The Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 8:15 PM ET from Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO.
Denver’s defense sets the tone for this one. The Broncos recorded 68 sacks in 2025, the most in the NFL, and they’ll test a Kansas City offense that has its own case for efficiency: The Chiefs posted 61 yards after the catch in go-ahead situations last season, also the league’s best mark.
The betting market favors Kansas City, with punters divided on where the value is. The Chiefs are a 2.5-point favorite on consensus lines with a total of 43.5, and their money line stands at -146 to Denver’s +123. The total has moved from 42.5 to 43.5 and the margin has moved from Chiefs -118 to -117. On the money line, 69% of the 22,418 bets are in Kansas City; in the spread, 60% of the 2,615 bets are in Denver.
Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.
How to watch the Broncos vs. the Chiefs
- When: Monday, September 14, 2026 at 8:15 PM ET
- Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- TV: ABC, ESPN
- broadcast: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN package
Players to watch
Kansas City’s biggest question heading into this game is how clean the pocket will be, and that puts Mahomes at the center of it all. He’s still on track to start after knee surgery, with Andy Reid saying he has a pretty good chance to go. That matters even more because Josh Simmons has a good chance of sitting, which could leave Mahomes to deal with the extra heat off the edge.
When Mahomes is right, he changes the geometry of the field immediately. If he can handle the pressure and keep the Chiefs on the clock, Kansas City can control the tone of the game from the opening possessions.
For Denver, the passing game needs a reliable target against a defense that rarely gives up easy chances, and Sutton fits that role. He is listed as a starting wide receiver on the Broncos’ unofficial depth chart and he enters the season looking for a third straight year with over 1,000 yards. Even after Denver added Jaylen Waddle, Sutton’s role as a primary red zone threat remains intact.
This matchup prioritizes finishing drives, especially if possessions are tight. Sutton gives Denver a trusted edge option and size target when the field shrinks. A productive night from him would go a long way toward keeping the Broncos in scoring range and forcing Kansas City to defend every blade of grass.
With the Chiefs’ receiving corps at full strength, Rice stands as one of the top two clear options on the depth chart. That makes it a key watch in an opener where Kansas City may need quick answers if the defense gets stressed. His role is easier to believe because the depth chart picture is solid at the top, with Xavier Worthy alongside him and Cyrus Allen listed as a backup.
Rice’s importance in this game comes from function as much as talent. He can be the type of target that helps Mahomes get the ball out on time and keep drives alive. If he wins early on the road and turns short ends into chain-moving plays, the Chiefs’ offense can stay balanced and avoid letting Denver dictate the rush.
Special teams and hidden space can move the opener, and Badie is worth tracking for that reason. He earned the fourth running back spot on Denver’s 53-man roster, beating out Jaleel McLaughlin for that spot, and he figures to view the field primarily as a starting rebounder. This gives him a direct path to impact this game even if his offensive touches are limited.
Denver doesn’t need a heavy workload from Badie to make his impact felt. A strong return could turn around field position and change how aggressive the Broncos can be in future series. In a match where clean sheets can be hard to come by, that kind of spark can go a long way.
Broncos vs. Chiefs odds
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