Travis Kelce made more Kansas City Chiefs history as the tight end surpassed 12,000 career receiving yards in record fashion in Week 14.
The Chiefs survived another tight contest on Sunday Night Football to secure a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West showdown. Patrick Mahomes did just enough to lead the offense to victory, completing 24 of 37 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Kelce led the Chiefs in receiving with 45 yards, but his special moment came in the third quarter. Kelce caught a 7-yard pass from Mahomes that moved the ball into Los Angeles territory – and took the tight end to over 12,000 career receiving yards.
The win over the Chargers was Kelces 172nd career game, so he becomes the fastest tight end in NFL history to reach the milestone. The former record was held by former Chiefs tight end – and Pro Football Hall of Famer – Gonzalez, who achieved the feat in 210 games.
Kelces biggest play came with two minutes left when Mahomes found him for an 11-yard reception that got Kansas City down to the Chargers’ 9-yard line and set up the dramatic game-winning field goal by stand-in kicker Matthew Wright. The victory ensured the Chiefs clinched the AFC West title for the ninth successive season.
Mahomes heaped praise on Kelce after the win, citing how the 35-year-old is an inspiration on and off the field. He told reporters: He means the world to me, man. I mean without getting emotional, hes a guy that has really kind of made who I am in my career. [Kelce is] a true leader on the football field. Someone I can go to at any moment and hes going to make a big play happen.
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The two-time MVP added: Everybody sees the personality on the TV and stuff like that but you dont see that everyday work ethic that he has. Hes the guy that gets mad when they take him out of practice reps.
Even for me, to come into the league and have a superstar player and see him work like that, it kind of showed me Im going to have to put that work ethic in if Im going to get to that level.
Kelce, who is currently playing his 12th season after being selected by the AFC West franchise in the 2013 NFL Draft, has already broken a pair of Gonzalezs Chiefs records: pass receptions and receiving yards. The duo are tied for the most touchdown catches in Chiefs history (76).
The 12-1 Chiefs are next in action against the 3-10 Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday, Dec. 15.
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