The Chiefs are up 14-7 on the Broncos at halftime of Monday Night Football, thanks in large part to their Super Bowl MVP running back, Kenneth Walker, who absolutely torched Denver for 89 yards on 14 carries in the first half alone. That’s tying his most rushes in a first half of a game started by Patrick Mahomes, which tells you everything about how much Kansas City is leaning on him right now.
Mahomes Isn’t Back, But He’s Still Getting It Done
Patrick Mahomes isn’t fully recovered from his knee injury, not completely back from that ACL and LCL tear he suffered way back on December 14 that required reconstructive surgery the very next day. Honestly, it was a long shot he’d even be playing in the season opener. But even not at 100%, the guy accounted for both Chiefs touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a 15-yard run on their first series, a drive that rookie corner Mansoor Delane set up perfectly with an interception of Bo Nix on just the third play of the game. Mahomes then hit Rashee Rice for a 13-yard catch-and-run touchdown to push the lead. His passing numbers aren’t eye-popping, only 8-of-18 for 62 yards and that one score, after starting a shaky 2-for-12. But he has connected with six different wide receivers, and don’t forget those two rushes for 23 yards and a score.
Kenneth Walker Is Carrying the Load
While Mahomes finds his rhythm, the Chiefs are clearly leaning on that dominant running game, and Kenneth Walker is delivering big time. Aside from his monster 89 yards on the ground, he also chipped in with two catches for 16 yards. That kind of dual-threat performance is exactly why he’s a Super Bowl MVP, and he’s been the engine for this offense so far. The Chiefs have outgained the Broncos 182 to 113 yards at the break, a difference primarily driven by Walker’s relentless attack. After a couple of sputtering drives where Kansas City only managed 39 yards on 15 plays, they put together an 80-yard, 10-play drive that ended with Rice’s touchdown, showcasing their ability to chew up yardage when it counts.
What a half! The Chiefs have momentum, and they’re showing that even with their star QB easing back into it, their running game is absolutely lethal. The Broncos need to figure out how to stop Kenneth Walker in the second half, or this game is only going to get further out of reach. We’re looking at a huge second half to see if Denver can make any adjustments or if Kansas City keeps rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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