“Patrick Mahomes can’t throw the football and catch it himself!” Stephen A. Smith admits Travis Kelce has to step up if Chiefs want to complete the three-peat
Travis Kelce has not contributed positively to the Kansas City Chiefs' offense through 3 games.
Stephen A. Smith explains why it is crucial for Travis Kelce to play at the highest level once again to help Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to win their third Super Bowl (Images via IMAGO)
There has been a disturbing trend that has emerged across the NFL – the struggles faced by tight ends so far. The most concerning performance is that of Travis Kelce, who has yet to have a positive impact on the Kansas City Chiefs. Through three games, Kelce has 8 receptions for 69 yards and 0 touchdowns.
Patrick Mahomes attributed Travis Kelce’s struggles to increased coverage by defenses. However, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on Kelce and expressed why it is vital that the star tight end needs to figure out a way to get out of his rut. The analyst emphasized upon the important role played by the tight end in the Chiefs’ offense as they seek to win their third straight Super Bowl.
Stephen A. Smith pointed out the Chiefs’ struggles on offense last season. When Kadarius Toney and Marques Valdes-Scantling dropped passes which resulted in the Chiefs failing to score early on in the games, Patrick Mahomes always relied upon Travis Kelce to get the ball to the endzone. He has been a safety net for the team and a player that Mahomes can trust to put them in a position to score.
The Kansas City Chiefs will need Travis Kelce if they intend to win their third straight Super Bowl
Smith pointed out that this season, fans are seeing a different version of Travis Kelce. The hunger to have an impact on the game seems to have diminished within Kelce. In Super Bowl LVIII, the tight end practically shoved Andy Reid with frustration for not being utilized enough. But when one looks at him on the sidelines this season, he just sits there with a dejected look on his face.
Stephen A. Smith believes Kelce’s off-the-field activities such as his romance with Taylor Swift may have something to do with his game so far. The player wearing 87 for the Chiefs is not Travis Kelce, he might look and behave like that but on the field, the tight end has been looking entirely different from what he is accustomed to. Should there be any concern that the tight end is struggling? After all, Kansas City is 3-0.
“There’s one thing Patrick Mahomes cannot do. He can’t throw the football and catch it himself. … There’s one person that he can rely upon … and that man is Travis Kelce.”@StephenASmith says the Chiefs need Kelce to three-peat 😤 pic.twitter.com/DoMzhQpAoX
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 25, 2024
Stephen A. Smith believes that while the Chiefs may manage to get by the regular season without Kelce’s impact, they will need him to step up if the team intends to win the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have had narrow victories through their first 3 games. The team has won by a margin of one touchdown or less. As the weeks go on, their schedule will continue to get harder and Kansas City cannot rely upon the opposing defenses to commit penalties and be flagged for it consistently. Travis Kelce needs to step up and contribute to this offense to get back to the Super Bowl. There is only so much that Patrick Mahomes can do too, and at this rate, Kansas City’s likelihood of going to the Super Bowl will continue to diminish.
Sumedh Joshi
(2018 Articles Published)