Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs steamroll Broncos in Patrick Mahomes’ go back

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Operating again Kenneth Walker III stole the assert their very own praises in his Kansas Town debut for the reason that Chiefs ruled the Denver Broncos 31-10 on Monday night time time at Arrowhead Stadium.

Walker, who signed with the Chiefs after a success the Great Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks in February, rushed for 173 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Walker made it simple for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who performed his first game since knee surgical remedy in December. Mahomes proved early that his knee was once sound, dashing seven cases for 23 yards and a landing. He carried out 15 of 27 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

It was once a terrible night time time correct through for the protecting AFC West champion Broncos, who have been outgained 392-176 in general yards, along aspect 220-61 at the backside. Quarterback Bo Nix was once greatest 17-for-28 for 131 yards and had two turnovers.

What does Walker’s monster Chiefs debut imply for the offense and its aspirations this season?

Regarded as one of the concept criticisms of the Chiefs offense remaining season was once that the crew didn’t enact sufficient to alleviate Mahomes.

That resulted in an offseason through which — in large part — the entire crew did to improve offensively was once usher in Walker as a pricey unfastened agent.

Through one week, it seems love a genius movement. If Walker remains wholesome, he’s going to be sufficient to absolutely trade what this offense seems love.

The Chiefs made Walker their three-down workhorse again Monday, and he delivered in nearly each and every technique most likely. He broke two 20-plus-yard runs; Chiefs running backs had honest suitable one all of remaining season.

He was once efficient within the drift game. He was once correct in temporary yardage and in addition broke 9 tackles in the main part of by myself, in keeping with NFL’s Subsequent Gen Stats.

Alternatively reputedly greater than anything else, Walker allowed the Chiefs to stay a bodily mentality, with the offensive line getting downhill to take over the game from the early levels.

“It’s a mentality and it’s an angle,” Mahomes discussed of what Walker brings to the Chiefs. “He units the tone. We mentioned it all week lengthy: by way of confrontation protection, you’ve purchased to catch 22 situation the tone. This offensive line and folks running backs did that.”

Upload all that to what we’ve observed Mahomes enact previously? Sure, Walker has to care for wholesome, however it’s complex now not to dream of a unconditionally various Chiefs offense being unlocked because of his presence. — Jesse Newell

Broncos’ splashy recent addition a non-ingredient

As Jaylen Straggle slammed the brakes on a comeback direction correct through Denver’s 2d power, 3 Chiefs defenders dusky in his path, made up our minds now not to let the Broncos’ destructive recent receiver cause pain after the download. That attention let tight extinguish Evan Engram come get started around the front of the extinguish zone and Nix hit him for a 19-yard landing drift that tied the game.

It was once a demonstration of the worries Straggle can beget even if he’s now not the objective on a given play. The Broncos on Monday, even if, would possibly have damaged-down extra of the impact Straggle makes when he unquestionably has the ball in his fingers. He carried out with greatest one download on 3 goals for two yards. He had a pricey drop on a 3rd down within the 3rd quarter for the reason that Broncos attempted to cut into Kansas Town’s two-touchdown lead.

None of this is to suggest Straggle was once anything close to the self-discipline for Denver correct through an abysmal potency within the opener. Nix was once sacked 4 cases. He fumbled 3 cases, shedding a ball slack within the 3rd quarter on a play that each and every then again sealed Denver’s destiny. He threw an interception on his first drift take a look at of the game when he attempted to energy a ball to receiver Courtland Sutton — every other absent performer Monday — in spite of rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane giving Nix nowhere to throw. Davis Webb, in his first game as play caller, let the glide-flee stability salvage out of whack in the main part of.

Alternatively on an night time time when Walker, the Chiefs’ splashy offseason acquisition, was once a distinction-maker at each and every turn, the muted Straggle debut stood out. — Prick Kosmider

What was once the main cause of the Broncos’ defensive flop, and will or not it’s with out considerations mounted?

Walker ran for 103 yards with the Seahawks in opposition to the Broncos within the 2024 season opener, gashing Denver for greater than 80 yards within the 3rd quarter by myself.

That may possibly now be chalked up as a forged defensive effort for the Broncos when compared to what they mustered in opposition to Walker on Monday. A microcosm of the failure were given proper right here on a fourth-and-1 play early within the 3rd quarter. The Chiefs, major 14-7, had a fourth-and-1 at their beget 40-yard line. Collect a terminate, and Denver can be catch 22 situation up in a correct map to power for a tying to find. The Broncos blitzed up the center, linebacker Alex Singleton making an attempt to burst internal to blow up the play. With one swift lower, Walker bounced get started air and outran the protection on a 60-yard landing that took the entire air out of the Broncos. Safety Brandon Jones was once in map to take on Walker internal the 10-yard line, then again his try to deliver the bodily running backpedal slightly made an impact.

Unsightly tackling was once a theme all night time time for the Broncos. That may be corrected. Alternatively Denver goes to wish to regulate to a emblem recent conventional that coordinator Vance Joseph has been talking about all offseason. The Broncos have piled up 131 sacks all of the association through the overall two seasons. Teams are countering, for the reason that Chiefs did Monday, with heavier flee programs, misdirection and abruptly passes to mitigate the power. When the Broncos did have chances for an extended velocity on Monday, they didn’t capitalize, whiffing on multiple makes an attempt to deliver down Mahomes previous to he ran for a 15-yard landing at the outlet power.

Proper this is indifferent a protection loaded with gifted, a success gamers in any appreciate 3 ranges. That hasn’t changed with one terrible potency. Alternatively the Broncos higher salvage issues corrected abruptly with the outstanding offenses ahead correct through this primary month of the schedule. — Kosmider

How enact you assess Mahomes’ first game again from knee surgical remedy?

It wasn’t giant by way of Mahomes’ requirements, however it additionally didn’t should be, given how Walker and the crew’s protection completed.

Mahomes was once indifferent correct correct through a few grasp moments. That built-in spirited himself to a 15-yard landing flee while indifferent feeling out precisely how he would maneuver in opposition to live fighters along together with his surgically repaired knee.

He’ll should be higher from proper right here ahead, even if. Mahomes had a terrible miscommunication with receiver Xavier Noteworthy that ended with an grotesque interception within the 3rd quarter. He additionally showed a bent to salvage elated toes in successfully-organized wallet, which has been one amongst his top bugaboos from old-fashioned seasons.

Mahomes carried out with 184 passing yards, then again even that’s inflated slightly, as 59 of the ones yards were given proper right here on a temporary drift to tight extinguish Travis Kelce that was correct into an enormous abolish after he broke a take on.

The most important hope for the Chiefs, even if? It’s that Walker (and rookie Emmett Johnson) have been so impressive in opposition to the Broncos that defenses will wish to deliver defenders as so much as terminate them within the flee game. If that occurs, it might allow for increased downfield openings when the Chiefs chuck it extra in long term weeks. — Newell