The Kansas City Chiefs are set to open their 2025 regular season on Monday against the visiting Denver Broncos in a Chiefs Vs Broncos matchup that already carries early AFC West stakes. For Kansas City, this is more than just Week 1. It is the start of what the source frames as the team’s real season after a 6-11 effort in 2025.
The Broncos, meanwhile, arrive with a very different backdrop. Sean Payton’s team is fresh off a 14-3 campaign and an AFC Championship Game trip, which is why the source presents Denver as the reigning division champs. That alone makes this a notable early test for the Chiefs, even before considering the matchup itself.
How the game could unfold
Two of the analysts quoted on the matchup see it as close. Joshua Brisco said the game could go any number of ways, while Jordan Foote called it “close to a coin flip.” That fits the general feel of the matchup: a division game, a Week 1 opener, and two teams entering with very different recent resumes.
Foote also noted that the Broncos “undoubtedly have the better roster between these two squads,” and pointed to Vance Joseph’s defense as the best unit in the game. He added that if the game were played in Denver, it would be hard not to pick the reigning division champs.
Even so, Foote ultimately sided with Andy Reid’s team to find a way, even without left tackle Josh Simmons. That gives Kansas City the edge in the analyst projection, though not by much. Brisco also leaned toward the Chiefs, saying he is betting on Kenneth Walker as a stabilizing force for the offense while the defensive rookies impress.
What it means for both teams
For Kansas City, this opener is about showing that the 6-11 season is behind them. Patrick Mahomes is back from injury, and the Chiefs begin the year trying to reassert themselves in a division that Denver currently controls. A strong start would immediately change the tone around the team.
For Denver, the assignment is simpler but still important: defend the status it earned over the last season. A road win in Week 1 would reinforce the idea that the Broncos’ rise was no fluke and that Payton’s group remains the team to beat in the AFC West.
However it plays out, Chiefs Vs Broncos gives Monday night an early-season division edge. The Chiefs are looking to start over. The Broncos are looking to prove they are still ahead. That combination is why this one should draw plenty of attention before kickoff.
