The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 31-10 on Monday Night Football on September 14, 2026. The score tells you who won, but the player stats tell you why. One running back had a huge night, one quarterback was sacked four times, and the Chiefs had the ball for almost eight more minutes than Denver.
In this article, we go through the Chiefs vs Broncos match player stats in simple words. We look at the passers, the runners, the receivers, and the defenders. We also compare this game with the last few meetings between these two teams, so you can see how the rivalry looks right now.
Quick Look at the Game
Here are the main facts before we go deeper.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, September 14, 2026 |
| Place | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Final score | Chiefs 31, Broncos 10 |
| Top runner | Kenneth Walker III (173 yards, 23 carries, 1 touchdown) |
| Top passer, Chiefs | Patrick Mahomes (184 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception) |
| Top passer, Broncos | Bo Nix (131 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) |
| Total yards | Chiefs 392, Broncos 176 |
The Chiefs also won on the clock. They kept the ball for 33 minutes and 42 seconds. Denver had it for 26 minutes and 18 seconds. That gap matters, because a team that holds the ball also keeps the other team’s star players on the sideline.
How the Score Changed in Each Quarter
The first quarter was the only close one. After that, Kansas City pulled away.
| Quarter | Chiefs | Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | 7 |
| 2nd | 7 | 0 |
| 3rd | 10 | 3 |
| 4th | 7 | 0 |
| Final | 31 | 10 |
Here is how the scoring went:
- Patrick Mahomes ran 15 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Harrison Butker kicked the extra point.
- Bo Nix threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram. Wil Lutz kicked the extra point, and the game was tied 7-7.
- Just before halftime, Mahomes threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rashee Rice. Kansas City led 14-7.
- In the third quarter, Kenneth Walker III ran 60 yards for a touchdown. That made it 21-7.
- Lutz kicked a 31-yard field goal for Denver, and Butker answered with a 28-yard field goal for Kansas City.
- In the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Walker. The final score was 31-10.
Denver did not score at all in the fourth quarter. In the second half, the Chiefs outscored the Broncos 17-3.
Kansas City Chiefs Player Stats
Kenneth Walker III, Running Back
Walker was the player of the night. He ran 23 times for 173 yards, which is about 7.5 yards each time he touched the ball. His longest run was 60 yards, and it ended in a touchdown. He also caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes, so he scored two touchdowns in total.
His numbers look even bigger when you check the rest of the team. The Chiefs ran for 220 yards in total. Walker had 173 of them, so the other runners and Mahomes added 47 yards combined. Kansas City’s running game was mostly Walker.
Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback
Mahomes finished 15 for 27 with 184 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and one interception. That is not a huge passing line by his standards. But he found other ways to help. He ran 15 yards for a touchdown on the Chiefs’ first score, and he was sacked only twice. ESPN’s game recap also said he looked healthy, which is good news for Kansas City fans.
Mahomes’ passer rating for the game was 86.0. A rating around 85 to 90 is a solid night for a quarterback, especially when the team is winning easily and does not need to throw much.
Receivers
The Chiefs completed 15 passes as a team, and the best moments came from a few players:
- Travis Kelce caught 3 passes for 71 yards. He was the Chiefs’ top receiver by yards.
- Rashee Rice caught the 13-yard touchdown pass just before halftime.
- Kenneth Walker III also caught a touchdown pass, which shows how much the Chiefs used him in different ways.
One passing play went for 59 yards, which was the longest of the game for Kansas City.
Kicker
Harrison Butker made all of his kicks. He hit four extra points and one 28-yard field goal. Kansas City punted four times, and the average punt was 54.5 yards.
Denver Broncos Player Stats
Bo Nix, Quarterback
Nix had a hard night. He finished 17 for 28 with 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His passer rating was 69.2. The Chiefs sacked him four times for 16 yards, so Denver’s net passing yards were only 115.
There was one good moment. Nix threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram to tie the game in the first quarter. After that, Denver could not keep the offense moving.
Evan Engram, Tight End
Engram caught 4 passes for 43 yards and the Broncos’ only touchdown. He was one of the few Denver players who had a clear impact on the scoreboard.
Running Game
Denver had a very small running game. The team ran only 15 times for 61 yards, an average of 4.1 yards per carry. J.K. Dobbins carried the ball 8 times for 36 yards, and he was the top runner for the Broncos.
The low number of runs tells its own story. When a team is behind, it often has to throw more, and Denver was behind for most of the second half. Kansas City had 38 rushing plays, so the Chiefs were able to run the clock and protect the lead.
Kicker and Punter
Wil Lutz kicked one field goal from 31 yards and made his one extra-point try. Denver punted six times with an average of 52.3 yards per kick. Three of those punts landed inside the 20-yard line, so the punter did solid work on a night when the offense struggled.
Defense: Who Made Plays?
The defensive stats help explain the big gap in the score.
Sacks. The Chiefs sacked Nix four times. Denver sacked Mahomes twice. ESPN lists Zach Allen with two sacks, and Nohl Williams with one.
Tackles. ESPN lists Alex Singleton with 16 tackles, five of them solo. L’Jarius Sneed had 8 tackles, seven of them solo. These numbers show which defenders were busy all night.
Turnovers. Both teams threw one interception. But Denver also lost a fumble, so the Broncos gave the ball away twice and the Chiefs only once.
Missed tackles. The game data shows that Denver missed far more tackles than Kansas City. Kansas City’s runners also gained 173 yards after contact, which means Denver often touched them but did not bring them down.
Team Stats Side by Side
| Stat | Chiefs | Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 392 | 176 |
| Rushing yards | 220 | 61 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 131 |
| First downs | 19 | 9 |
| Sacks made | 4 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties | 7 for 60 yards | 7 for 52 yards |
| Time of possession | 33:42 | 26:18 |
The Chiefs had more than double the yards and more than double the first downs. The one stat that was equal was penalties, since each team was flagged seven times.
What These Stats Mean in Simple Words
If you are new to football, some of these numbers can feel confusing. Here is a short guide.
- Yards per carry: This is how far a runner goes each time he runs with the ball. Anything above 4.5 is good. Walker’s 7.5 is excellent.
- Passer rating: This is a score for a quarterback based on completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. The top score is 158.3. A score near 90 is good, and a score near 70 is below average.
- Sacks: A sack happens when a defender tackles the quarterback before he can throw. It loses yards and often ends a drive.
- Time of possession: This is how long a team keeps the ball. More time with the ball usually means more chances to score, and it keeps the other offense off the field.
- Turnovers: These are interceptions and lost fumbles. They give the ball to the other team.
What Happened in the Last Few Meetings?
This game was not the first time these teams met recently, and the results have been very different. Here is a short look back.
| Date | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 5, 2025 | Broncos 38, Chiefs 0 | Bo Nix threw for 321 yards and 4 touchdowns. This was Denver’s biggest win in the series. |
| Nov 16, 2025 | Broncos 22, Chiefs 19 | Wil Lutz kicked a field goal at the end of the game to give Denver the win. |
| Dec 25, 2025 | Broncos 20, Chiefs 13 | Chris Oladokun played quarterback for Kansas City and completed 13 of 22 passes. |
| Sep 14, 2026 | Chiefs 31, Broncos 10 | Kenneth Walker III ran for 173 yards. |
In the November 2025 game, Mahomes threw for 276 yards and Nix threw for 295 yards. Travis Kelce had 9 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, and Kareem Hunt scored on a short run. The game was close until the final seconds.
So Denver won all three of the games in the table above before the 2026 meeting. The Chiefs answered with a clear win at home.
The Bigger Picture of the Rivalry
The Broncos and Chiefs have played 133 times, including one playoff game. Kansas City leads the series 74-59. Denver won the playoff game.
The Chiefs once won 16 games in a row against Denver, from 2015 to 2023. That is the longest win streak in the series. Denver has won several of the recent meetings, so the rivalry feels more balanced now than it did a few years ago.
What to Watch in the Next Game
The two teams meet again on Sunday, November 1, 2026, this time in Denver. Here are a few things fans may want to watch:
- Can Denver stop the run? Walker’s big night shows that missed tackles can turn a short run into a touchdown.
- Can Nix get more time to throw? He was sacked four times in September. If Denver’s line gives him more room, the passing game could look very different.
- Will Mahomes throw more? In the September game, the Chiefs did not need many passes. A closer game could mean more work for Kelce and Rice.
- Home field in Denver. Games at Empower Field at Mile High can be loud and hard for visiting teams. The Chiefs will face a different crowd than the one they had at Arrowhead.
Final Thoughts
The Chiefs vs Broncos match player stats show a clear story. Kenneth Walker III ran through the Denver defense, Patrick Mahomes made smart plays with his arm and his legs, and Kansas City’s defense sacked Bo Nix four times. Denver had a few bright moments, like Evan Engram’s touchdown catch, but the Broncos could not keep up.
The rivalry is still close over the last two seasons, though, and the next meeting in Denver on November 1 should be interesting. If you like to follow player stats, keep an eye on Walker’s carries, Nix’s time to throw, and the turnover battle. Those three numbers could decide the next game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the best player in the Chiefs vs Broncos game on September 14, 2026?
Kenneth Walker III was the best player. He ran for 173 yards on 23 carries and scored a 60-yard rushing touchdown. He also caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes, so he scored twice.
What was the final score of the Chiefs vs Broncos game?
The Kansas City Chiefs won 31-10. The Chiefs led 14-7 at halftime and scored 17 more points in the second half, while Denver only added a field goal.
When do the Chiefs and Broncos play again?
The next game is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Denver. Schedules can change, so check the official NFL website or your local TV guide before game day.
