The Kansas City Chiefs have begun the 2024 NFL season with a perfect 3-0 record. Yet, amidst their early success, a notable storyline has emerged: Travis Kelce, the team's star tight end, has experienced a marked dip in on-field production. Through the first three games, Kelce has caught only eight passes for 69 yards. This represents the fewest receptions and receiving yards in any three-game stretch of his illustrious career.
Both quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have acknowledged the defensive strategies employed by opposing teams to limit Kelce's impact. "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. This constant double and triple-teaming has forced Mahomes to distribute the ball more unevenly than usual.
Despite the tight coverage on Kelce, Mahomes remains optimistic. "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 said. The Chiefs' quarterback also noted that this increased focus on Kelce by defenses could pave the way for other players to shine. "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," he added.
Andy Reid echoed similar sentiments. "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. His strategic planning involves rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice and newcomer Xavier Worthy, both of whom are being poised to help alleviate the defensive pressure on Kelce.
For Kelce, personal statistics have always taken a backseat to team success. "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," he noted. His focus remains on making critical plays when it matters most. "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?" Kelce said candidly.
The Chiefs are gearing up for their Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. In his last five games against the Chargers, Kelce has been nothing short of spectacular, amassing 40 receptions, 640 yards, and six touchdowns. Such figures undoubtedly attract attention from defenses, and Kelce is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. "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," he emphasized.
As the Chiefs navigate through the season, their offensive strategy will continue to adapt in response to the defensive measures taken against Kelce. Mahomes’ ability to leverage the opportunities created by Kelce's immense gravitational pull on defenses could ultimately become a driving factor in the Chiefs' continued success. All eyes will be on how effectively the supporting cast steps up, balancing the Chiefs' high-power offense as they aim to maintain their unbeaten streak.