We finish up Week 1 of the NFL with a primetime showdown between two division rivals in the AFC West. In what should be a rocking Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos on ESPN.
Kansas City Chiefs
First, a return of one of the greatest quarterbacks the league has ever seen: Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is coming off a torn ACL that he tore exactly 9 months to the day before this week's showdown. Mahomes will have some help this year, though, with the addition of last year's Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, who signed a 3-year, $43 million contract with Kansas City. The Chiefs will also finally get a healthy, non-suspended Rashee Rice, who has proven when available that he can be an excellent receiver in the NFL.
Denver Broncos
Across the field, we will get our first look at a hungry Denver team that was one injury away from a possible Super Bowl appearance. That injury was to quarterback Bo Nix, who has had a great start to his NFL career under head coach Sean Payton. Nix will be playing his first regular-season game post-ankle surgery that he had at the very end of last season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Broncos are returning a top-5 unit in the NFL led by superstar corner Patrick Surtain II.
Prediction
So who will come out the winner on Monday Night?
Mahomes is coming off a serious injury. The biggest story about the Chiefs this offseason was Travis Kelce's wedding.
Bo Nix will put the league on notice that he is an elite QB who can possibly lead his team to a Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, all we have heard/seen coming from Denver is hard work. I've got the Broncos walking into Kansas City and taking this one in an all-out battle.
The Pick
Final Score Prediction: Broncos 24, Chiefs 20.