KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Whereas the fireworks exploded above and followers inside Arrowhead Stadium cheered after one other landing for Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, quarterback Patrick Mahomes stored his eye on the ball, the identical ball he threw to essentially the most dependable cross catcher of his nine-year profession. Mahomes picked up the ball, understanding its significance, and made positive to present it to a crew staffer on the Chiefs’ sideline for Kelce to maintain.
Within the Chiefs’ comfy 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders, Kelce’s 10-yard landing late within the third quarter was a historic one. His 83rd profession rating tied former operating again Priest Holmes for essentially the most whole touchdowns in Chiefs franchise historical past.
“I simply cherish these moments, man, with the ability to play at Arrowhead,” Kelce mentioned, smiling. “This place is particular, man, and I find it irresistible right here. When it comes to the historic stuff, I am nonetheless trying on the subsequent recreation and the subsequent catch and attempting to get higher.”
Monday’s victory was the Chiefs’ fifth prior to now six video games, with every coming by double digits. Kelce additionally had his greatest recreation of the season, main the Chiefs with six receptions on eight targets for 99 yards.
“He is simply the true Chiefs’ Chief,” Mahomes mentioned of Kelce’s accomplishments. “He is the man that is been right here via the entire thing, being right here with Coach [Andy] Reid your complete time. He helped set the tradition of what it means to play for Coach Reid and for Kansas Metropolis. I used to be capable of are available and have that man to depend on.
“He is breaking all of the information now. He is all in regards to the crew, so I wished to ensure he will get that [ball], and hopefully we will get one other ball for him later within the season when he breaks the report.”
The primary time Mahomes threw the ball to Kelce on Monday night time, the first-quarter play resulted in a 1-yard loss. However on the subsequent play, Mahomes put the ball again in Kelce’s palms. The lone subject for the Chiefs was that the ball did not stick with Kelce, as an alternative bouncing within the air and being intercepted by linebacker Bobby Wagner.
The Chiefs’ lackluster efficiency on offense within the first half, that includes two giveaways, led to a 7-7 tie at halftime.
“Once you take a look at how every thing unfolded within the first half, my drop was an interception, and it was type of us dictating how we have been enjoying,” Kelce mentioned. “After we determined within the second half to simply rally collectively and match [the Commanders’] power — play robust, play quick and play bodily — we ended up placing some factors on the board.”
Kelce put collectively one other classic efficiency by doing what he has all the time achieved all through his profession: devour zone protection.
All of Kelce’s manufacturing was towards the Commanders’ zone protection, based on Subsequent Gen Stats. The Commanders’ secondary typically needed to fear in regards to the velocity from receivers Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton. Earlier than his landing reception, Kelce ran an out route, then pivoted in the wrong way, which created extra separation towards free security Darnell Savage.
“He is a really affected person participant, and I have been studying that from him continuously,” receiver Rashee Rice mentioned of Kelce. “The primary half was gradual, and me and him had a chat as quickly as we got here out earlier than the second half began. He did not need to say an excessive amount of, however only for him to say I have to get going, it nonetheless meant quite a bit.”
The most important spotlight for the Chiefs was when Kelce wasn’t Mahomes’ first, second or third passing possibility on a play-action snap early within the third quarter. Kelce leaked out after blocking for a wide-open 38-yard acquire wherein he rumbled and stumbled into the pink zone.
“Despite the fact that we have not been hitting a few of these explosive performs, the defenses are respecting it,” Mahomes mentioned. “That was a shot play the place I had [Worthy] and [Brown] they usually coated them properly. Travis was blocking, blocking, blocking and you must play, so he simply launched as a result of he noticed nobody was guarding him.”
Collectively, Mahomes and Kelce are simply the third quarterback-tight finish duo in NFL historical past to attach for 75 touchdowns, together with the playoffs, becoming a member of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski (105) and Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (90).
“I am simply the outdated, fortunate canine nonetheless in a position to do that factor, man,” Kelce mentioned, smiling. “I am placing on the pads like I am 15 years outdated once more. I am loving each single little bit of it.”