The Kansas City Chiefs opened their season with a dominant 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday night, powered by 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns from running back Kenneth Walker III in his team debut, according to the Associated Press. Playing in front of a primetime audience that included Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise, according to Yahoo Sports Canada, Walker carried the ball 23 times to help offset any concerns surrounding quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who returned to action wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee.
Kenneth Walker III Runs for 173 Yards as Kansas City Chiefs Defeat Denver Broncos
Patrick Mahomes Returns With Knee Brace in Strong Season Opener
Entering his first game back exactly nine months after sustaining a left knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers, Patrick Mahomes erased lingering doubts by throwing for 184 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for another score, according to the Associated Press. Mahomes capped Kansas City’s opening drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. “Once you put him in the game, he’s going to play, and you better be confident in that,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told the Associated Press regarding his quarterback’s readiness.
Kenneth Walker III Makes Immediate Impact After Free Agency Signing
Kenneth Walker III, who signed a three-year, $43.05 million contract with Kansas City in free agency after winning a Super Bowl MVP with Seattle, delivered the most productive rushing performance by a Chiefs player since Jamaal Charles ran for 226 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, according to the Associated Press. Walker accumulated 89 yards on 14 carries in the first half alone. His night was highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter after he bounced a fourth-and-1 carry outside, telling the Associated Press, “I knew they were going to crash in. When they crashed in, I bounced out, and I was off to the races from there.” Andy Reid described Walker’s performance to the Associated Press as “spectacular.”
Denver Broncos Struggle in Offense Debut Under Coordinator Davis Webb
The Denver Broncos managed just 176 yards of total offense in their first game with coordinator Davis Webb calling plays, according to the Associated Press. Quarterback Bo Nix completed passes for 131 yards while throwing an interception and losing a fumble. Despite trading a package of draft picks to Miami for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle during the offseason, Waddle was limited to one catch for two yards. Evan Engram led Denver with four catches for 43 yards and the team’s lone touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Nix. “As a whole offense, a whole team, we just didn’t play really good,” Nix told the Associated Press, while head coach Sean Payton called it “obviously not a good evening.”
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