Sean Payton, the Broncos head coach, is already prepping for Patrick Mahomes at his absolute peak for Week 1, even though the Chiefs haven’t officially announced their superstar quarterback will be under center. This is huge, because Mahomes tore his ACL way back in December, and you’d think there’d be some doubt heading into the season opener. But nope, Payton isn’t taking any chances.
Mahomes’ Week 1 Return? Payton’s Got A Gut Feeling
Look, all the whispers throughout the offseason and training camp were that Mahomes was going to be ready for Week 1 against the Broncos. And despite the Chiefs staying tight-lipped with no official confirmation, Payton is just treating it like a done deal this week. The dude is basically saying, “He’s coming, and he’s bringing his A-game.” Payton put it like this in a recent press conference: “I’m going to probably say the same for Bo [Nix] , you’ve seen enough things where he’s going to be 100 percent and we’re preparing for him at his best. We know how talented he is, and I’m sure he’s attacked the rehab the way Bo has with completely different injuries. That’s kind of our approach to it.” It sounds like Payton expects nothing less than 100 percent from Mahomes, injury or not, and that’s just wild for a Week 1 matchup.
The Broncos Have Played Mahomes Tough, But The Numbers Don’t Lie
So, why is Payton so hyper-focused on Mahomes being “at his best”? Well, historically, Mahomes has absolutely owned the Broncos. The Chiefs boast a 13-2 record against Denver in his 15 starts. Now, to be fair, Denver has “played him tough,” as the source notes. Mahomes has thrown for 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in those matchups. That’s actually a pretty significant contrast to how he fares against other division rivals. Against the Raiders, he’s slung 36 touchdowns to just five interceptions. And against the Chargers? It’s 28 touchdowns versus eight interceptions. That 12 INT number against Denver shows they can get to him more than some others, but the sheer volume of wins against them? That’s a different story.
This Week 1 showdown is going down on Monday Night Football from the always-intimidating Arrowhead Stadium. You know Mahomes will be fired up if he’s out there, and Payton’s not just hoping, he’s actively preparing for the guy who’s been a nightmare for the Broncos. It’s an early season test that could set the tone for the entire AFC West, and it’s gonna be a must-watch to see if Payton’s readiness can finally flip the script.
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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