Travis Kelce could be entering the final stretch of games of his storied NFL career and facing an unusual situation — the Kansas City Chiefs out of the playoff picture.
The Chiefs had a chance to make a statement on Sunday, facing the division-leading Denver Broncos after their bye week. But the Chiefs looked disjointed, failing to move the ball at the end of the game as Denver erased a late deficit and won 22-19. The loss delivered a serious blow to the already precarious playoff hopes for the defending AFC champions.
After the game, Kelce wasn’t in the mood to talk to reporters, but did deliver a dire statement on the future of the team.
Travis Kelce Not Talking About Team’s Record
Kelce led the way for the Chiefs on Sunday, making nine receptions for 90 yards with a touchdown, but saw the offense stall out when it mattered most. After taking a late three-point lead, the Chiefs went three-and-out on their final two drives, allowing Denver to march on to two field-goal drives to win the game.
The loss dropped the Chiefs to 5-5, making a near-impossible deficit in the division while dropping them further out of a wild-card spot. The Chiefs finished the day in ninth place in the AFC.
Kelce said after the game that he didn’t want to talk to reporters, but made it clear that he’s not thinking about the team’s now dire record.
“If you’re going to ask me about the record, I could care less about that right now,” he said.
Kelce’s future in the NFL remains unclear. He considered retirement last offseason but ultimately decided to return for the final year of his contract with the Chiefs.
In an appearance on the “Bussin with the Boys” podcast in July, Kelce made it clear that he’s not making plans beyond the current season.
“I’m focused on this one. I don’t know what next year is going to feel like,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to feel like in March or April next year when I make that decision.”
Travis Kelce’s Teammate Taking the Blame
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes did speak to reporters after the game, saying the fourth-quarter struggles were his fault. Mahomes said he needs to be more consistent and avoid mistakes.
“I think we’re really talented and we’ve got a lot of great players, but it’s about being more consistent. I think it starts with me,” Mahomes said. “There’s times where I’m firing and we’re moving the ball down the field at ease. But there’s times where we go in spurts where I miss a throw or a [pass] protection call.
“We haven’t been consistent enough to win games. It starts with me.”
Mahomes pointed to a missed opportunity on the game’s opening drive, when he missed a deep pass to wide receiver Xavier Worthy even though Kelce was open underneath.
“I’ve just got to make the throw,” Mahomes said. “There’s no other way around it. The play was designed for [tight end] Travis [Kelce] — and I think Travis is wide open — but you have these alerts in your plays and how [safety Brandon Jones] was sitting with Xavier’s speed, I knew he was going to have a chance down the field. I’ve just got to give him a chance. I miss that one.”
