Chiefs get great news heading into matchup against Colts

The Kansas City Chiefs proved that they're the same team that won back-to-back championships when they took the field in a "Monday Night Football" showdown against the Denver Broncos.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was back and ready to rock, following his ACL and LCL injury. Travis Kelce was on the field for what could be his final season in the NFL.

The Chiefs beat the Broncos definitively, 31-10. It was an impressive showing from this team that went beyond the numbers on the scoreboard.

ESPN has released its official NFL power rankings heading into Week 2, and it reflects the action that went down during the opening weekend of the NFL. In it, the Kansas City Chiefs moved up. Way up.

Chiefs move up five spots in ESPN's NFL power rankings

ESPN ranks the Chiefs No. 8 on the list, up a whopping five spots from their preseason rankings. That's a huge jump, and it shows just how much the analysts were impressed by Kansas City's showing.

New running back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, really impressed.

"For one game at least, Walker was everything the Chiefs could've hoped for, bringing more explosive highlights to their rushing attack," Nate Taylor of ESPN notes. "Walker produced a career-high 173 rushing yards, with his best moment being a breakaway 60-yard touchdown on fourth-and-inches early in the third quarter."

He adds, "His best trait against the Broncos was his elusiveness, as he forced 14 missed tackles, the most by any Chiefs player in a game since 2018. Walker caught a short touchdown pass, too."

This team has a lot to be excited about going forward. If the Chiefs can maintain this level of explosiveness, anything is possible.