Broncos must expect Chiefs' best shot in Week 1 following huge announcement

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Broncos must expect Chiefs' best shot in Week 1 following huge announcement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Though the NFL won't officially release the entire 2026 regular season schedule until Thursday night, we already know who the Denver Broncos will play in Week 1. 

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The NFL has chosen the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs to kick off the annual Monday Night Football slate in Week 1 this coming season. The game will be played on Monday, September 14 and though the announcement about where that game would be played was delayed, it will be at Arrowhead Stadium. 

If Broncos Country was excited for a big challenge and a chance for the Broncos to prove themselves right out of the gate, they've got it. However, this is not the kind of game to get excited about and look at as a sure early-season win, because it's anything but that. 

Broncos, Chiefs kick off regular season in Monday Night Football opener

The Chiefs were a thorn in the Broncos' side for the better part of a decade. The Broncos have finally started to turn that corner and swept the season series between the teams last season. But for anyone who feels like the scales are tipped in Denver's favor long-term need to rethink things. 

When Broncos fans saw this game announced, there might have been some early excitement. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL late last season, won't be available for this game, right? Don't bet on that. 

In fact, it's more likely that Mahomes, being the competitor that he is, will make sure he's ready to go in Week 1. In addition, the league likely has a good idea of what will happen as well, or the Chiefs likely wouldn't have been put in that spot.  

This game will be played in Arrowhead, traditionally one of the most difficult places for the Broncos to play. Last year on Christmas night, the Broncos struggled against the Chiefs' third-string quarterback and only won the game by one score. 

The Chiefs had been on a dominant run. They had won the AFC West title nine years in a row. They had played in the AFC Championship Game seven years in a row prior to this past season, while reaching the Super Bowl five times during that time span. 

It was a dynasty. It was the best team in the NFL. Last season, that was all completely blown apart by inconsistent play, aging players and finally, the devastating injury to Mahomes. The Chiefs licked their wounds in disbelief and when the smoke cleared, the team that was standing was the Broncos. 

Kansas City will be up for this game. The stadium will be rocking and Mahomes, Andy Reid and everyone else associated with the Chiefs will be eager to announce to the league that they aren't close to done yet. 

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The Broncos could not have asked for a bigger test to start the season. Though it will only be Week 1, it's an early-season heavyweight fight that could go a long way in determining how the season shakes out on the AFC side. 

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