Travis Kelce still elite, but Chiefs can’t ignore back-to-back game-changing errors from their star | NFL News
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unfamiliar position, opening the season 0–2 for the first time since 2014. At the center of the storm is Travis Kelce, a future Hall of Fame tight end whose recent struggles have raised difficult questions about his role, his reliability, and the team’s offensive future.
Travis Kelce’s critical errors spotlight a bigger problem
For years, Kelce has been the heartbeat of Kansas City’s passing game, making the extraordinary look routine. But the last two weeks have told a different story. In the season opener against the Chargers in Brazil, he collided with rookie Xavier Worthy on a key route, disrupting the play and leading to Worthy’s shoulder injury. That miscue set the tone for what has become a rocky start.Against the Eagles, with the game in the balance early in the fourth quarter, Kelce again found himself at the center of disaster. Positioned well on an in-breaking route, he appeared late to turn for Patrick Mahomes’s pass. The ball bounced off his hands and into the arms of rookie Andrew Mukuba. What could have been a go-ahead score turned into a back-breaking interception that allowed Philadelphia to control the clock and close out the win.At 36, Kelce is no longer the unstoppable mismatch he once was. His yards per target dipped significantly last season, and early signs suggest the trend is continuing. He still flashes brilliance—his touchdown against Los Angeles showed his trademark deception—but consistency has been elusive.
Chiefs must balance respect for Travis Kelce with reality
The bigger issue is not just Kelce’s mistakes but how much Kansas City still leans on him. With few proven pass-catching options, the team has asked him to shoulder a workload that may be unrealistic at this stage of his career. While his leadership and knowledge remain invaluable, relying on him to be the primary playmaker may not be sustainable over 17 games.None of this diminishes what Kelce has meant to the franchise. He is, without question, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, a player who redefined the position. But the Chiefs now face a sobering decision: continue to ride Kelce as the focal point of their offense, or recalibrate and develop other weapons before the season slips further away.For Kansas City, the answer will shape whether this slow start is just a stumble—or the sign of something far more concerning.Also Read: Eagles escape with narrow 20-17 win over Chiefs after Travis Kelce’s late blunder costs Kansas City dearly
