Given the many records on a franchise and league-wide level that tight end Travis Kelce has already set in his impressive career with the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s remarkable to think that he can set still some new personal highs in a game. On Thursday night, Kelce showed some new tricks and proved he has still no equal at his position with an incredible performance against the L.A. Chargers that will have fans talking for years to come.
Coming into the game, the Chiefs were hurting on defense with the loss of perhaps the best player at every level. Defensive tackle Chris Jones was missing up front. Linebacker Willie Gay was out in the second level. L’Jarius Sneed was missing at cornerback. The Chiefs were also down Chris Lammons on IR and Charvarius Ward was ill which meant the secondary was particularly thin.
While the defense stepped up tall, the Chiefs offense was able to put the team on its shoulders to carry them across the proverbial finish line in a dynamic 34-28 overtime win at SoFi Stadium there in L.A. That was largely due to the work put in by pass catchers Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill along with a stellar fourth-quarter showing from Patrick Mahomes.
While all three offensive pillars came together to deliver the win, Kelce in particular had the most memorable night of them all. Not only was the victory itself one to remember but Kelce made a major impression by setting a career high in receiving yards in a single game with 191. He finished the evening with 10 catches on 13 targets with 2 touchdowns.
Kelce put up a big chunk of his yardage total on a single 69-yard catch that set up the touchdown that tied the game at 21 apiece. Check out this particular frame of it that shows just how incredible of a run it was.
This was a touchdown pic.twitter.com/SPQdxs16vE
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) December 17, 2021
If you missed the whole thing, you can watch it here:
#Chiefs Travis Kelce goes for 69 yards on third down pic.twitter.com/Y3VHY0b1IA
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) December 17, 2021
Beyond that, Kelce had two touchdowns on the night and this one tied the game at 28 points apiece. Look at the moves here.
Kelce would be legendary in a game of tag. @tkelce pic.twitter.com/OjZQ5dLNh8
— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2021
On a night where Mahomes looked mortal for much of the game, it was vital that pass catchers like Kelce and Hill were able to do what they did when he delivered. After the game, it was clear that everyone in Chiefs Kingdom was ecstatic with the results and was ready to lavish praise all over Kelce. That group included several of his teammates or former Chiefs players.
Travis Kelce......whooooooooo
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) December 17, 2021
That mutha fucka @tkelce is a a MONSTER!!!!! Best Tight End in history @ me bout it!!!!
— Saint Binky 2x (@khalenNOTkaylen) December 17, 2021
Goodnight @tkelce 🐐
— Chris “Lockdown” Lammons (@Lammons_1) December 17, 2021
That boy 87 cold!
— Taco Charlton (@TheSupremeTaco) December 17, 2021
Delete this he’s washed remember https://t.co/8646mPOnOB
— The Cookie Expert (@JeffAllen71) December 17, 2021
Travis F’n Kelce! #game #set #match
— Dezman Moses (@DezmanM) December 17, 2021
One of the best to ever do it. https://t.co/56RVdNs0sN
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 17, 2021
And just to add a cherry on top, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is basically already rolling out the red carpet.
Milestone ✅ - @tkelce @Chiefs | #ChiefsKingdom | #KCvsLAC
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) December 17, 2021
🤝 @NorthShoreWeb pic.twitter.com/D1ILX7dRWr
Kelce’s already the best player at his position and he’s chasing all-time numbers. But it’s still possible for him to pull out a single game performance that will surprise us—a way to dominate in a previously unseen way. It sounds impossible but Kelce is doing it anyway.