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Walker Stars in Chiefs Debut, Mahomes Shows Work Paid Off
Confirmed
In Short: Kenneth Walker made a significant impact in his Chiefs debut, rushing for 173 yards and scoring twice, while Patrick Mahomes returned from injury to lead the team to a 31-10 victory.
Kenneth Walker, the Most Valuable Player for the Seattle Seahawks in last season's Super Bowl, had a standout performance in his Kansas City Chiefs debut, rushing for a career-high 173 yards and scoring twice. Patrick Mahomes, who returned from a knee injury, contributed with a touchdown run and two more passing scores, leading the Chiefs to a decisive win over the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes expressed confidence in Walker, stating, 'I've been saying it all off-season that K9 is going to make a difference.' The Chiefs' offensive line, however, faced challenges with the left tackle out for the game, starting an undrafted rookie Khalil Benson in his place.
The Chiefs had won the AFC West division for nine consecutive seasons before last year's slump, and now they are eager to reclaim their top spot. Walker's performance and Mahomes' return are crucial for the team's success, as they look to improve their record and compete for the division title.
According to reports, the Chiefs signed Walker to a three-year, $43 million contract to carry the load next to Mahomes in the backfield. Mahomes' return to the lineup after a torn ACL injury is a significant boost for the team, but the Chiefs will need him to be more efficient in his passing game to ensure success.
What's confirmed
- Kenneth Walker, the Most Valuable Player for the Seattle Seahawks in last season's Super Bowl, had a standout performance in his Kansas City Chiefs debut, rushing for a career-high 173 yards and scoring twice. Patrick Mahomes, who returned from a knee injury, contributed with a touchdown run and two more passing scores, leading the Chiefs to a decisive win over the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
- Mahomes expressed confidence in Walker, stating, 'I've been saying it all off-season that K9 is going to make a difference.' The Chiefs' offensive line, however, faced challenges with the left tackle out for the game, starting an undrafted rookie Khalil Benson in his place.
- The Chiefs had won the AFC West division for nine consecutive seasons before last year's slump, and now they are eager to reclaim their top spot. Walker's performance and Mahomes' return are crucial for the team's success, as they look to improve their record and compete for the division title.
- According to reports, the Chiefs signed Walker to a three-year, $43 million contract to carry the load next to Mahomes in the backfield. Mahomes' return to the lineup after a torn ACL injury is a significant boost for the team, but the Chiefs will need him to be more efficient in his passing game to ensure success.
What's still developing
- Three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce moved second on the NFL's all-time list for most receiving yards by a tight end with a 59-yard play for the Chiefs.
- Only former Chiefs star Tony Gonzalez (15,127) has more receiving yards in the position than Kelce (13,073).
- He's already said he won't run as often in his return from an ACL tear, so the Chiefs will need him to get back to being a more efficient passer in order to have success offensively.
- In the final game of Week 1, the Kansas City Chiefs host division rival Denver Broncos on "Monday Night Football." Kansas City enters this game coming off a dreadful season, having gone just 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
- And all of that was just the appetizer for the biggest blow, which was Patrick Mahomes suffering a torn ACL toward the end of the year.
- Follow along for updates on the Broncos-Chiefs in our live blog Mahomes finished last season with a career-low 62.7% completion rate, and he averaged only 7.1 yards per attempt.