Kansas City beat the Denver Broncos 31–10 at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, September 14, as Patrick Mahomes returned from knee surgery and Kenneth Walker III starred in his Chiefs debut. AP reported that Walker rushed for 173 yards and scored twice in the opening game of the new NFL regular season for both of the teams.
Mahomes played with a brace on his left knee, nine months after his injury, according to AP. He threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown. The win ended Kansas City's three-game losing streak against Denver, which had ended the Chiefs' nine-year reign as AFC West champions.
Walker carried 23 times and caught three passes for 18 yards, AP reported. His rushing total was the highest for a Chiefs player since Jamaal Charles gained 226 yards against Indianapolis in 2012. Coach Andy Reid praised the performance and said Walker's production determined how often he received the ball.
The official record of scoring plays published by the Chiefs shows Mahomes opened with a 15-yard touchdown run. Bo Nix answered with a 19-yard scoring pass to Evan Engram before Mahomes found Rashee Rice for a 13-yard touchdown and a 14–7 halftime lead. Walker then scored on a 60-yard run in the third quarter.
After both teams added field goals, Walker caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring, the official record shows. Kansas City finished with 392 total offensive yards to Denver's 176. AP reported that Nix threw for 131 yards, with an interception and a lost fumble, in Davis Webb's first game calling Denver's offensive plays.
Mahomes described the victory as a first step and said the team still needed to improve, according to AP. Kansas City next hosts Indianapolis on Sunday night, September 20, as confirmed by the official schedule published by the Chiefs. Denver hosts Jacksonville that Sunday, AP reported, as both teams turn to their second game of the season.
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