Sean Payton took 14 seconds to answer a would-you-rather question: Does he prefer facing Patrick Mahomes in Week 1 or later in the season?
“Earlier or later, I don’t know…. I don’t know,” Payton said. “I think you have to be ready and prepare for what you know is his best, and thatap in the pocket, thatap the extended plays, thatap him running. You don’t give a lot of thought to it because you can’t control it.”
Payton and the Broncos will open their 2026 season against the two-time MVP on Monday Night Football in Kansas City on Sept. 14. While the division rivals are familiar with each other, the season opener will feature several unknown variables.
Both teams’ quarterbacks are returning from major offseason surgeries, each franchise changed offensive coordinators this winter, and for the first time in almost a decade, the Chiefs will not open the season as the reigning AFC West champion.
But Mahomes is a constant. Despite coming off an ACL tear eight months ago, he fully practiced in training camp and is expected to play against Denver.
And the three-time Super Bowl champion has traditionally played well in Week 1. Since taking over as a full-time starter in 2018 , he’s thrown for 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while averaging 290 passing yards per game and completing 68% of his passes. . He is 6-2 in season openers.
Over the last 30 years, Mahomes has posted three of the 20 highest passer ratings in Week 1 by a quarterback with at least 28 passing attempts, according to .
“(Stopping Mahomes) is as big of a challenge as there is in the league,” Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen said after the Broncos’ practice Wednesday.
The Broncos have a few factors working in their favor, though. Since Vance Joseph returned to Denver as defensive coordinator in 2023, Mahomes has struggled against the Broncos’ defense. Over four games, he has thrown three touchdowns to four interceptions, completing 67% of his passes for an average of 272 yards per game and an 81.2 passer rating. The Chiefs averaged fewer than 16 points per game in those four games.
Mahomes’ injury also prevented him from until July 24. While Denver is preparing for a full-strength Mahomes, it will be the quarterback’s first game action since Dec. 14, 2025.
Although the Broncos and Chiefs are familiar opponents, each franchise made some key changes this summer. Kansas City welcomed back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, added running back Kenneth Walker III and lost both starting cornerbacks in the offseason. The Broncos returned a majority of their roster, but new offensive coordinator Davis Webb could add a new wrinkle to Denver’s offense.
The battle between Webb — in his first game calling the offense — and longtime Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be fascinating to watch.
“We play Kansas City first and ‘Spags’ could do whatever he wants to do,” Webb said in June.
Those changes could create some unfamiliarity amongst the divisional opponents in Week 1, Payton said. While the two teams know each other, each is likely to make some changes from last year.
Denver has opened the season 1-2 under Payton, averaging just 18 points per game against non-playoff teams. But for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the players say they are excited for an immediate test.
“Doing it in primetime is really cool. And the history between the two organizations just amps it up even more,” Allen said.
