But openers don’t always go as planned. Last season, when the Chiefs played their preseason opener at Jacksonville, Patrick Mahomes played the first series, leading the Chiefs to a field goal. Backup Carson Wentz entered the game for the second series, in the first quarter. Before halftime, then-third team quarterback Chris Oladokun led a drive.

Kansas City’s quarterback and leader is pushing his peers right from the jump. Plus, the team’s depth appears to be in much better shape than last year.

Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes is confident that he can raise his Madden NFL 26 player rating to 99 overall once again.