‘You never know’ – Patrick Mahomes addresses Travis Kelce future after costly mistake leaves Chiefs season in ruin
It looks like it is all over for Kansas City.
The Kansas City Chiefs entered their Week 14 clash against the Houston Texans knowing that they needed a win to keep their season alive.
But against the NFL‘s No. 1 defense and a severely depleted offensive line in front of superstar Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs ultimately suffered a 20-10 defeat.
It was always going to be a tough ask for Mahomes and co, but it was still a one possession contest with under four minutes left to play in the fourth quarter.
On a 2nd & 10 from inside their own 10-yard line, Mahomes tried to connect with his all-time great tight end Travis Kelce, which would have kept the drive going.
But, the 36-year-old veteran – who considered retiring after the Chiefs’ blowout defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX – was unable to take the ball cleanly in his stride.
Instead, he bobbled the ball, and it came up off of his helmet and into the hands of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for the turnover.
The Texans added an additional three points from Ka’imi Fairbairn to extend their lead to 10 points with virtually no time remaining for the Chiefs to find two scores, with the NFL’s modern day dynasty now cracking and seeing their playoff odds plummet to just a 15 percent chance.
Mahomes addresses Kelce’s future after dropped costly dropped catch
Speaking after the game, Mahomes spoke of his long-time teammate Kelce, and the prospect of him potentially hanging up his cleats for good after the end of the 2025 season – his 13th year in the league.
“Every season I’ve had with him these last few years, I try to…I cherish because you never know,” Mahomes told reporters. “He got himself in great shape this year and he’s played great football.
“He’ll have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season. I know one thing is that he’ll give everything he has for the rest of the season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.”
In his career, Kelce has caught 1,656 passes for 14,948 yards and 102 touchdowns (including in the postseason).
talkSPORT reacts... the Chiefs need switch it up
It’s been a good ride with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but it seems there is just four games left for the two together.
With Mahomes still in his prime, the Chiefs may have no choice but to try and find another star tight end to pair him with.
Kelce’s production has been on the decline for the last two seasons now, and with his two-year, $34.3 million contract ending at the end of the season, it is looking more and more likely that the 10-time Pro Bowler will retire from football and ride off into the sunset with his soon-to-be wife, Taylor Swift.
Mahomes has more than enough receiving weapons with the likes of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy on the team, but he is lacking a reliable – and experienced – veteran.
As such, Andy Reid and the Chiefs front office should be exploring the possibility of acquiring a new tight end, either in free agency or via a trade.
Yes, they could also look to target that position in the draft, but that eliminates the point of bringing in an already-established player, as well as the Chiefs needing to prioritise other positions in the draft.
Kerrie Jacobs-Bryant, US Sports Journalist
But in the 2025 campaign, he has just 59 receptions for 719 yards and five scores through 12 games, with his outing against the Texans arguably his worst of the season, mounting just one reception for eight yards from five targets.
Injuries continue to pile up for lowly Chiefs
The Chiefs entered their home contest against the 7-5 Texans without tackles Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor, as well as $94 million guard Trey Smith, due to injury.
With Wanya Morris stepping in at left tackle for the injured rookie Simmons – who was showing he was a steal as the 32nd overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft – he was rolled up on by Creed Humphrey in the first play of the game.
He ultimately suffered a knee injury which was so gruesome that the Sunday Night Football broadcast elected not to show a replay of the injury, which resulted him in being carted off the field.
With it already being slim pickings on the offensive line, undrafted rookie Esa Pole was inserted into the lineup to protect Mahomes on his official NFL debut.
Two-time league MVP Mahomes could only muster 14-of-33 passing for 160 yards and three interceptions, as well as being the team’s leading rusher with 59 yards from seven carries – more yards than his highest receiver on the night (Xavier Worthy – 3 rec, 55 yards).
But the injuries continued to pile up for KC, with cornerback Trent McDuffie suffering a knee injury in the first quarter, and was later seen donning a knee brace after being ruled out.
“Alright, got a couple injuries,” head coach Andy Reid said after the game. “Wanya Morris hurt his leg, lower leg. We’ll just have to see within the next day or so here how he is.
And then Trent McDuffie hyperextended his knee, so we’ll have to see how it works out for him.”
The Chiefs now fall to 6-7 on the season – the first time since the 2014 (9-7) campaign in which they have lost seven or more games, with an AFC West divisional clash against the 8-4 Los Angeles Chargers to come on Sunday.
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