Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs once again saw Travis Kelce step up as they entered the postseason, with the star tight end becoming what Mahomes called “Playoff Trav.”
“This is what he lives for, is playing in these moments, having the chance to make big-time plays,” Mahomes said after Kelce played a key role in the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs. Kelce was responsible for almost half of the Chiefs’ receptions and more than half of their receiving yards in the game.
“He goes out there and does that, and it seems like he does it in every single playoff game,” Mahomes added. “He doesn’t let the moment be bigger than what it is. He just goes out there and executes at a high level just like he does in a regular-season game. He just does that with a little bit higher intensity.”
Kelce caught seven passes for 117 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception from Mahomes in the fourth quarter. It was his first 100-yard game of the season and marked the ninth of his playoff career, setting an NFL record.
In fact, Kelce has exceeded his regular-season average for receiving yards per game in every playoff game since 2020. Against the Texans, he more than doubled his season average of 56 receiving yards per game.
Kelce couldn’t really explain why his playoff performances have been so successful. “I wish it was some type of switch or something like that that I just turned on in the playoffs,” he said.
Kelce was one of several Chiefs players who had not played since their Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which secured the AFC’s top playoff seed. At 35 years old, Kelce said the long break before the playoffs helped him feel refreshed, and Mahomes agreed.
“It helped Travis a ton just because he’s an older guy and he plays a very, very tough position on the body,” Mahomes said. “It’s not like he’s just sitting on the couch. He’s working out and kind of just taking those reps off, so for him it’s just been getting himself ready to go.
We’ve been practicing, we’ve been working at practice and then we go out there and he plays fast and takes his game to a new level.”
One of Kelce’s biggest plays in the game was a 49-yard catch that set up the Chiefs’ first touchdown. After catching the ball, he ran for 36 yards, most of which came as he avoided a defender who had an opportunity to tackle him right after the catch.
“It just felt good to finally make a guy miss this year,” Kelce said.
Kelce was eventually brought down at the Houston 6-yard line. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy pointed out that early in Kelce’s career, he would have likely scored a touchdown on that play. Kelce agreed.
As for evading defenders, Mahomes added, “Those tacklers that tackle him in the regular season don’t tackle him in the playoffs.”
The touchdown pass from Mahomes to Kelce gave the Chiefs a 20-12 lead. It marked the 20th career playoff touchdown connection between the two, but few of them have been as spectacular as this one. Mahomes found Kelce for the score while Mahomes was falling to the ground after being hit and seemingly about to be sacked.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has been with the Chiefs for all 20 touchdown passes from Mahomes to Kelce, wasn’t surprised by the play. “Just when you think you’ve got them, you don’t,” Jones said.
