Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce addressed his team’s recent slump Wednesday, saying it isn’t just one individual who is responsible.
“It’s not just one guy,” Kelce said on his “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason. “It’s not just me playing like dog s—. It’s not just us not being able to get the run game going. It’s not just us not being on the same page, passing-wise. Everybody’s in this f—ing thing together. Everybody at some point isn’t being accountable.”
The two-time Super Bowl champion was visibly frustrated on the sideline during the second quarter of the Chiefs’ 20-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day. Following a third-down incompletion, Kelce used his right hand to slam his helmet.
But Kelce’s frustration extends past Week 16. Kansas City has lost three of its last four games and has already doubled last season’s loss total.
The Chiefs’ six losses are the franchise’s most since 2017 when Kansas City went 10-6 and lost a wild-card matchup to the Tennessee Titans.
‘Every single play is somebody not doing their job,” Kelce said. “And it’s me … it’s everybody on the team. And whether that’s prep, whether that’s having the confidence and understanding of what the defense is in their coverages, their gaps in the run game, how we’re picking up blitzes, how we’re running routes versus certain coverages. All the above.”
While the eight-time Pro Bowlers’ irritation is understandable, the Chiefs (9-6) still sit atop the AFC West standings and are third in the AFC. Kansas City can clinch the division with a win Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Before Wednesday’s practice, coach Andy Reid emphasized that he had already addressed Kelce’s helmet incident on the sideline in Monday’s game. Reid responded to the incident by not allowing Kelce to get his helmet back from equipment director Allen Wright. Kelce returned to the field a few plays later after he had a quick chat with Reid.
“We talked,” Reid said. “I talk to everybody. That’s between me and the players. Kelce and I have a great relationship. I think that’s important. These guys are emotional and they want to do well. That’s what you see. There’s a sense of frustration. That urgency is going to help us get better.”
The Chiefs lead the league in drops among receivers (26). Kelce, of course, also had a dropped pass in Monday’s loss to the Raiders. One of the biggest issues is that the Chiefs are tied for last in the league, with the Washington Commanders, in turnover differential (-10). The offensive line has struggled with pass protection, an element that has forced quarterback Patrick Mahomes to scramble out of the pocket more than he wants.
Even though the Chiefs have played 15 games, Mahomes still doesn’t know who his third-best pass catcher is behind Kelce and rookie receiver Rashee Rice, a problem that has made it simple for opposing defenses to attack. — Nate Taylor, Chiefs staff writer
