Patrick Mahomes Defends Travis Kelce amid Criticism: Chiefs TE Gets Triple-Teamed

Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce haven't been able to build a strong connection on the field in 2024 compared to past seasons.

Mahomes explained that the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end hasn't been as involved in the pass game due to the extra attention he receives from defenses.

"Yeah, it's crazy because teams still — the respect factor they have for Travis is just unreal," Mahomes said on Sunday, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "It's well-deserved, but we're calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it's like two or three people are going to him. So, I mean, he understands."

Kelce is averaging a mere 23 yards per game through the first three weeks of his 2024 campaign, which would easily represent a career-low mark over the course of a full season.

After recording 37 receiving touchdowns over the previous four years, the 34-year-old hasn't been able to find the end zone after three games.

Kelce hauled in four of his five targets for 30 yards during the Chiefs' 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.

He slowed down a bit in 2023, recording 984 receiving yards after surpassing the 1,000-yard mark in every season from 2016 through 2022. The veteran stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 88.8 yards per game and helping Kansas City earn its second straight Super Bowl victory.

Despite his individual struggles, the Chiefs are still unbeaten through three games and appear poised to contend for a championship once again.

Perhaps Kelce can continue to thrive in the playoffs, but his lack of production could cause issues for Kansas City if he isn't as effective down the stretch of the regular season.