​KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 25: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos runs the ball for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images The wait is over. This is true on multiple levels. The Denver Broncos will open the season. And quarterback Bo Nix is set to return to the field after an ankle injury ended his and the Broncos’ season. But there is something different about this season opener. Denver is coming off its best season in a decade, having hosted and played in the AFC Championship Game, claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC, won the AFC West, and beaten Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in one of the best wins in franchise history.Now, can Nix and the Broncos build off that incredible season and take the next step to the Super Bowl? The first test comes on Monday Night Football against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. FanDuel Sportsbook currently has Denver as the slight road underdog to its division rivals. The Broncos are +2.5-point underdogs to host Kansas City. The total sits at 43.5 points, with a lean toward the under at -112.Offensive Rankings (2025) Denver: Tenth in total offense (352.1 yards per game), 18th in rushing offense (118.3 YPG), eighth in passing offense (233.9 YPG), 13th in scoring offense (24.1 points per game).Kansas City: Thirteenth in total offense (342.9 yards per game), 22nd in rushing offense (109.7 YPG), ninth in passing offense (233.2 YPG), 20th in scoring offense (22.5 points per game).Defensive Rankings (2025)  Denver: Fourth in total defense (291.6 yards per game), second in rushing defense (90.2 YPG), 10th in passing defense (201.4 YPG), fifth in scoring defense (19.7 points per game).Kansas City: Tenth in total defense (307.9 yards per game), ninth in rushing defense (103.4 YPG), 12th in passing defense (204.5 YPG), fourth in scoring defense (19.6 points per game). Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Monday night’s game. Start fastThis applies to Monday’s game and the season. One of the reasons Nix and the Broncos had so many comeback wins last season is that the offense started slow. The best way to ensure you don’t have so many come-from-behind, one-score wins in 2026 is to have the offense consistently start games faster. There’s no better time for that than Monday Night Football in Kansas City to open the season. And why not do so in Davis Webb’s first game as the offensive playcaller? Send a message to the rest of the NFL. On the first play from scrimmage, dial up a deep shot to Jaylen Waddle and test that Chiefs secondary. Coming away with an opening-drive touchdown on offense puts Denver in a great position to start the season with a big road win. — Ian St. ClairStop the runMake the Chiefs one-dimensional. Force Patrick Mahomes to prove he can carry his team with a surgically repaired knee. — Adam MalnatiClose the deal on third downsW