4 days Ago
The Kansas City Chiefs lost their first game of the 2024 campaign in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, with the final score settling in at 30-21. And in the wake of their defeat, head coach Andy Reid kept it real when discussing the performance of star tight end Travis Kelce. After a slow start to the season, Kelce had come to life over the past three games, hauling in 32 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns during that stretch.
Against the Bills, though, he didn't do much, as he hauled in just two passes for eight yards. Add in the fact that DeAndre Hopkins had just three catches for 29 yards, and it's easy to see why the Chiefs lost. However, Reid noted afterwards that there are other pass catchers on the team besides Kelce and Hopkins, and that they are going to have to step up if opposing defenses continue to fixate on Mahomes' top two targets.
"They bracketed (Kelce) up in certain situations," Reid said via Sports Radio 810 WHB. "DeAndre, they tried to do it in certain situations, but again, we can work through that part. They're not the only two on the field, so the other guys have opportunities when that happens.
" Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins were held to under a combined 40 yards yesterday. Andy Reid told @pgsween , "They're not the only two on the field, so the other guys have opportunities when that happens." pic.
twitter.com/y4y5QDXPTf There's no doubt that the Chiefs rely heavily on Kelce and Hopkins for production on offense, but that creates problems when opposing defenses are able to erase them from the field. Xavier Worthy (four catches, 61 yards, one TD) and Noah Gray (four catches, 23 yards, two TDs) stepped up in this one, but it ultimately wasn't enough.
© Denny Medley-Imagn Images Not every team the Chiefs will run into is as talented as the Bills, but if they intend on winning their third straight Super Bowl, they are going to have to figure out how to consistently score points against top-tier opponents if Kelce and Hopkins are unable to get themselves open. The good news is that Kansas City is still the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the time being, and they will have a fantastic opportunity to get themselves back on track in Week 12 when they take on the Carolina Panthers.
Related: Travis Kelce Blown Away by First-Round Rookie Quarterback.
