The Kansas City Chiefs not only rushed for 220 yards as a team against the Denver Broncos in Week 1, but also ran the ball with physicality, using formations with multiple backs and extra linemen.
On some short-yardage plays, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and offensive lineman Josh Ezeudu joined the starting offensive line. The latter was recently acquired from the New York Giants, but it didn’t take him long to understand Kansas City’s offensive philosophy this season.
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The latest Kansas City Chiefs news
Upon Further Review: The Chiefs’ Jumbo Commitment To Run Game Pays Dividends | FOX Sports
One of those bonus linemen on the 60-yard touchdown was Josh Ezeudu, acquired from the Giants at the end of preseason for a 2028 seventh-round pick, and he’s quickly learned how much his new team values owning the line of scrimmage.
“I’ve only been here about three weeks now, but something that’s emphasized here is being physical,” Ezeudu told me. “We’re going to run that motherf—ing ball. I’m sorry, but it’s something we take pride in.”
Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 Snap Count Observations: Khyiris Tonga flexes versatility, Cyrus Allen with few opportunities | A to Z Sports
“Me and (Khyiris) Tonga, we always talk. I’m saying that’s one of my best friends on the team. Really, you know, he knows my dad and everything. Having everybody come in there, like the bigs, they just make big holes. You just run through them, and you know, they make our job a lot easier.”
Tonga also played nearly 50% of the team’s snaps on defense, and played on special teams. That’s quite a Week 1 contribution from the 2026 free-agent signing.
Chiefs receive a crucial update on rookie DB Mansoor Delane’s injury | Chiefs Wire
The Kansas City Chiefs impressively began the 2026 season with their dominant victory over the defending AFC West champions. The victory was bittersweet as their 2026 first-round pick was injured and unable to return early in the game.
According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Chiefs rookie defensive back Mansoor Delane should miss minimal time with his shoulder injury. Delane suffered the injury early in the first quarter in the Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Biggest Winners and Losers From Chiefs’ Week 1 Win Over the Denver Broncos | Sports Illustrated
Special Teams
The punting and kicking were about the only two things the Chiefs got right in the kicking game Thursday. Matt Araiza boomed four punts for an average of 54.5 yards, pinning two inside the 20, while Harrison Butker went 1-for-1 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points.
The return and coverage units were another story, and they handed Denver a real edge in field position frequently. Kansas City was flagged seven times, but four of those penalties came on special teams.
Kansas City Chiefs’ lopsided victory Monday capped a quirky first in NFL history | The Kansas City Star
Andy Reid ties Bill Belichick Tight end Travis Kelce wasn’t the only one to move up on a career NFL list during the Chiefs’ lopsided win.
Reid got the 18th win in a season-opening game, which tied former Patriots coach Bill Belichick for the second-most in NFL history. Only former Cowboys coach Tom Landry had more with 21 as X user NFL Researcher noted earlier this month.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce named victim in $25 million fraud scheme | KY3
A 2021 Forbes article states Kelce was an investor in a fund created by Swiftarc, which the defendant, Sid Jawahar, co-founded.
Jawahar pleaded guilty in January to federal wire fraud charges related to an investment scheme. Prosecutors said Jawahar used money made from new investors to repay older financiers “and to fuel an extravagant lifestyle that included flights on private planes, stays at luxury hotels and expensive outings at fancy restaurants.”
Around the NFL
Sean Payton ‘never heard’ about Drew Brees’ comeback attempt with Broncos in playoffs | The Athletic
“I just know that I was the odd man out,” Payton said after the Broncos suffered a 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. “I never heard anything about it. It never came to anything. I was only told about it later, so I was just like you guys.”
No comeback ever materialized for Brees, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in July, with Payton presenting.
Payton said Tuesday he heard the story during the Hall of Fame weekend about Lombardi and Carmichael approaching Brees, but Payton thought they meant it happened during the 2020 season, when Brees missed four games due to injury.
Source: Chargers signing Valdes-Scantling to practice squad | ESPN
A fifth-round choice in 2018 out of South Florida, Valdez-Scantling spent training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, but the team released him when it cut its roster to 53 players.
Valdes-Scantling’s signing comes after Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals in which wide receivers Ladd McConkey (rib), KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) and Derius Davis (undisclosed) were injured. On Tuesday, the Chargers put Lambert-Smith on injured reserve, meaning he’ll sit out at least four games.
Ben Johnson suggests he wanted Bears to score 60 points at Carolina | Pro Football Talk
In a Monday interview of coach Ben Johnson on ESPN 1000, Jeff Joniak said this about the 59-37 win over the Bears: “At that point I was hoping for 60. I was thinking a two-point try at some point.”
Johnson paused, smiled, and said, “I don’t think you were the only one.”
It’s on brand for Johnson. He wants to score a lot of points. He wants to blow teams out. Whenever, wherever, however.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
5 things we learned about the Chiefs from Week 1 win over Denver
This team is going to be hard to pass against
The severity of rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane’s injury hurts this defense. He is a special talent who looks like a cornerstone you can build around for years to come. But even without Delane for most of Monday night, the Chiefs secondary locked down Denver’s vaunted wide receivers, holding Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton to three receptions for 13 yards.
Do I think this performance was an outlier?
Nope.
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