Since his October 5 birthday, Travis Kelce has enjoyed the best three-game stretch of his career. His most memorable performance came on Sunday during the Los Angeles Chargers game, when he caught 12 passes for 179 yards and one score.
Andy Reid, the coach of the Chiefs, stated that it’s because Kelce is improving with age. He conceded that the Taylor Swift influence might also be at play. This season, she attended her fourth Kansas City Chiefs game, and in her presence, Kelce has averaged over twice as many yards as in her absence.
“Taylor can stay around all she wants,” Reid said after the Chiefs’ 31-17 win. Either way, Kelce has delivered in the three games like at no time in his accomplished career, with 31 catches against the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and the Chargers.
“You can know what he’s going to run and you still can’t stop it,” Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling said.
As quarterback Patrick Mahomes noted, Kelce occasionally isn’t sure what route he’s going to take prior to the play.
He can change his route in response to certain coverages, which he did several times against the Chargers.
Kelce did not play in the Chiefs’ season opener against the Detroit Lions last month. In the six games that have passed, he has 48 catches, which is tied for the most by any tight end in NFL history during the player’s first six games.
Mahomes wasn’t arguing against the fact that Kelce has become better with age, at least in some areas.
Mahomes couldn’t help but make a lighthearted jab at Kelce. In the second quarter, the two connected on a 53-yard connection, with Kelce collecting a short throw and running it to the Chargers’ 6 before being tackled.
Still, the Chiefs scored on the following play.
“Younger Trav would have scored on that one touchdown,” Mahomes said. “I’ll say that. But other than that, I think he’s doing a great job of finding ways to get himself open and having these monster games.”
