Patrick Mahomes made it clear he never had any concerns about Travis Kelce’s slower-than-usual start to the 2024 season. Despite criticism surrounding the star tight end after a lackluster beginning to the year, Kelce silenced his doubters with a standout performance in the Chiefs’ 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Kelce, who had faced scrutiny for only tallying eight catches and 69 yards over Kansas City’s first three games, came roaring back in Week 4. He hauled in seven receptions for 89 yards, helping the Chiefs improve to an undefeated 4-0.
This game marked a significant turnaround for the 34-year-old veteran, showing why he remains a key asset for the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
Ahead of the game, several of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates showed their support by sporting custom t-shirts featuring his name and picture, making it clear they had full faith in him despite his slow start. Mahomes, too, shared that he never doubted his longtime teammate’s ability to deliver when it mattered most.
RELATED: Travis Kelce Spends $70,000 on Lavish Gifts for Patrick Mahomes’ Birthday
“The whole Kelce thing, in general, hasn’t been a worry to me,” Mahomes said after the game. “I know whenever we need him, he’s going to make plays. That’s exactly what he did today.”
Mahomes pointed out that Kelce’s resurgence was a combination of factors, including adjustments in the game plan. The Chiefs had to adapt after wide receiver Rashee Rice collided with Mahomes early in the game, limiting Rice’s involvement moving forward. This meant Kelce had to step into a high-volume role, which played to his strengths.
“I think it’s a mixture of everything,” Mahomes explained. “With Rashee going down early, you’ve got to factor that in. And you’ve got to put Kelce back in that situation where he’s getting high-volume catches. The Chargers also took away some of our outside options, which opened up the middle of the field. We were able to exploit that and get the ball to Trav in some of those zone coverages.”
The game also proved to be a historic one for Kelce. Early in the first quarter, he broke a long-standing Kansas City Chiefs franchise record, previously held by Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Kelce’s 917th reception put him ahead of Gonzalez, who had held the record with 916 catches. The accomplishment came at SoFi Stadium, as Kelce helped propel his team to victory with his game-changing contributions.
Notably absent from the game was Taylor Swift, who had garnered significant attention for attending previous Chiefs games to support Kelce. Nonetheless, the tight end’s focus remained on the field, and his record-breaking performance spoke volumes.
As the Chiefs move forward in their quest for another Super Bowl title, Mahomes’ trust in Kelce remains unshaken.
Even when faced with a rough start, the duo’s chemistry and Kelce’s ability to come through in clutch moments prove why they’re one of the most formidable quarterback-tight end pairs in NFL history.
