Patrick Mahomes blamed Travis Kelce’s poor start to the NFL season on opposing defenses deliberately targeting the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
The reigning Super Bowl champions extended their perfect start to the season to 3-0 on Sunday night by beating the Atlanta Falcons 22-17.
But it was another miserable night for Kelce, whose girlfriend Taylor Swift skipped the game, as cameras caught him looking particularly miserable on the sidelines in a clip that went viral.
A fed-up Kelce, who had just four receptions for 30 yards in Atlanta, could be seen rubbing his right eye before staring dejectedly into space as he sat on the bench late in the first half.
It’s been an unusually slow start to the season for the 34-year-old, who is looking to add a fourth Super Bowl ring, and third straight, to his collection in 2024.
Patrick Mahomes blamed opposing defenses for Travis Kelce’s poor start to the NFL season
Kelce had just four receptions for 30 yards in Atlanta as he once again struggled to make an impact.
His return against the Falcons means he now has just 69 yards in three games, although he did manage to double his reception total to eight.
Mahomes later said that Kelce’s coverage by opponents makes it difficult for him to get the ball.
The quarterback said: ‘I mean the respect factor they have for Travis is still unbelievable and it’s well deserved.
‘We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going at him.
“He understands that. That’s the best thing about him. He wants to have an impact on the game, but in the end he wants to win.”
‘I’m going to try to do my best to keep passing the ball to him whenever he’s there, whenever he’s free.
‘I think the more Rashee (Rice) makes plays, the more we can run the ball, the more we can get (Xavier) Worthy involved, I think that will open up Travis more.
“People are really pushing to try to get him away and let other guys go.”
Kelce’s latest off-night came after his girlfriend Swift was unable to attend a Chiefs game for the first time this season.
Mahomes believes Kelce’s participation will increase as defenses focus their attention on other areas
The pop megastar was not present in Atlanta despite her free schedule, as she is enjoying a break from her international Eras Tour.
On Saturday, Swift was spotted on a casual night out with her BFF Gigi Hadid in New York City, where she rocked a plaid miniskirt as they grabbed a bite to eat at The Corner Store restaurant in SoHo.
But despite many expecting her to show up in Atlanta, she turned down the chance to follow Kelce and Kansas City on the road.
Swift attended the Chiefs’ first two games of the 2024 season, both played in Kansas City.
He also logged thousands of air miles following the team last season, including traveling more than 5,000 miles from Tokyo to Las Vegas to get to the Super Bowl in February.
Swift was not at the Falcons game despite Kansas City making a clever reference to her in an X-rated post before the game.
Along with a photo of Kelce arriving at the stadium, the Chiefs captioned the post: “Happiness. Fun. Magic.”
That caption was a reference to Swift’s famous speech at the VMA Awards earlier this month, in which she praised her man for the “fun” and “magic” he brings to her.