The NFL schedule-makers really didn't do the Denver Broncos many favors with their schedule to begin the 2026 NFL Season. The Broncos' first six games might be the toughest stretch that any team has in the 2026 season. They'll face five playoff teams from a year ago, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
While the Broncos should end up being better than five of these teams, that doesn't mean these games won't be tough. If the Broncos could find a way to win at least four of their first six games, the team could again reach that 14-win milestone for the second year in a row.
And getting a huge divisional win in Week 1 has to be the start of it all. While the Chiefs are always going to play the Broncos tough, Denver should come into this game with some key advantages.
Denver Broncos have several key advantages over the Chiefs for a major Week 1 tilt
Broncos offensive line vs. Chiefs defensive line
It does feel like the Broncos offensivel line, at this point, is almost unanimously looked at as being the best in the NFL. Bo Nix being able to avoid the sack better than most also helps, but this offensive line features two All-Pros and a high-end tackle duo, which is key.
The Chiefs also don't really have a ton to be worried about along the defensive line. They had just two players last year with more than five sacks - Chris Jones had seven, and George Karlaftis had six. While both had 20+ quarterback hits, not only is Jones now a year older, Karlaftis isn't exactly a high-end rusher.
Kansas City simply doesn't have enough juice along the defensive line to threaten the Broncos offensive line. While that doesn't mean Denver won't face some struggles during the game in the trenches, the Broncos should win this 'war.'
Broncos defensive line vs. Chiefs offensive line
On the flip side, the Broncos defensive line should carry an advantage over most, if not all offensive lines they see this year. The Chiefs haven't seen their franchise left tackle, Josh Simmons, practice for weeks, so it's reasonable to think that his availability for Week 1 is up in the air. And if that's the case, the only legitimately good player on the offensive line the Broncos would have to deal with is Creed Humphrey, who also happens to be the best center in the league.
The Broncos have a handful of legitimate rushers who can get into the backfield, highlighted by Zach Allen, who has led the NFL in QB hits two years in a row.
Broncos pass-catchers vs. Chiefs defensive backs
The Chiefs not only traded their best cornerback in the offseason in Trent McDuffie, but they also lost their second-best CB, Jaylen Watson, in free agency, and they also lost Bryan Cook, their best safety, in free agency.
Right now, the Chiefs' starting secondary, according to their own website, is projected to be L'Jarius Sneed, Nohl Williams, Alohi Gilman, and Chamarri Conner. This just isn't a good enough secondary in today's NFL, and with the Broncos addition of Jaylen Waddle, the team should be able to deploy mismatches across the field.
While the Chiefs secondary isn't filled with bad players, 'good' is about as highly as you can talk about a couple of them, at best. The Broncos should see this advantage play out in Week 1.
Broncos overall roster talent > Chiefs overall roster talent
The Chiefs won just six of Patrick Mahomes 14 starts during the 2025 season, and while some were shocked, others correctly identified that the Chiefs roster talent just isn't nearly what it used to be. The franchise is clearly going through a bit of a transition, as many of their former players who were key in their Super Bowl victories are either not there or getting older.
The front office has to begin hitting on more NFL draft picks to see an unofficial second Chiefs 'era' to begin. Kansas City actually has one of the younger rosters in the NFL. In the present, this roster isn't very good - there aren't many high-end players that the Broncos will have to keep track of. That doesn't mean that can't be the case a few years down the line, but for 2026, Denver's roster is significantly better,
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