DENVER (AP) – The Denver Broncos retooled their roster to put an emphasis on defense after losing to Indianapolis in the playoffs.

The Kansas City Chiefs brought in a new defensive coordinator after – you guessed it – a playoff loss to the Colts.

It won’t take the rivals long to find out if the changes did any good. Opening the season tonight against each other, the Broncos and Chiefs will be tested right away in a series known more for big plays than defensive stands.

“I definitely think it’ll be good for us,” Broncos cornerback Lenny Walls said. “We’re going to have to play them twice in the season anyway, so we might as well do it in the first game and see where we stand.”

Always known as one of the game’s best innovators on offense, coach Mike Shanahan shifted his focus to making Denver better on defense. The Broncos made the secondary, once a weak point, a strength by adding cornerback Champ Bailey and safety John Lynch.

Denver also used its first-round draft pick on speedy Miami linebacker D.J. Williams and added veterans Luther Elliss, Marco Coleman and Raylee Johnson to help up front.

The new-look Broncos should get an idea of where they stand right out of the gate, facing a Chiefs team that led the league in scoring.

“The defense has definitely changed and I’d say they have changed for the best,” Holmes said.

Kansas City’s troubles came a week after Denver’s debacle in Indy. The Colts didn’t have to punt once and wracked up 434 yards in a 38-31 victory that sent them to the AFC championship game.

It wasn’t much of a surprise because Kansas City finished 29th in total defense in the regular season, but it was enough for coach Dick Vermeil. He fired defensive coordinator Greg Robinson and brought in former Chiefs head coach Gunther Cunningham.

Cunningham was Kansas City’s defensive coordinator from 1995-98 when players such as Neil Smith, James Hasty and Derrick Thomas made up one of the league’s best defenses. Cunningham has brought back the aggressive, attacking style from the glory years, discarding the read-and-react system Robinson used.

“They are playing a lot faster with a lot more energy, I think,” Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer said. “They are obviously motivated to step it up. I think they are tired of hearing the defense is the weak part of their team.”

The changes on both sides are nice, but this isn’t a rivalry that’s been conducive to low-scoring, field-position games.

The teams have combined for 47 points in each of the past five meetings and the winning team has eclipsed 30 points three times. The Chiefs won the first meeting last season 24-23 behind Dante Hall’s can-you-believe-he-just-did-that 93-yard punt return for a touchdown.

The Broncos responded with a resounding 45-27 victory behind Clinton Portis’ 218-yard, five-touchdown day in Denver.

“I know our defense is looking forward to it,” Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce said.

Of course, if it is a low-scoring game, it could come down to special teams. Give the Broncos the advantage there as they try to give Shanahan his 100th coaching victory.

Denver kicker Jason Elam has been one of the NFL’s best in his 12 seasons and punter Micah Knorr has been steady since joining the Broncos midway through the 2002 season.

The Chiefs? They’re going into the opener with a pair of NFL newcomers.

Punter Steve Cheek was acquired from Houston the last week of preseason after incumbent Jason Baker kicked himself into Vermeil’s doghouse. He’s been with five teams in four years, but hadn’t seen game action until last week’s preseason finale against Dallas.

Also gone is Morten Andersen, the league’s No. 2 all-time scorer. In his place is Lawrence Tynes, a former CFL player who also hasn’t played in the NFL before.

So in other words, if things get tight, it could get dicey for the Chiefs.

“I live in a state of concern. I think all head coaches live in a state of concern,” Vermeil said. “Obviously, I did what I felt we had to do not only for the league opener but for the season. If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong. I’ve been wrong before, I’ve been right before.”

AP-ES-09-09-04 1423EDT