The Denver Broncos will open their 2026 season with a Monday Night Football matchup against division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, after falling just short of a Super Bowl appearance last season. Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Troy Aikman, who is set to call the game, recently shared his excitement for the matchup during an appearance on Get Up while also praising Sean Payton for navigating the adversity that came with Bo Nix’s injury situation last season.

“You could argue that they (Broncos) were a quarterback injury away from making it to the Super Bowl,” Aikman said. “It’s unfortunate for that organization, but what a great job Sean Payton has done.”

For a good stretch of years now, the Chiefs have controlled the AFC West behind Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. The Broncos, on the other hand, have endured a playoff drought for nearly a decade after winning Super Bowl 50. However, things slowly started to shift in the AFC West when Payton drafted Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL draft. The QB helped Denver become a formidable side in his rookie season, helping end the team’s eight-year playoff drought.

In Year 2, Nix took another step forward. Under Payton’s system, the quarterback led Denver to a 14-3 record, secured the AFC’s top seed, and helped the Broncos take control of the division. However, in the divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, he suffered a broken ankle, but decided to complete the game. He threw for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while adding 29 rushing yards to help the Broncos secure a 33-30 overtime win.

The injury ended Nix’s postseason and the Broncos’ hopes of making the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade. Against the New England Patriots, in the AFC title game, they started with Jarrett Stidham. The backup quarterback went 17-of-31 for 133 yards, one touchdown, and 1 pick, as the Patriots defeated the Broncos 10-7.

Had Nix stayed healthy, the Broncos had an opportunity to give a tough fight and make the Super Bowl. After all, Sean Payton rebuilt the Broncos into a legitimate contender with Nix running the offense in his second year. Still, as Troy Aikman noted, after a successful season, the Broncos remained just an injury away from potentially changing the entire AFC picture.

His stats from last season exactly show why Nix was the key piece for the Broncos. He threw for 3,931 yards with a completion rate of 63.4%. While these may not stand out, Nix’s impact was felt throughout the season, and in the all-important game when he did not feature, things did not go well for the Broncos.

With the Broncos set to face the Chiefs in their season opener, the former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst believes that the divisional matchup will put the spotlight back on Denver as a serious contender in the AFC West.

Week 1 matchup against the Chiefs could set the tone for the Broncos

As the NFL officially announced the Week 1 schedule for the Broncos, Troy Aikman explained why opening the season against a division rival could be important for Denver after coming off a successful year and narrowly missing a Super Bowl appearance.

“To kick that off week one in a divisional game, I always liked that as a player when you opened up against a divisional opponent and kind of helped set the tone in what is a very competitive division.”

The Broncos’ opening the season against the Chiefs brings multiple storylines into play at once. For starters, it is a primetime season opener between two AFC West rivals expected to compete for the division title. At the same time, the matchup could also potentially feature the return of both starting quarterbacks from major injuries: Bo Nix recovering from a broken ankle and Patrick Mahomes working his way back from ACL and LCL tears.

According to ESPN, Nix underwent a second procedure last month related to his ankle recovery. As that unfolded, Sean Payton addressed both the injury and the quarterback’s timeline to return.

“The follow-up procedure was not a surprise. No surprises. We feel real good about where he’s sat…[Nix]’s doing great. He’ll be well ahead of time for training camp. I think there’s a good chance we see him in this offseason program in June. We’re gonna be the ones kind of holding him back.”

Mahomes, meanwhile, is uncertain to make a return during the Chiefs’ offseason program. And while the quarterback has expressed his optimism to make a Week 1 return, that will highly depend on how his doctors, Andy Reid, and the organization feel about his recovery progress. In his absence, the Chiefs will continue the offseason program with Justin Fields taking the reps, starting from the OTAs.

Hopes will be that both the star QBs are fit for the season opener on Monday Night Football on September 14. The Chiefs have their divisional pride to play for, while the Broncos will be looking to establish their status as the new dominant force in the AFC West.