Broncos defense presents immediate challenge for Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes spent nine months working towards his NFL return on Monday night.
His reward is a showdown with arguably the best defense in the NFL on paper heading into the 2026 season.
Denver, in 2025, led the league in sacks with 68, allowed the second fewest yards in the league and third fewest points.
Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL last December, but says he’s ready to go on Monday night.
“This has always been the goal — to get out there and play Week 1,” Mahomes said Thursday. “But now we get to go out there and play the sport that I love.”
Denver’s calling card in 2025 was getting to the quarterback.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid knows what’s coming.
“Vance is a sharp guy, and he’s got a nice package full of blitzes that he has,” Reid said of Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. “I’m sure he’ll unload a few of them.”
While Denver can blitz, they didn’t need to all the time in 2025 to get to the quarterback.
Denver blitzed on about 28 percent of its opposing passing plays in 2025.
Linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad were two players Joseph frequently sent after quarterbacks. Singleton blitzed 55 times, while Strnad was sent 37 times. Both are back with Denver this season.
However, the Broncos can pressure with their regular pass rush, led by Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen. Bonitto finished 2025 with 14 sacks while Allen had seven.
Mahomes and the Chiefs offensive will also face two more challenges outside of the pass rush – cornerback Pat Surtain II, who allowed just 33 competition in 2025.
Quarterbacks had a 66 quarterback rating throwing against him last season.
Mahomes will also be without his starting left tackle.
Rookie Kahlil Benson is expected to get the start, with Josh Simmons being ruled out. Benson’s first regular season start will be protecting Mahomes’ blind side.
Reid said earlier this week the Chiefs are comfortable with playing Benson.
“If he has to be the left tackle then he’s the left tackle,” Reid said. “And we roll with it. That’s just how it goes.”
The Chiefs can make adjustments that can help Benson.
They can provide him help with a tight end or running back, call plays that allow Mahomes to get the ball out faster or move the pocket around to make Denver’s pass rushers chase Mahomes.
There’s another option: Run the football.
The Chiefs basically gave its running back room a makeover, signing Kenneth Walker from the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and drafting Emmett Johnson, the rookie from Nebraska who led the Big 10 in rushing in 2025.
“You’ve got to use that guy,” Mahomes said of Walker. “He runs tough. He has speed. He can break a touchdown at any moment.”
The Broncos are not expecting to see a diminished Mahomes.
“I think Patrick is going to be Patrick,” Joseph said. “In my opinion, he wouldn’t play if he couldn’t be himself.”
