Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs extended their undefeated start to the season with a 22–17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. However, while the team is cruising at 3–0, Kelce’s struggles to produce big numbers continued, raising questions about the star tight end’s performance. Kelce caught just four passes for 30 yards and has yet to score a touchdown this season, marking the third straight game in which he’s failed to find the end zone.
In Week 2, Kelce’s impact was similarly limited, with just one catch for five yards in the Chiefs’ nail-biting win over the Cincinnati Bengals. His season totals now stand at a mere 69 receiving yards, far below the explosive output fans and the Chiefs are accustomed to seeing from their veteran playmaker. The 34-year-old, who has long been one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ favorite targets, has not yet returned to the dominant form that’s made him one of the most feared offensive weapons in the NFL.
Following Sunday’s game, Mahomes addressed Kelce’s early-season struggles and provided insight into the reasons behind his star tight end’s limited production. According to Mahomes, defenses are heavily focusing on Kelce, deploying multiple defenders to shadow him on every play.
“It’s crazy because the respect factor teams have for Travis is unreal, and it’s well-deserved,” Mahomes said. “We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three defenders are going to him. That’s the great thing about him—he wants to make an impact on the game, but he wants to win at the end of the day.”
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Mahomes emphasized that Kelce’s presence on the field is still making a difference, even if it’s not always showing up on the stat sheet. By drawing multiple defenders, Kelce is opening up opportunities for other players on the Chiefs’ offense. “I’m going to do my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he’s there, whenever he’s open,” Mahomes added. “But I think the more Rashee [Rice] makes plays, the more we’re able to run the football, and the more we get [Xavier] Worthy involved, that’s going to open Travis up more. People are really emphasizing taking him away, and that’s getting other guys open.”
Mahomes’ explanation offers a deeper understanding of how defenses are scheming against Kelce. Opposing teams are clearly aware of Kelce’s potential to change the course of a game and are doing everything they can to neutralize him, even if it means leaving other receivers with more space to operate. Mahomes’ comments suggest that the Chiefs are confident Kelce’s breakout game is coming, as soon as other players start capitalizing on the attention he’s drawing.
Kelce’s slow start has raised eyebrows, especially for a player who has been a central figure in Kansas City’s high-powered offense for years. However, Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid appear to be patient, understanding that Kelce’s impact goes beyond just statistics. As Mahomes noted, Kelce remains a team player, focused on winning games more than padding his individual numbers.
Looking ahead, Kelce will have a chance to break out of his early-season slump when the Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. Historically, Kelce has thrived against the Chargers, regularly putting up big numbers against the divisional rival. In fact, Kelce has averaged over 80 receiving yards per game against the Chargers throughout his career and has found the end zone multiple times in key matchups.
The Week 4 showdown will be a critical test for both Kelce and the Chiefs’ offense. With the Chargers boasting an aggressive defense, it will be interesting to see whether they continue the trend of double- or triple-teaming Kelce, or if the Chiefs’ supporting cast can create enough threats to free up their star tight end.
For now, the Chiefs are undefeated, and Mahomes remains confident in his connection with Kelce.
While Kelce’s numbers aren’t what fans are used to, his impact on the field remains undeniable, and it’s only a matter of time before the All-Pro tight end gets back to his dominant ways.
