Humiliated Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has admitted his drop in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday cost his team ‘big time’.
Kelce, 35, failed to control a pass from Patrick Mahomes on the edge of the end zone and as the ball spilled out of his hands, Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba grabbed it and raced away. Trailing 13-10 at the time, Kelce would have given the Chiefs the lead if he had held on.
From the following play, the Eagles scored a touchdown to move into a 20-10 lead that the Chiefs failed to overturn, losing their Super Bowl rematch 20-17 at Arrowhead Stadium and falling to 0-2.
Discussing the moment with his older brother Jason on their New Height podcast, Kelce said: ‘The ball was where it needed to be, when it needed to be there. I’ve just got to get my head around out of the break and I shot you that text telling you that. It’s one of those plays where it happens like bang, bang.
‘I know that’s the window it needs to be in. I know it’s coming out of arm pits and ear holes and the offense and defensive lines getting their hands up. I’ve just got to be able to get my head around right now so I don’t put myself in a position to let the ball surprise me like that.’
He continued: ‘It’s frustrating man. I’ve scored on that play a million times in my life, obviously exaggerating, but it should never have happened and it cost us big time and that s*** hurts but we’ll get it fixed.’
Travis Kelce’s drop all but cost the Kansas City Chiefs the game vs Philadelphia Eagles
Kelce admitted the moment has haunted him, admitting: ‘I’ve scored that play a million times’
Kelce insisted the blame is solely on his shoulders, adding: ‘I’ve got to be there for my guys, knowing they put a lot on my plate to be a good player for this team and I’ve got to f***ing answer that bell, man.’
It’s the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era that the Chiefs have gone 0-2 to start an NFL season. The Chiefs head to New York this weekend and take on the Giants in Sunday Night Football.
‘0-2 start is not how you envision the year starting,’ Kelce said. Played two solid teams. We’ve just got to get this thing rolling on the right tracks. We’re a play here or there away from being 2-0.
‘That’s what we see when we watch the film. It’s just about keep coming to work every single day and get it right.’
Kelce headed into this season with huge interest in how he would perform for the Chiefs after failing to hit top gear last season. He nearly retired after the Eagles thrashed the Chiefs in the Super Bowl but after deciding to continue, spent the offseason getting in the best shape possible.
But that pressure, he said, has at times led to him trying to do too much in the first two games of the new campaign.
‘You try and turn into Superman and do too much,’ he told Jason. ‘You try and do more than what is asked of you on a certain play or certain moment.
The Chiefs are 0-2 and head to New York next to play the Giants on Sunday evening
‘Do I do the routine thing? Or do I do something spectacular and try and make it all work? I think there’s a little bit of that, at least from me.’
The schedule isn’t easy on the Chiefs in the coming weeks as they bid to repair the season.
They face fellow Super Bowl contenders in Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills all before November 2.
