The Denver Broncos were the kings of the AFC West last year, and if not for a Bo Nix broken ankle in the playoffs, they very well may have been kings of the entire AFC and made the Super Bowl.

But while Denver may be the new kids on the block, there is a precedent in that division, and he wears the No. 15 and the color red. Approaching his 10th season in the league and back with a vengeance after missing the playoffs and rehabbing a knee injury, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are back, and the Broncos are already paying the price.

Chiefs to host Week 1 MNF game against Broncos

Site update: the opening week 1 Monday Night Football game between the Broncos and Chiefs now will be played in Kansas City. The NFL had not finalized the game site until today. https://t.co/CyaIJzz0v6

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 12, 2026

A lot of Broncos fans feel slighted by this move, and rightfully so. The Chiefs may have been the standard for the division and the league for the past decade, but it’s Denver that is reigning as the AFC West champions.

So, for the champion of a division to start their season on the road against a division rival, well, that feels a little disrespectful. But there are multiple factors at play here, and they start and end with No.15 in Kansas City.

This move signals that Patrick Mahomes will be ready for Week 1

I have a hard time believing that the NFL would start the Monday Night Football slate off in 2026 with a Bo Nix vs. Justin Fields competition. No slight at Fields, but he’s not exactly Patrick Mahomes.

The last time we saw Mahomes, he released a video of himself throwing the ball and taking drops at a private workout, with many believing he will be back and ready to go when the team starts OTAs.

If that holds firm and Mahomes stays steady in his road back, Week 1 will be a must-watch across the NFL landscape.