Travis Kelce’s frustration with the offensive struggles of the Kansas City Chiefs was palpable during Monday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, as he expressed his discontent by hurling his helmet on the sideline. In a recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast alongside his brother Jason, the star tight end acknowledged that the team collectively bears responsibility for the ongoing offensive issues.
“It’s not solely one individual’s fault,” Travis Kelce emphasized. “It’s not just me performing poorly. It’s not solely our inability to establish the run game. It’s not just a lack of synchronization in our passing game. Every member is part of this challenging situation. At different points, everyone has fallen short in being accountable.”
Throughout the season, the Chiefs (9-6) have struggled with inconsistent offensive play, marked by an alarming number of dropped passes (34), tying for the most offensive penalties (56), and ranking sixth in turnovers (26) in the NFL. Despite losing three of their last four games, they maintain a two-game lead in the AFC West and can secure the division title with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
When asked by Jason how to address these issues, Travis stressed, “Everyone just needs to execute their responsibilities.”
In the first quarter of their recent 20-14 defeat to the Raiders, the Chiefs posted a dismal minus-18 yards of offense, marking the lowest opening-period total for any NFL team in 12 seasons. Las Vegas capitalized on defensive touchdowns, scoring one on a fumble return and another on an interception.
Kelce acknowledged the team’s potential for a high-powered offense but highlighted the need to eliminate self-inflicted setbacks, such as penalties and unfavorable down-and-distance situations. He suggested additional team communication, extra post-practice repetitions, and enhanced film room collaboration to foster better cohesion.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes defended the visible frustration within the team, seeing it as a sign of caring and a desire to improve collectively. He emphasized that such emotions indicate a commitment to winning and bettering themselves for the team.
Kelce admitted regret over his helmet-throwing incident, acknowledging Coach Andy Reid’s attempt to elicit the best from him. Reid, in turn, commended Kelce’s performance after the incident and emphasized the importance of channeling emotions in the right direction. Reid noted that the team’s tolerance for underperformance has diminished due to past success and emphasized the need to address and rectify their ongoing challenges.
