Talk about a statement win for the Kansas City Chiefs! After a dismal 2025 campaign, many wondered if this team would still be one of the best teams in the AFC. Kansas City looked like a shell of themselves last season, struggling on multiple fronts. What made fans even more worried was the sudden departures of key players in their defense, including their two starting cornerbacks and their starting safety.

The Chiefs were still considered as a potential Super Bowl threat, but they were seen more as a dark horse instead of a favorite. After a resounding win over the reigning AFC West champions, though, it's only fair to consider this team as a serious Super Bowl threat.

Chiefs silenced doubts in Week 1, reclaim contender status

Week 1 was the perfect test for this revamped Chiefs team in a lot of ways. The Broncos didn't just win the AFC West because Patrick Mahomes was injured: they already had full control of the division even before the star quarterback went down. They have one of the best defenses in the league, led by star cornerback Patrick Surtain and pass-rusher Nik Bonitto. Their offense was also already solid last season, and they fixed one of their biggest issues by trading for star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

The one good thing that went the Chiefs' way this offseason was their acquisition of reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. Still, even with a much-improved run game (on paper), there were still doubts about this team in 2026.

Well, the two big questions for the Chiefs were answered against the Broncos, and the answers lead to a scary conclusion for the rest of the NFL.

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Walker looked extremely good for the Chiefs in Week 1. Walker's speed and elusiveness was on full display against a Broncos team that ranked second in rushing yards allowed per game last season. He torched Denver to the tune of 191 total scrimmage yards (23 carries for 173 yards, and three catches for 18 yards). He also added two total touchdowns, one of which came on a 60-yard run in the third quarter where Walker simply outran the entire Broncos defense.

This game from Walker will help Mahomes breathe a little easier as he eases back into game shape. In stark contrast with past games for the Chiefs, Mahomes attempted just 27 passes. He completed 15 of those passes for 184 yards and one touchdown. While he did throw an interception, it was less of a bad throw by Mahomes and more miscommunication between the quarterback and his intended target. It was a good first game back for the former MVP, who suffered a torn ACL and LCL back in Decemeber last year. He'll need all the help he can get, especially from his defense.

Speaking of defense, the Chiefs' unit looked much, MUCH better compared to what was expected of them this season. Steve Spagnuolo is regarded as one of the most brilliant defensive minds in the league, and this game was a perfect example why. Spagnuolo's creative blitz systems masked some of the issues of the Chiefs' roster. It also helped that Kansas City simply just dominated the line battle: they recorded four sacks and made Bo Nix's life a living hell. The result was the worst offensive game the Broncos have played in the Sean Payton era: 176 scrimmage yards, just one touchdown, an interception, a fumble, and a 60% completion rate for Nix.

The Chiefs were always going to be a problem this season. No matter what critics might say, Mahomes is still Mahomes. He's shown that he can carry a team to victory no matter who's around him. Now that he has a functional defense and a run game he can rely on… well, the league might be in trouble.

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