May 12, 2026, 08:18 AM ETOpen Extended Reactions
The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs will square off Sept. 14 in the first “Monday Night Football” game of the coming season.
The site of the game will be known when the NFL unveils the complete 2026 regular-season schedule Thursday.
The Broncos wrested the AFC West title from the Chiefs last season, ending Kansas City's nine-year streak atop the division.
Denver quarterback Bo Nix and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes are coming off significant injuries. Nix broke his ankle in Denver’s divisional round playoff game and Mahomes tore an ACL in December.
In a previously announced Week 1 matchup, the Cowboys will visit the New York Giants in the first NBC “Sunday Night Football” game on Sept. 13.
Dallas at New York in Week 1 also means neither of those teams will be the visitor at Seattle on Wednesday night, Sept. 9, when the defending champion Seahawks unveil their Super Bowl banner and kick off the season. Chicago, Arizona, the Los Angeles Chargers or a title-game rematch against New England are the remaining possibilities.
