Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes.
If there was any doubt about his knee, he answered it on the Chiefsâ first drive. The quarterback ran for a 15-yard touchdown, giving the Chiefs a 7-0 lead.
Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee on Dec. 14 during a Week 15 game against the Chargers and underwent reconstructive surgery the following day.
He ran for a 5-yard score on the previous play, but both tackles were called for holding. Tight end Travis Kelce got away with a hold on Mahomesâ touchdown run that counted.
Andy Reid had vowed to run the ball more this season, and the Chiefs did that on their first drive of 2026. They ran on eight of their 10 plays, picking up 57 yards. Kenneth Walker, the Super Bowl LX MVP, had seven carries for 32 yards.
Mahomes threw two passes and completed one for 9 yards to Xavier Worthy.
The Chiefs started the drive on the Denver 46 after rookie first-round pick Mansoor Delane picked Bo Nix and returned it 5 yards.