Mahomes returns to lead Chiefs to Week 1 win over Broncos

Patrick Mahomes returned from a knee injury to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a Monday Night Football win over the Denver Broncos in Week 1. The victory came nine months to the day after Mahomes suffered an ACL injury.

Mahomes finished 15 of 27 for 184 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He silenced doubts early, scrambling up the middle and diving for a 15-yard touchdown run on the Chiefs’ opening drive.

“To be able to do that against that defense, it was big,” Mahomes said. “It kind of gave me the confidence I could go out there and be myself.”

Mahomes said the run marked a turning point in his recovery.

“I want to get some of these passes down the field a little bit more, but that was definitely the moment, physically, that I could say all this work’s paid off,” he said. “I didn’t feel anything.”

The Chiefs passing game got off to a rough start, but Mahomes found his rhythm as the game went on. He had spent the offseason and summer rehabbing since his injury.

“I’ve done so much rehab and so much work to put myself in this position,” Mahomes said. “I just wanted to get out there and play. This is what you do it for.”

Mahomes credited his teammates for picking him up.

“I feel like I didn’t play my best football,” he said. “We still were able to go out there and beat a really good football team cause the guys around me stepped up and knew that they were gonna have to help me as I kind of get back into the rhythm of things.”

Running back Kenneth Walker carried the offense in his debut. He finished with 23 carries for 173 yards after the Chiefs brought him in to revitalize the run game.