The first week of the 2026 NFL season is coming to a close with an intriguing AFC West clash.
The current reigning AFC West champion Denver Broncos will travel to Kansas City to face off against the Chiefs, who recorded their first losing season since 2012 last year as they fell to third in the division and missed the playoffs. Prior to last season, the Chiefs had won the AFC West nine seasons in a row.
Of course, all eyes will be on Patrick Mahomes, who was cleared to return with no limitations for today’s game roughly nine months after tearing his ACL in Week 15 of the 2025 season. Mahomes didn’t suit up for the Chiefs’ preseason, but Broncos QB Bo Nix is also coming back from an injury (a broken ankle suffered in the Divisional Round) and saw some preseason action, going 6 of 9 for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Watch Broncos vs. Chiefs for free
- When: Sept. 14, 8:15 p.m. ET
- Where: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
- How to watch for free: DIRECTV (five-day free trial)
- Channel: ABC and ESPN
As divisonal rivals, the teams met twice last season and both of those one-possession games went to the Broncos. The next time the Chiefs and Broncos meet on the field, it’ll be in Week 8 with a much clearer picture of what these teams’ seasons are looking like.
Here’s how to tune in to Monday Night Football for free.
Broncos vs. Chiefs start time:
The first Monday Night Football of the season, Broncos vs. Chiefs, is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET tonight, Sept. 14, on ESPN and ABC.
How to watch Broncos vs. Chiefs for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream Monday Night Football live for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for trying live TV for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial when you subscribe to the MySports genre pack, which includes both ABC and ESPN, plus access to the ESPN app. You’ll also get $20 off every month for your first six months with the genre pack.
2026 Monday Night Football schedule
| Week | Date | Teams | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 14 | Broncos vs. Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 2 | Sept. 21 | Giants vs. Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 3 | Sept. 28 | Eagles vs. Bears | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 4 | Oct. 5 | Falcons vs. Saints | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 5 | Oct. 12 | Bills vs. Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 6 | Oct. 19 | Commanders vs. 49ers | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 7 | Oct. 26 | Cowboys vs. Eagles | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 8 | Nov. 2 | Bears vs. Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 9 | Nov. 9 | Bills vs. Vikings | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 10 | Nov. 16 | Chargers vs. Ravens | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 11 | Nov. 23 | Bengals vs. Commanders | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 12 | Nov. 30 | Panthers vs. Buccaneers | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 13 | Dec. 7 | Cowboys vs. Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 14 | Dec. 14 | Steelers vs. Jaguars | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 15 | Dec. 21 | Patriots vs. Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN / ABC |
| 16 | Dec. 28 | Giants vs. Lions | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 17 | Jan. 4 | Texans vs. Packers | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
