Travis Kelce: “Until Chiefs can beat Cover 2, we’re going to struggle”

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: Travis Kelce
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: Travis Kelce /
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce says until they can learn to beat teams playing a Cover 2 defense, they’re going to continue to struggle.

The Kansas City Chiefs are struggling. It’s more than that actually. After an opening five game stretch in which they were the most dominating team in the NFL, they are now among the worst franchises in the league. It’s a baffling flip-flop that not only has fans wondering what’s up but apparently players and coaches as well.

After the recent loss to the New York Giants, star tight end Travis Kelce spoke to reporters about the Chiefs’ struggles, which includes losing four of their last five games after opening the season as the lone unbeaten team through Week 5. Kelce mentioned that teams playing specific Cover 2 defense has been the Achilles heel for the team’s offense.

“Teams are running Cover 2. Until we can beat Cover 2, both in the run game and the passing game, we’re going to struggle,” said Kelce.

That’s a frustrating sentiment to know what is wrong and for other teams to know it as well. The Chiefs coaching staff should know the best way to attack and create mismatches with the sort of offensive weapons at their disposal—the speed of Tyreek Hill, the size and athleticism of Kelce, the toughness and vision of Kareem Hunt—but unfortunately the slide continues.

Kelce said the locker room sentiment after the game was to move on from it and not let a loss to a one-win team define them.

“The message is that we know that’s not our style of football,” said Kelce. “We just have to come together. Don’t let this pull us apart. Alex [Smith] said to circle the wagons, so get everybody together and who all is with us is with us and we’re rolling with it.”

The Chiefs move on to face the Buffalo Bills next week in the hopes of finding their seventh win on the year.