settled in.
Instead, the offense completely unraveled.
Denver punted on each of its next five drives and scored just three more points after Nix’s touchdown pass. Three of the Broncos’ four offensive drives in the second quarter gained fewer than 10 yards, setting the tone for a second half in which Denver struggled to generate anything consistently.
The final numbers were ugly. The Broncos finished with just 176 total yards and converted only two of 12 third-down opportunities. Kenneth Walker III alone accounted for more yards from scrimmage than Denver’s entire offense.
Nix deserves his share of the blame. He struggled to find a rhythm after that opening touchdown drive, and the Broncos simply could not sustain enough offense to keep pace with Kansas City. His performance was especially disappointing considering the expectations surrounding him entering his third NFL season.
Still, one poor game does not erase the progress Nix made with Denver during the 2025 season.
The Broncos cannot afford many performances like this, though. If Denver is going to compete for the AFC West, Nix and the offense will have to be much more consistent than they were Monday night.
4. The Broncos Need More from Their Run Game
While Kenneth Walker III was running wild on one side, Denver’s rushing attack struggled to make much of an impact on the other.
J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey combined for 56 yards on 11 carries. That is not a horrible performance, but it is hardly enough to make a difference for the Broncos.
Denver does not need to become a run-first offense. With Bo Nix, Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton and the rest of their passing weapons, there is plenty of reason to believe this offense can move the ball through the air.
But the Broncos’ rushing attack needs to be more than merely adequate.
A dependable ground game would give Nix another way to attack defenses, help Denver sustain drives and keep opposing offenses off the field. That last point is particularly important after the Broncos’ defense spent much of Monday night struggling to contain Kansas City’s rushing attack.
Denver will need better balance offensively if the Broncos want to avoid putting so much pressure on Nix each week.
5. Denver Can’t Afford to Get Swept by Kansas City
It may seem premature to call a game in October a must-win after just one week of the season.
But the Broncos’ Week 8 rematch with the Chiefs just became significantly more important.
Kansas City now holds the early head-to-head advantage after beating Denver convincingly at Arrowhead Stadium. If the Chiefs sweep the season series, the Broncos will likely have a very difficult time winning the division – and that could have major implications for Denver once the playoffs begin.
Winning the AFC West would give the Broncos an opportunity to host playoff games at Empower Field. Denver took advantage of that opportunity in 1998, 2013 and 2015, reaching the Super Bowl each time after winning two home playoff games as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Broncos have not enjoyed the same success on the road in the postseason. Denver has not won a true road playoff game since defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 in the 1997 AFC Championship Game. Every postseason win the Broncos have recorded since then has come at home or at a neutral site.
That makes winning the division particularly important for Denver. If the Broncos fail to win the AFC West but still reach the playoffs, the road to the Super Bowl will require at least one road playoff victory – and recent history shows how difficult that has been for Denver.
The Broncos have won three consecutive home games against the Chiefs dating back to the 2023 campaign. Week 8 gives Denver an opportunity to even the season series, protect its position in the AFC West and, perhaps most importantly, keep its path to home playoff games intact.
After Monday night’s loss, the importance of that game is already clear.
