Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce remains unconcerned about his individual statistics, as the team maintains an undefeated record.
In the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, Kelce stated, “I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man. I’m not worried about the catches and the yards and all of that. I have the most fun when I get the ball thrown my way. It has everything to do with execution and just making sure that we’re doing whatever we can to win these football games.” He emphasized that while the Chiefs are currently 3-0, there is still room for improvement: “We’re finding ways to win games and we’re not playing our best football. Everybody can clean it up.”
Despite his contributions, Kelce’s impact on the stat sheet has been limited. He has caught 8 of his 12 targets for 69 yards without scoring a touchdown. In the recent victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he registered four catches for 30 yards. Kelce acknowledged the challenge of creating big plays downfield, attributing it to the strategies of opposing defenses: “I’m not using that as an excuse. Moving forward, still trying to make sure that I can help the team out in that regard, knowing that I’ve been that weapon for us in the past.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid supported Kelce’s perspective. Mahomes noted, “We’re calling the plays to throw him the ball, but the defenses are really, really accounting for him. I mean, some of these plays on these play-actions, I turn around and there’s two or three guys looking at him, and it gets other guys open. That’s all you can do is take it to whoever is open, and we have to continue to execute.” Reid added, “Trav is fine. … He hasn’t lost a step. He’s not distracted. That’s not the case. … (Defenses) are making sure they have him taken care of.”
Kelce expressed pride in teammates such as Rashee Rice and rookie running back Carson Steele, who have excelled recently. The Chiefs are currently tied for seventh in points per game with an average of 25 and are recording 328 total yards per game. Mahomes also conveyed confidence in Kelce’s abilities, stating that he knows the tight end will “make plays whenever his number is called in big moments.” He warned that opponents will need to adjust their coverage or risk allowing Rice to post significant yardage this season.
The Chiefs aim to maintain their unbeaten streak this Sunday when they face the Los Angeles Chargers, who currently hold a 2-1 record, at SoFi Stadium.
