Denver Broncos will open the 2026 season on Monday Night Football vs. the Kansas City Chiefs
DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 16: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs hugs Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos after the game at Empower Field At Mile High on November 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images We have the season opener! It was announced this morning that the Denver Broncos will open the 2026 regular season vs.
their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Monday Night Football. The game will happen on Monday, September 14th, at 6:15 MT, but the location of the game is TBD. Kicking off the season in prime time.
😎 (Location TBD) pic. twitter. com/OeS8eQk14M — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 12, 2026 This game is full of storylines.
First, it’s a season opener between two hated AFC West rivals who figure to be the top contenders for the AFC West title once again, so this will be an important week one matchup. Also, it’ll be the return of both Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes. As we know, Nix suffered a broken ankle in the final moments of their thrilling Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills, while the Chiefs lost quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL late in the season.
Nix is expected to be ready to go well before the start of training camp, and all signs seem to point to Patrick Mahomes being ready for the start of the season as well. So, it will be another Nix vs. Mahomes classic.