It’s been a “long, long time” since Travis Kelce has been in this position.
With the Chiefs currently sitting out of the seven-seed AFC playoff picture at 5-5, the veteran tight end has implored his teammates to put “all the selfish s–t” aside as the team looks to salvage its season.
“It’s frustrating because it’s gotten to the point where we’re 5-5, we’re .500 going into the back end of the schedule here, got seven games left, and we basically gotta run the table,” Kelce said on Wednesday’s installment of “New Heights.”
“I haven’t been in this situation in a long, long time, man. It’s even more frustrating knowing the kind of guys we have, knowing the kind of talent we have, knowing the type of coaches we have. Everybody’s just got to kind of look at themselves in the mirror, man.”
Kelce’s 13th season with the Chiefs has been a far cry from the AFC dominance expected from a club that has produced two Super Bowl wins in the past three seasons, not to mention 10 consecutive playoff appearances.
After dropping two straight games to open the season, the Chiefs got back on track with wins in Weeks 3 and 4 to improve to 2-2.
The Chiefs then rose to 5-3 in late October. However, two straight losses this month dropped them back to 5-5 and third in the AFC West behind the Broncos (9-2) and Chargers (7-4).
Kelce, 36, said now is the time to fight for one another and not to play the blame game.
“You can’t sit around pointing fingers… Whatever you go into mentally when you’re frustrated, you gotta kick that s–t aside, and you gotta think about how you’re f–king going to attack the day, and you gotta put all the selfish s–t, all the things you want for yourself aside and it’s just gotta be about this team, the guy next to you and you gotta have fun doing it, man,” he said.
The heartbreaking 22-19 loss to the AFC West rival Broncos on Sunday all but ended any chance of the Chiefs claiming the division. Kansas City will next host a well-rested 8-2 Colts team that’s coming off the bye.
Kelce, who combatted retirement buzz entering the season, has 50 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns through 10 games this year.
Kickoff between the Chiefs and Colts gets underway Sunday at 1 p.m.
