As the Kansas City Chiefs embark on the 2024 NFL season, their unblemished 3-0 record underscores their dominant form. However, for star tight end Travis Kelce, the season has begun on an unusual note. Through the first three games, Kelce has caught just eight passes for 69 yards – the lowest figures for any three-game stretch in his illustrious career. This dip in productivity has not gone unnoticed, both by fans and within the Chiefs' camp.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been vocal about the situation, attributing Kelce's reduced numbers to the heightened defensive scrutiny from opposing teams. "It's crazy because teams still -- the respect factor they have for Travis is just unreal. It's well-deserved. We're calling a lot of plays for Travis and it's like two or three people are going to him," Mahomes explained. Despite the challenging start, Kelce maintains a team-first mentality. "He understands -- that's the great thing about him is he wants to make an impact on the game, but he wants to win at the end of the day," Mahomes added.
Head coach Andy Reid isn't surprised by the defensive schemes aimed at limiting Kelce's impact. "They're working hard at taking Kelce out of the picture. If they're doing that, Rashee is going to get a lot of catches and (Kelce) knows that. . .. Some time that will level off," Reid remarked, noting that the offensive game plan is adapting to these circumstances. Indeed, rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are being groomed to step up and exploit the opportunities created by the heavy coverage on Kelce.
Mahomes sees this defensive attention as a double-edged sword. While it constrains Kelce's individual stats, it also opens up the field for other playmakers. "I'm gonna try to do my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he's there, whenever he's open. I think the more Rashee makes plays, the more we're able to run the football, the more we can get Worthy involved, I think that's going to open Travis up more. People are really emphasizing trying to take him away and that's getting other guys open," Mahomes observed.
The team is focused on leveraging this increased defensive pressure to their advantage. Kelce himself remains unfazed by his statistical downturn, expressing a holistic view towards the game. "It's football, baby. Like, I'm not getting caught up in getting the targets and all that. I just want to have a successful offense. I think Pat's doing a great job of finding the open guy and making the right decisions right now," Kelce stated. His commitment to the team’s success over personal achievements is evident in his words and actions. "It's a new offense, new players, new pieces, and we're just finding how to have success throughout the season. I've had a lot of catches in this league, man. I'm not worried about the catches and the yards and all of that. I have the most fun when I get the ball thrown my way. I mean, who doesn't?"
As the Chiefs prepare to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, Kelce's previous performances against them may offer a source of optimism. In his last five games against the Chargers, Kelce has amassed 40 receptions for 640 yards and six touchdowns. Such impressive numbers suggest that he could be primed for a breakout game, despite the extra defensive attention he's likely to face.
Ultimately, Kelce’s priority remains on the Chiefs' overall goals rather than personal accolades. "It has everything to do with execution, just making sure that we're doing whatever we can to win these football games, man. That's always going to be the goal," Kelce emphasized. This unyielding focus on team success over individual stats could very well be the driving force that keeps the Chiefs at the pinnacle of the NFL as the season progresses.