The Kansas City Chiefs absolutely blasted the Denver Broncos 31-10 to kick off the 2026 regular season, and if you weren’t tuned in, you missed Kenneth Walker III announce his presence with authority. Forget Patrick Mahomes shaking off rust, Walker was the main event, instantly transforming that Chiefs offense in his very first game.
Walker III Goes Off, Changes Everything For KC
Seriously, Walker III was a one-man wrecking crew against the Broncos. This dude, who they signed as a reigning Super Bowl MVP, put up a career-high 173 rushing yards. A *career-high* in his *Chiefs debut*? Wild. His best moment? A ridiculous 60-yard breakaway touchdown on fourth-and-inches early in the third quarter. Fourth-and-inches! He wasn’t just running, he was making people look silly, forcing 14 missed tackles. That’s the most by any Chiefs player in a single game since 2018. He even caught a short touchdown pass. When all was said and done, Walker III piled up 191 total yards of offense and two touchdowns. Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk summed it up perfectly: Walker III “earned every penny of his contract in his debut, and then some.” The Athletic said he “stole the show” and added a “new dimension” to the offense. They’re not wrong.
Mahomes Shakes Rust, Rookies Step Up, National Media Takes Notice
It’s not like Mahomes was even at 100%. He’s still shaking off the rust from a lengthy knee surgery recovery, putting up just 184 passing yards and missing on some throws. But the good news? He’s healthy, according to CBSSports.com, and didn’t even *have* to do a lot with Walker III running wild. That’s what makes this so scary for the rest of the league. And talk about stepping up: Undrafted rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson from Indiana, who got no guaranteed money and never played the position in college, was forced into the lineup because of an injury to Josh Simmons. He was “one of the best stories” of the opener. The national media immediately recognized the statement. ESPN jumped the Chiefs from a preseason ranking of 13 all the way to 8, and The Athletic had them soaring from 14 to 7. Even CBSSports.com, ranking them at 10, said, “Many buried this team, saying the dynasty was over. No it isn’t.”
This is just Week 1, and the Chiefs already look like they’ve got a legitimate, fearsome rushing attack to go with a healthy Mahomes. What’s next for this squad as they get further into the season?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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