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Travis Kelce shuts up the haters with a record-breaking catch in the MNF thriller
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Travis Kelce shuts up the haters with a record-breaking catch in the MNF thriller

Those reveling in the loss of the Kansas City Chiefs may be upset to hear that Travis Kelce’s demise may have been overblown. After an abnormally slow start to the season, Kansas City has focused on their future Hall of Famer being more involved in the offense.

It took Kelce until Week 4 to record more than three catches in a game and until Week 8 to find the end zone. Kelce is back in a ditch, though. In four of his last five games, No. 87 has amassed at least seven catches and 70 yards receiving. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were Kelce’s next victim.

Playing against a Tampa Bay team that boasted one of the worst secondaries in the league and came into this game with some serious injury concerns, the stage was set for Kelce to announce to the world (in front of his famous girlfriend, hold account) that he is still one of the best at what he does.

In Kansas City victory with a pulse in overtimeKelce had a career-best 14 catches for 100 yards. The nine-time Pro Bowler had never caught more than 12 passes in a regular-season game before that effort.

Kelce also became the first tight end in NFL history age 35 or older to catch 14 passes in a game. Getting 100 yards every game may not be realistic, but the flashes of the no-doubt All-Pro days are still there. Patrick Mahomes, butt ankle and allled Kelce to the best game of the year.

Kelce clearly benefits from the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, as the new wide receiver no. absorbed most of the defensive attention away from Kelce. The result gave him plenty of free targets over the middle.

Hopkins, who has eight catches for 86 yards and Kansas City’s first two touchdowns in this game, he could be the missing piece that unlocks Kelce and makes this offense work the way it should. In addition to Kelce being targeted more, he looks much quicker and slicker.

The Chiefs can’t pull off the impossible and win three in a row without Kelce looking like his old self. Tampa Bay may have been a perfect match for No. 87, who looks as ready as ever to be a focal point of Kansas City’s passing attack.