RM Travis Kelce Takes Hard Hit After Costly Drop Leads to Patrick Mahomes’ Interception
In a devastating loss to the Texans on Sunday Night Football, the Chiefs’ playoff hopes took a major blow in Week 14. But Travis Kelce might have suffered an even bigger setback.
Trailing 17-10 late in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had already failed to convert on two fourth-down attempts. Patrick Mahomes tried to rally his team by targeting Kelce. On first down, Mahomes’ pass fell incomplete, but on the following play, he went to Kelce again. This time, as Kelce turned upfield, he fumbled the ball after a brief bobble, allowing Azeez Al-Shaair to scoop it up and secure the interception.
The image of Kelce lying on the ground while the Texans celebrated the turnover was a tough sight for Chiefs fans. A slow-motion replay further highlighted the painful impact as Myles Bryant hit Kelce while he was still trying to secure the catch.
After the hit, Kelce was assisted to the sidelines and took a seat on the bench, closing his eyes in apparent frustration as the game wound down. NBC’s cameras cut to him multiple times, showing the tight end in a calm, almost meditative state as the final seconds ticked away.
Kelce finished the game with just one reception for eight yards on five targets, a disappointing stat line for one of the league’s top playmakers.
With only four games left in the season, the Chiefs now sit at the No. 10 seed in the AFC, facing just a 16% chance of making the playoffs.
