Chiefs Defend Travis Kelce’s Quiet Start Despite Heavy Coverage \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Kansas City Chiefs, including head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defend Travis Kelce’s quiet start to the season, emphasizing that his presence draws heavy coverage, which has opened opportunities for other players. Kelce’s leadership and willingness to act as a decoy have helped the Chiefs to a 3-0 start, despite his modest stats of eight catches for 69 yards through three games.
Travis Kelce’s Role in Chiefs’ Success: Quick Looks
- Travis Kelce’s eight catches for 69 yards through three games don’t tell the full story.
- Kelce’s heavy double and triple coverage opens opportunities for other receivers.
- Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster benefited from Kelce’s decoy role, with Rice catching 12 passes for 110 yards.
- Kelce, nearing his 35th birthday, remains focused on winning over personal stats.
- Despite critics suggesting Kelce has slowed, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes dismiss those claims.
- As opposing defenses shift focus, Kelce could see more space to make an impact in future games.
Deep Look:
Ask anyone in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room why Travis Kelce hasn’t posted his usual standout numbers through the first three games of the 2023 NFL season, and you’ll get the same response: it’s not his fault. Despite Kelce’s modest eight catches for 69 yards thus far, head coach Andy Reid, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes insist that the All-Pro tight end is doing exactly what the team needs — even if that means acting as a decoy for other playmakers.
Kelce’s relatively quiet start to the season, while unusual, has actually played a pivotal role in the Chiefs’ 3-0 record heading into their matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. At 34, Kelce continues to command relentless defensive attention, with opponents frequently employing double or even triple coverage to contain him. This heavy coverage, however, has opened up the field for Kansas City’s other offensive weapons, making Kelce’s contributions more about his influence on the game than personal statistics.
This dynamic was on full display during the Chiefs’ 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. While Kelce was blanketed by defenders, it created space for wide receiver Rashee Rice to have a breakout game, catching 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. JuJu Smith-Schuster also found room to haul in his first touchdown of the season, and even backup tight end Noah Gray took advantage of a wide-open opportunity to secure a reception. These successes, according to Mahomes, can all be traced back to Kelce’s presence on the field.
“I feel like I want to give him the ball more,” Mahomes said of Kelce. “But he’s just like, ‘I just want to win, man. I don’t care. I’ll run these routes and take guys with me so that other guys can get open.’”
This selfless mindset reflects the evolution of Kelce’s game. Early in his career, the tight end was laser-focused on individual performance and recognition, but with multiple All-Pro honors and three Super Bowl rings to his name, Kelce is now laser-focused on team success. In the past, the younger Kelce may have been frustrated by his lack of targets, but now, as he approaches his 35th birthday, he’s more than willing to sacrifice personal stats for the greater good of the team.
“He literally knows — I mean, he does know — that he collects people,” said head coach Andy Reid. “These big gains off of checks, or Noah standing in the middle of the field by himself, or Rashee being able to get one-on-one situations — that’s a tribute to Travis, and he knows that.”
Kelce’s new role as a decoy may not sit well with fantasy football owners who invested high draft picks in the typically dominant tight end. But in the Chiefs’ locker room, his leadership and willingness to take on whatever role is needed has made him an even more valuable asset to the team. Kelce has long been one of the veteran voices in Kansas City’s offense, and that leadership has only grown stronger as he continues to embrace his evolving role.
“In all honesty, I think he’s always been this guy,” said Mahomes, one of Kelce’s closest friends and teammates. “What’s been great for me in my career is that he wants to make an impact in the game, and he wants to make plays, but he wants to win at the end of the day.”
Mahomes added that as long as the team is winning, Kelce is more than happy to play his part, whether that means catching passes or taking defenders away from other receivers. “He’s good with just going out and playing hard — blocking, doing whatever he can to impact the game. Whenever we’re winning games, that’s everybody, man. You just want to win at the end of the day.”
Despite the praise from his teammates and coaches, some critics have speculated that Kelce’s quieter stats could be a sign that he’s lost a step with age or become distracted by his off-the-field activities. Over the past few years, Kelce has expanded his presence outside of football, launching a successful podcast with his brother Jason, a former Philadelphia Eagles center, and making television appearances, including hosting Saturday Night Live. More recently, Kelce’s personal life has drawn attention, with rumors swirling about his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift.
Both Mahomes and Reid are quick to shut down those distractions, affirming that Kelce remains as focused and committed as ever to his role in the Chiefs’ offense. They also note that as other players, such as Rice, continue to perform well, defenses will be forced to shift their attention, which will likely free up Kelce to make a bigger impact in future games.
In the meantime, Mahomes emphasized that Kelce’s contributions go beyond catching passes. “Playing hard, doing whatever he can to make an impact in the game,” Mahomes said. “When you do that in this league, usually good things come, and I’m excited for him to go out there and make an impact receiving the ball as well.”
The Kansas City Chiefs, currently 3-0, are thriving despite Kelce’s lower-than-usual stats — a testament to his leadership, selflessness, and continued ability to shape the game, even when he’s not the one racking up the yards. With the season still young and the team performing at a high level, there’s every reason to believe Kelce will once again find his rhythm as defenses adjust. But for now, the Chiefs are more than happy with their tight end’s impact, whether he’s catching passes or drawing defenders.
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