Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs Final — September 14, 2026
Final score and result vs the closing line
Denver Broncos 10, Kansas City Chiefs 31
Kansas City Chiefs won by 21.
- Against the closing spread (Kansas City Chiefs -2.5): Kansas City Chiefs covered.
- Combined score 41 vs the closing total of 42.5: Under.
- Kansas City Chiefs closed at -131 on the moneyline (a 54% no-vig market-implied chance).
The pre-game matchup
The Broncos visited the Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, September 14 at 8:15 PM ET in Week 1.
Last season (2025), the Broncos had the 10th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 6th-ranked defense. Meanwhile, the Chiefs had the 11th-ranked offense and the 12th-ranked defense. When the Broncos have the ball, a 10th-ranked offense (+0.050 EPA per play) meets a 12th-ranked defense (−0.019 allowed); when the Chiefs have it, a 11th-ranked offense (+0.035) meets a 6th-ranked defense (−0.088 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Broncos offense was at 44.2% (16th) and the Chiefs offense at 44.5% (14th). Through the air, the Broncos averaged +0.111 EPA per dropback (10th) against a Chiefs pass defense ranked 15th; the Chiefs averaged +0.078 (12th) against a Broncos pass defense ranked 5th. The Broncos scored 23.6 points per game (14th) and allowed 18.3 (3rd); the Chiefs scored 21.3 (21st) and allowed 19.3 (6th). The new season has no games yet, so these are last season's full-season numbers; rosters change over the offseason.
The Chiefs closed as 2.5-point favorites at home against the Broncos. The spread closed where it opened. The total closed 42.5, unchanged from the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Broncos +110, Chiefs -131) prices the Broncos at 46% and the Chiefs at 54%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Tale of the tape
BroncosFull 2025 regular season (last season), captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (32 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: play-by-play via the public NFL Lab tables (raw EPA, not opponent-adjusted).
Coaching and tendencies
| Staff | Broncos | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Sean Payton | Andy Reid |
| Offensive coordinator | Davis Webb | Eric Bieniemy |
| Defensive coordinator | Vance Joseph | Steve Spagnuolo |
Season to date before kickoff, from play-by-play (regular season). Ranks out of 32 teams; for style stats with no better or worse, rank 1 = highest. Coaching staff: Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Injury report
No starters listed out, doubtful or questionable.
- Chamarri Conner SOutKnee
- Josh Simmons TOutBack
Starters (and the primary passer) on the game's official injury report, as of the latest report captured before kickoff.
Travel and schedule
The Broncos travel about 564 miles, moving their body clock 1 hour ahead.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home stadium; time-zone change is at kickoff. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 22 times since 2015: the Broncos won 5 and the Chiefs 17. In the most recent meeting (December 25, 2025), the Broncos won 20-13; the Broncos averaged +0.097 EPA per play; the Chiefs averaged −0.199 EPA per play.
| Date | Score | Spread | Total | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2025 | Broncos 20, Chiefs 13 Broncos won | Broncos -13.5 Chiefs covered | 37.5 under | Broncos +0.097 · Chiefs −0.199 |
| Nov 16, 2025 | Chiefs 19, Broncos 22 Broncos won | Chiefs -3.5 Broncos covered | 44.5 under | Broncos +0.033 · Chiefs +0.045 |
| Jan 5, 2025 | Chiefs 0, Broncos 38 Broncos won | Broncos -10.5 Broncos covered | 40.5 under | Broncos +0.411 · Chiefs −0.449 |
| Nov 10, 2024 | Broncos 14, Chiefs 16 Chiefs won | Chiefs -7.5 Broncos covered | 42.5 under | Broncos +0.073 · Chiefs +0.003 |
| Oct 29, 2023 | Chiefs 9, Broncos 24 Broncos won | Chiefs -7 Broncos covered | 45.5 under | Broncos −0.068 · Chiefs −0.317 |
The last five meetings since 2015, most recent first. Spread and total are the nflverse closing lines.
Closing line and line movement
Broncos +2.5 (-105)
Broncos +2.5 (-115)
Chiefs -146 57%
Chiefs -131 54%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Dig deeper
Teams
Denver Broncos
- Denver Broncos team stats
- Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers (Oct 4)
- Los Angeles Rams 26, Denver Broncos 30 (Sep 27)
- Jacksonville Jaguars 13, Denver Broncos 20 (Sep 20)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kansas City Chiefs team stats
- Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders (Oct 4)
- Kansas City Chiefs 24, Miami Dolphins 10 (Sep 27)
- Indianapolis Colts 30, Kansas City Chiefs 33 (Sep 20)
Gridiron & Wine graded a pick on this game: see the archived pick.
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