Of longtime teammate and top target Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the great ones step up in the postseason.
Kelce exemplified that in record-setting fashion by recording his ninth 100-yard playoff game in the Chiefs’ Divisional Round win against the visiting Houston Texans on Saturday.
Kelce broke a tie with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most postseason 100-yard outings, as they were deadlocked at eight apiece prior to the Chiefs’ future Hall of Famer hitting his stride yet again.
Kelce hauled in an 18-yard pass from Mahomes in the third quarter to surpass 100 yards on Saturday and establish a new record in his 23rd postseason game. He finished with seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown in the victory, which sent Kansas City to the AFC Championship Game for a seventh straight season.
“Yeah, he can still play,” head coach Andy Reid said of Kelce after the win. “He’s alright.”
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The accomplishment puts Kelce’s career greatness into perspective once again, but it also comes at a time when many have doubted just how much is left in the tank for the 35-year-old three-time Super Bowl champion. Before he hit 100, Kelce also hauled in a 49-yard reception in the first half — the longest of his postseason career — and turned in his 14th straight playoff game with 70-plus receiving yards, extending his already long-established record.
Kelce’s a 10-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro whose 1,004 career receptions are third all-time for a tight end, just as his 12,151 receiving yards are. His 77 receiving touchdowns are fifth.
Of course, those are regular-season numbers. And Kelce’s 2024 regular season was pedestrian by his standards with 97 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns — the latter two his lowest totals since a one-game rookie year.
As Mahomes said, and prognosticated, though, Kelce stepped up as they great ones often do.