The Broncos took a real beating

The Denver Broncos had a tough night to kick off their 2026 season.

Facing the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, Sean Payton's team lost 31-10 in a game where several aspects of their play did not go as planned. (Denver Broncos
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This first game for the Denver Broncos was highly anticipated following a 2025 season that had taken the team all the way to the AFC Championship. Bo Nix's return to the starting quarterback position was also one of the main points of interest in this matchup.

Nix completed 15 of 27 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also fumbled the ball once. Denver's offense struggled to sustain drives and scored only 10 points during the game. (Denver Broncos
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The situation was different for Kansas City, which racked up 392 total yards, compared to just 176 for Denver. The Chiefs also capitalized on several favorable situations created by penalties and turnovers by the Broncos. (Reuters⁠)

Sean Payton Wants to Quickly Get Back on Track

The Denver Broncos' head coach made no attempt to downplay the shortcomings observed. Sean Payton acknowledged that his team did not perform as expected and also took some responsibility for the outcome.

Penalties, missed tackles, and struggles on the ground were particular points of concern. Denver allowed the Chiefs to gain 220 rushing yards, while its own offense managed 172 passing yards and 220 rushing yards. (Denver Broncos⁠
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The offense also struggled to convert third downs, while several negative plays put the team in difficult situations. For Bo Nix, this game is therefore the first to be carefully analyzed since his return to competition.

Despite this loss, the Denver Broncos must quickly turn their attention to their next opponent. The team will host the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. Jacksonville started the season with a win and will therefore be the next test for the Colorado squad. (Pro Football Reference
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Mike McGlinchey summed up the team's approach after the game: the Broncos must learn from this loss without letting it define their season. (Denver Broncos
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The Denver Broncos' first game thus highlighted several areas that need improvement. Sean Payton's coaching staff will now have a few days to review the film and prepare the team's response ahead of its first home game of the season.

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