By his lofty requirements, 2024 was a down season for Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce.
But he and the Chiefs stand on the verge of NFL historical past, with simply the Philadelphia Eagles standing between them and turning into the primary crew to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls.
After seven consecutive seasons with at the very least 1,000 receiving yards, Kelce has dipped beneath that threshold these previous two years. In the course of the 2023 season Kelce hauled in 93 passes for 984 yards and 5 touchdowns — after grabbing 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022 — and this previous season Kelce caught 97 passes for 823 yards and three scores.
That yardage mark represents the second-lowest whole of his NFL profession with solely his rookie season — the place he appeared in only one sport and didn’t catch a move — decrease.
That dip in product has, partly, spurred rumors about his NFL future. On Saturday evening Ian Rapoport of the NFL Community reported that regardless of Kelce’s public feedback earlier within the week about persevering with his profession into 2025 and past, sources near the tight finish indicated that Kelce has not but determined about coming again, and that his determination might be impacted by the result of Tremendous Bowl LIX.
Nonetheless, the connection between Kelce and Patrick Mahomes can’t be ignored, and that connection was on show in Kansas Metropolis’s 23-14 win over the Houston Texans within the AFC Divisional Spherical. That afternoon Kelce caught 7 passes for 117 yards and a landing, discovering house to function in the course of Houston’s protection as he did on this 49-yard play within the second quarter:
Kelce has additionally turned in some large video games within the Tremendous Bowl earlier than. In Tremendous Bowl LVII in opposition to the Eagles, he caught 6 passes for 81 yards and a landing, and in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers a 12 months in the past he hauled in 9 passes for 93 yards.
Nevertheless, he might be going through an Eagles protection that has allowed simply 68 receptions to tight ends this 12 months, tied for third-lowest within the league.
We’ll be monitoring Kelce’s Tremendous Bowl LIX right here, so comply with alongside all evening.
First quarter
Kelce was not focused within the first quarter which tells you every thing it’s essential to find out about how dominant the Eagles protection has been to start this sport. In protection, Kelce is principally drawing rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean, one of many NFLs finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Yr. Patrick Mahomes has thrown the ball six occasions to only one run play for the Chiefs. If the Eagles proceed to dominate the time of possession by means of the remaining three quarters, you may anticipate Mahomes to look much more usually in direction of Kelce in hopes of throwing his crew to victory in one more Tremendous Bowl
Second quarter
UPDATE: The Chiefs started their first drive of the second quarter backed up at their very own two-yard line. After two quick completions, Mahomes tried to squeeze a fast move to Kelce between two defenders previous the primary down marker however the ball was thrown low and it bounced off the turf which compelled one other Chiefs punt.
Kelce entered the locker room at halftime with zero receptions on two targets within the first half. As an entire, the Chiefs offense has the fewest yards of Mahomes’ profession within the first half of a soccer sport. It’s additionally the third time Mahomes has been shut out within the first half-hour.
If the Chiefs wish to pull off one of many largest comebacks in NFL historical past, Mahomes and Kelce should unlock an entire new stage but unseen to offer themselves an opportunity of three-peating as Tremendous Bowl champions.
Third quarter
UPDATE: With 3:24 left on the clock within the third quarter, Kelce secured his first reception of the sport on a third-and-13 play that helped arrange a fourth-and-five the Chiefs had been compelled to go for whereas down 27 factors. Sadly, the move was damaged up by Avonte Maddox and Kansas Metropolis turned it over on downs.
UPDATE: Kelce hauled in his second move of the sport which went for 13 yards on a third-and-seven inside Eagles territory. On the very subsequent play, Mahomes discovered rookie wideout Xavier Worthy for the primary Kansas Metropolis landing of the sport. The Mahomes-Kelce connection is clearly good for the Chiefs, however the Eagles are simply enjoying a special stage of soccer on this one.
Fourth quarter
UPDATE: Kelce discovered a gap within the Eagles’ zone protection to choose up 9 yards on the primary play of a brand new drive. Two performs later, he caught his fourth move for an additional eight yards to offer his offense one other second-and-short.
