The Kansas City Chiefs might be back, and if that’s the case, the NFL might be doomed.
Monday Night Football was interesting, because the Denver Broncos looked really bad, and the Chiefs looked really good. Just a few months ago, these teams were in very different spots, as the Broncos were in the AFC Championship following a stellar performance from young quarterback Bo Nix in the divisional round while Patrick Mahomes was injured and the Chiefs were out of the postseason mix for the first time in awhile.
All of that could be changed now, as the Chiefs dethroned the Broncos 31-10, sending a major statement in primetime to start the season.
At times, Mahomes looked a bit rusty coming off of his serious knee injury, but it didn’t even seem to matter.
The real story of the game was Chiefs new addition Kenneth Walker III. The former Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl MVP joined Kansas City in free agency on a three-year, $43.05 million contract. That’s just the ninth highest-paid running back salary in the NFL, and for one week, Walker played like the best player at the position.
Walker’s 23 carries for 173 yards and one touchdown could’ve had the Seahawks kicking themselves for losing Walker in free agency, even though they have a shiny Lombardi Trophy on the shelf.
K9 is the lead running back with the Chiefs, and their only other rusher on Monday was Emmett Johnson, who carried the ball eight times for 24 yards, also catching two passes for another 44 yards. Walker had three catches of his own, for 18 yards and an additional touchdown.
Mahomes is in his 10th season in Kansas City and he’s never had a 1,000-yard rusher. The hope for the Chiefs should be that Mahomes won’t have to be Superman anymore, especially early in the season while he knocks off the rust from his repaired knee.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce turned back the clock, as well. He caught three passes for 73 yards, including a long 59-yard run.
Maybe the Chiefs won’t get this level of production every weekend from their supporting cast, but if they do, you can see a world where this is a formidable AFC contender again this year.
And that’s without even mentioning the defense.
Even though he was injured in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, the football universe crowned Bo Nix for an impressive season in Denver, and an impressive start to his career with the Broncos.
The Broncos looked ready to go all-in with this young quarterback and head coach Sean Payton, trading their first-round pick for Miami Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Waddle was held to one catch. Starting running back J.K. Dobbins was held to 36 yards. And Nix was kept in check, too.
Kansas City’s defense dominated. Even though much has been made about Davis Webb’s first time calling plays in life without Declan Doyle, the Chiefs are the real story coming out of Week 1.
Discussion about this post