Stephen A. Smith has put the Kansas City Chiefs back into the NFL conversation after their opening-week win. The Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 31-10 on Monday night. The result came after Kansas City missed the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in a decade. Patrick Mahomes returned from a knee injury and led an offense that finally had a powerful ground threat.
Kenneth Walker III delivered 191 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns in his Chiefs debut. Travis Kelce added 71 receiving yards, including a 59-yard catch. Smith responded by saying Kansas City “can beat anybody” when healthy.
Smith sees a different Chiefs offense
Smith’s comments followed a performance that changed the conversation around Kansas City almost immediately. He pointed to the combination of Mahomes, Kelce, Andy Reid and a newly productive running game as reasons the Chiefs looked different from the team that struggled through 2025.
The central point in Smith’s assessment was the effect of balance. He said Mahomes “with a running game is a different animal,” connecting Walker’s arrival to the quarterback’s ability to operate without carrying the entire offense.
That distinction mattered against Denver. Kansas City rushed for 189 yards, with Walker accounting for 173 of them, while Mahomes completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Chiefs finished with 392 total yards and scored 31 points.
Kenneth Walker changed the offensive picture
Walker was the biggest statistical difference-maker in the opener. The former Seattle Seahawks running back broke loose for a 60-yard touchdown, added a 2-yard touchdown reception, and finished with 191 total yards on 26 touches.
His production also came against a Denver defense that had ranked among the NFL’s better units in each of the previous 2 seasons. The Broncos struggled to contain Walker’s acceleration and tackle him in space, creating the kind of explosive plays Kansas City lacked during much of its difficult 2025 campaign.
Walker’s versatility could also change how defenses approach Kansas City going forward. His ability to produce as both a runner and receiver gives the Chiefs another way to attack without putting every possession on Mahomes’ arm, potentially making the offense less predictable than it was a season ago.
Mahomes and Kelce still provide the familiar core
Mahomes’ return supplied the biggest storyline before kickoff, even though Walker eventually dominated the statistical spotlight. The quarterback played with a brace on his left knee and produced 184 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 23 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
The performance wasn’t flawless. Mahomes threw an interception and missed several throws, but the offense did not depend entirely on his arm because Walker consistently created yards on the ground. That balance gives Reid another way to attack defenses while Mahomes works back toward his previous form.
Kelce also showed that his connection with Mahomes remains a major part of the offense. His 59-yard catch in the third quarter moved him into second place on the NFL’s all-time receiving-yardage list for tight ends, passing Jason Witten and leaving only Tony Gonzalez ahead of him.
Fun fact: Kenneth Walker’s 173 rushing yards were the second-most by a veteran making his debut for a new team in NFL history, according to the Chiefs. His 14 broken tackles also led every player in Week 1 and set a Chiefs mark in the Next Gen Stats era.
Kansas City’s defense added to the shift
The Chiefs’ defensive performance made the opening victory more complete. Denver managed only 176 total yards and converted 2 of 12 third-down opportunities, while Kansas City kept the Broncos from finding a consistent rhythm after the first quarter.
The defense also benefited from the offense controlling possession and creating a lead. Once Walker’s 60-yard touchdown put Kansas City ahead 21-7 in the third quarter, Denver’s offense struggled to generate another sustained scoring drive.
Kansas City’s result also carried extra context because Denver entered the season as the defending AFC West champion. The Broncos had beaten the Chiefs in 3 of their previous 4 meetings, making Monday’s 21-point margin a notable reversal in the division matchup.
The 2025 collapse remains part of the story
Kansas City’s 2025 season was a sharp break from the previous decade. The Chiefs finished 6-11, missed the postseason, and ended a run of 10 consecutive playoff appearances, while Reid experienced his first losing season in 13 years with the organization.
That history explains why 1 dominant opener has generated such a strong reaction. The Chiefs didn’t simply win; they defeated the team that had taken the AFC West from them while displaying a style that addressed 1 of their clearest offensive weaknesses.
The early evidence is encouraging but limited to 1 game. Kansas City now has a full season ahead, and the Week 1 result shows what the roster was capable of against Denver without establishing how consistently that level can be maintained.
What the Week 1 result actually established
The clearest change was Kansas City’s ability to create explosive rushing plays. Walker averaged 7.5 yards per carry and produced a 60-yard touchdown, while the Chiefs’ defense held Denver to 176 yards.
Mahomes also had support from a veteran receiving group that included Kelce. Kelce finished with 3 catches for 71 yards, and his 59-yard reception showed that the long-established Mahomes-Kelce connection remains capable of producing explosive gains.
Kansas City’s next game comes Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts. The matchup will provide another regular-season test for an offense that opened 2026 with 31 points, 392 total yards, and a running back who immediately became central to its identity.
TL;DR
- Stephen A. Smith said the Chiefs “can beat anybody” after their 31-10 Week 1 win over Denver.
- Kenneth Walker III posted 191 scrimmage yards and 2 touchdowns in his Kansas City debut.
- Patrick Mahomes returned from his knee injury with 184 passing yards and 3 total touchdowns.
- Travis Kelce moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time receiving-yardage list for tight ends.
- Kansas City’s defense held Denver to 176 total yards and 2 successful third downs.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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