The Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce’s touchdown drought, which lasted through this past Sunday’s 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, has generated a lot of discussion about how much more he has left to give.
After that triumph, Kelce appeared to acknowledge that, at 35, he is not the same physical force he was in his heyday.
According to Michael Silver of The Athletic, Kelce clarified, “It would be foolish to claim that I was flying around out there like I was in my younger years, for sure.” “[But] all that really counts to me is that I feel like I’m still contributing to my team’s victory. I’m mentally running quicker in terms of my agility and everything else. That, in my opinion, makes up for it.
Some said that Kelce’s reported distractions from his well-known relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift were a contributing factor in his poor play even before he went six games in a row without scoring a touchdown to start the season. The future Hall of Famer was also charged by some for prioritizing business ventures off the field above preparing his body for the demanding season.
With 28 receptions and 36 targets on the season, Kelce led the Chiefs at the end of Week 7, per ESPN statistics. He is second with 245 receiving yards while playing for a team that needs some receiving assistance prior to the trade deadline on November 5th, as Nate Taylor of The Athletic and others have noted.
Even though those figures don’t jump off of a screen, Kelce and other Chiefs supporters won’t mind if the 6-0 squad continues to win.
“Nothing else matters if we win games,” Kelce stated. “I’m going to enter the film room and look for ways to improve myself….Andy Reid, the head coach, establishes the mindset and the routine. Until we finally raise the trophy, he’s never content.”
Kelce reiterated that he still has “a little more in the tank” despite just managing 17 yards on four catches versus San Francisco. He might not have to empty that tank anytime soon, so he might be available when quarterback Patrick Mahomes needs him in January and February games.
The unblemished Chiefs are huge 9.5-point favorites to defeat the 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders, who have already turned into a seller ahead of the trade deadline, in Sunday’s game, according to DraftKings Sportsbook as of Tuesday morning.
