Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have grown accustomed to the postseason transformation of Travis Kelce, and in their 23-14 divisional round victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday, Kelce once again delivered in a big way.
Mahomes, after the game, praised his longtime tight end, calling him “Playoff Trav,” highlighting how Kelce steps up when the stakes are the highest.
“This is what he lives for, is playing in these moments, having the chance to make big-time plays,” Mahomes said. “He goes out there and does that, and it seems like he does it in every single playoff game. He doesn’t let the moment be bigger than what it is. He just goes out there and executes at a high level, just like he does in a regular-season game. He just does that with a little bit higher intensity.”
Kelce finished the game with seven catches for 117 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes in the fourth quarter. The touchdown marked Kelce’s first 100-yard game of the season and the ninth of his career in the playoffs, setting an NFL record for most career 100-yard games in the postseason.
Kelce’s performance was a testament to his consistent ability to rise to the occasion in the postseason. Since 2020, he has exceeded his regular-season yards per game average in every playoff appearance. Against the Texans, he more than doubled his season average of 56 receiving yards per game.
Despite his success, Kelce was quick to downplay any special formula for his playoff performances. “I wish it was some type of switch or something like that that I just turned on in the playoffs,” he said.
Part of Kelce’s success can be attributed to the rest he received during the Chiefs’ bye week after clinching the AFC’s top playoff seed in Week 17. With over three weeks off from game action, the 35-year-old tight end felt refreshed and ready for the postseason.
“It helped Travis a ton just because he’s an older guy and he plays a very, very tough position on the body,” Mahomes said. “It’s not like he’s just sitting on the couch. He’s working out and kind of just taking those reps off, so for him it’s just been getting himself ready to go.”
Kelce’s biggest play of the game came on a 49-yard catch, setting up the Chiefs’ first touchdown. He turned a short reception into a 36-yard gain after evading a would-be tackler. Despite his growing age, Travis Kelce showed he could still make defenders miss.
“It just felt good to finally make a guy miss this year,” Kelce said.
That big play was followed by an 11-yard touchdown from Mahomes to Kelce, giving the Chiefs a 20-12 lead. The touchdown marked the 20th career playoff connection between the two stars, but it was one of the most spectacular. Mahomes, under pressure, managed to find Kelce in the end zone despite being hit and seemingly about to be sacked.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has been with the Chiefs throughout Patrick Mahomes and Kelce’s playoff run, was hardly surprised by yet another highlight-reel connection.
“Just when you think you’ve got them, you don’t,” Jones said.
As the Kansas City Chiefs advance in the playoffs, Travis Kelce’s “Playoff Trav” persona continues to shine, making him a central figure in the team’s pursuit of another Super Bowl title.
