Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos Prediction, Tips & Odds

The Week 1 finale, a genuine AFC West rivalry to close out the slate. Denver added Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster trade to open up their offense, and if by some miracle Patrick Mahomes comes back playing at his usual superhuman level given the recovery timeline off that ACL tear, Kansas City will be competitive all year the way they always seem to be, even if they’re not quite the juggernaut of old.

This is a great way to close out Week 1, and I think it could genuinely be a shootout, even though I’d rate Denver’s defense as the better unit. They had top sack numbers as a defense last year and allowed very few as an offensive line, which is about as good a combination as you can ask for.

The Broncos won a lot of tight, close games last year in the final minute, and the usual argument is regression is coming. I actually think the opposite, I think Denver could be onto something special. For Kansas City, this might be the last year we see Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice is back to start the season, and I’m keen to see more out of rookie Cyrus Allen, who impressed in the preseason.

The big question mark is what Mahomes looks like off the back of a serious injury. If we’re drawing Tom Brady comparisons, Brady came back from his own injury and had another Hall of Fame stretch. Is that on the cards for Mahomes? Beat your rival in Week 1 and I’ll believe it.

I’m taking the Broncos.