What Has You Pumped For The Broncos Vs. Chiefs Matchup On Monday Night Football?

Broncos Country, we are just one sleep away from the Denver Broncos taking on the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football to start their 2026 season. It’s been a long offseason, but the rubber is about ready to hit the road. I’m an enjoyer of most all sports, but the National Football League just hits different.

I’m so glad football is back. There truly isn’t anything quite like it in the world of sports. With that being said, I thought I’d ask what as you pumped for the season opener? Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Here are a few things I’m stoked for.

The debuts of Jaylen Waddle and Jonah Coleman on offense

The Broncos had their share of ups and downs on the offensive side of the ball in 2025. The aerial attack had issues early on in the year—similarly to 2024. Moreover, the run game slowed down immensely in the second stretch of the season when J.K Dobbins’ promising season came to a halt after a hip drop tackle.

Truth be told, there weren’t many games where Denver had both aspects firing on all cylinders. To defeat the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, Denver has to start off fast, and they need to be able to attack Steve Spagnuolo’s defense efficiently in both phases. This offseason, they made two additions to help elevate their offensive production to the next level.

The first was wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. A tried-and-true beater versus zone coverage, Waddle has a chance to make an immediate impact in the Broncos’ offense improving an aspect of their passing game they struggled with in ‘25. I’m hoping he can make an impact on Monday night—a long distance touchdown from Bo Nix on the road in Arrowhead would be a fabulous way to kick off his tenure with the team.

The second was Jonah Coleman. He’s the Broncos’ insurance policy for Dobbins this year. In my opinion, Coleman will greatly improve their red zone rushing attack and improve their efficiency in short yardage situations. I’m not sure what kind of role he will have in his regular season debut, but I’d like to see him get an opportunity to show his promise in key situations against the Chiefs.

These are the two offensive players I’m excited to watch perform the most. Their success and impact will be extremely important for the offense to reach new heights in ‘26.

The rise and impact of Eyioma Uwazurike on defense

For better or worse, the offseason and training camp comes with a lot of hype. Over the course of the summer, we had numerous reports of players who have impressed without camp. One constant in those conversations from both players and coaches was defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.

Last season, he had the best outing of his career. On Monday Night Football, he will be a starter alongside Zach Allen and D.J. Jones on the defensive trenches for the Broncos. Uwazurike’s size and length are both imposing and enticing, and I’m very excited to see how he performs against a Chiefs’ offensive line which may wind up starting an undrafted rookie free agent at tackle.

Stopping Kenneth Walker III and Kansas City’s revamped rushing attack will be mission critical for Denver to earn a victory in primetime. The former Iowa State standout will need to perform well for that to happen. I expect them to run the ball a lot, especially with Patrick Mahomes coming off an ACL injury.

In ‘25, the Broncos had a Top 3 rushing defense with respect to yards allowed and yards per carry. With John Franklin-Myers’ departure, the rise of Uwazurike will be essential for the unit to be as successful combating the run this season. I’m hoping he can help set the tone and tenacious play for the defense up front. He has all the traits to do so and I’m a believer in what he can accomplish this season.

Extending the winning streak versus the Chiefs to four games

Let’s be honest. Battling the Chiefs has been an ongoing struggle for the Broncos for ages. Prior to the ’25 season, Denver had dropped seventeen of eighteen games to Kansas City. It’s always tough losing to division rivals, but losing that many (including sixteen straight) was one of the darkest chapters in franchise history.

Though coming off three victories in a row and fresh off their first AFC West crown in a decade, nothing has me more pumped than the prospect of Denver starting off the season 1-0 and extending their winning streak against the Chiefs to four games.

Despite their success last season, the Broncos knows they fell short of their ultimate goal. This year, it’s all about proving themselves again. Opening week is a blank slate for every team looking to embark on their gridiron journey for a Lombardi Trophy. For many, it’s an unrealistic fool’s errand—but for the Broncos—it’s a reality. Starting off the season with a big victory should give them a much-needed boost of confidence facing one of the toughest schedules of any team in the National Football League to start the year.

It’s time for the Broncos to show everyone who the top team in the AFC West is. They can do that with a victory in primetime against their longtime nemesis. Let’s go!