Travis Kelce Takes Accountability After Late-Game Drop in Chiefs’ Loss to Texans
In a season where the Kansas City Chiefs have struggled to find their usual rhythm, Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans offered another frustrating chapter - and this time, it was Travis Kelce at the center of it.
With the game hanging in the balance and the Chiefs mounting a potential comeback drive, Patrick Mahomes looked to his most trusted target. On second down, Mahomes fired a pass to Kelce, who had a shot to keep the chains moving.
But the ball slipped through the tight end’s hands and into the arms of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Houston capitalized with a field goal 30 seconds later, putting the game - and perhaps the Chiefs’ postseason hopes - out of reach.
It was a rare misstep from one of the most reliable pass-catchers in the league. Kelce, a 10-time Pro Bowler and the emotional heartbeat of this offense, didn’t shy away from the moment. On Wednesday’s episode of his podcast New Heights, Kelce opened up about the drop and the weight of the team’s recent struggles.
“It’s been a tough fing go around for the past two days,” Kelce said. “You put in all this fing work and hope that it pays off.
And right now, just for whatever f***ing reason, man, it’s little things. It’s… I don’t know, discipline.
I feel like I’ve always had the answers in years past, and this year… I just can’t find them.”
Kelce’s frustration was raw and honest - the kind of emotion that comes from a player who’s used to performing at the highest level and holding himself to that standard. The drop wasn’t just a missed opportunity; it was a symbolic moment in a season that’s been defined by inconsistency and uncharacteristic mistakes.
“It’s a shy fing feeling, especially dropping the fing ball late in the game like that when we were on our last fing chance,” Kelce continued. “You put in all this work to be there for your guys. And I just… I just wasn’t that.”
For a player who’s made a career out of coming through in clutch moments, the drop stung. And his stat line told the story: one catch on five targets for just eight yards - his second one-catch game since 2019. After the game, Kelce declined to speak with reporters, but his podcast gave fans a window into just how much the moment weighed on him.
Mahomes, ever the leader, stood by his tight end after the game. He acknowledged the mistake, but also pointed the finger at himself.
“I know we’ll give it everything we have and give ourselves a chance and see what happens,” Mahomes said, adding that he could’ve delivered a better ball.
That’s the kind of accountability that’s defined this duo for years - a quarterback and tight end who have built their legacy on trust, chemistry, and shared responsibility. But even with that connection, the Chiefs’ offense hasn’t looked like its usual self this season. Drops, penalties, and miscommunications have plagued a unit that’s long been one of the most feared in football.
Sunday’s loss dropped Kansas City to 6-7, officially eliminating them from the AFC West title race and ending Andy Reid’s remarkable nine-year run of division championships. It’s unfamiliar territory for a team that’s been a postseason fixture and perennial Super Bowl contender.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier. The Chiefs close out the season with games against the Chargers, Titans, Broncos, and Raiders - all teams with something to play for. Kansas City will need to win out and get some help if they want to sneak into the playoffs.
But if there’s a silver lining, it’s this: the Chiefs still have Mahomes. They still have Kelce. And even in a season where the magic has been harder to find, that core - battle-tested and bonded by years of success - isn’t going down without a fight.
For now, though, the focus is on cleaning up the little things. Because as Kelce said, it’s the little things that are costing them. And in December football, those little things make all the difference.