Travis Kelce didn’t need much convincing about what made Sunday at Arrowhead feel different.
On the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, the Chiefs tight end pointed to one charged stretch in Kansas City’s 22-6 win over the Chargers as a perfect snapshot of why he loves playing at home.
The Chiefs had just come up empty from the LA 1-yard line in the third quarter, and the Chargers took over backed up near their own goal line. When Justin Herbert tried a quarterback sneak, the moment turned into a near disaster. Kansas City’s defense closed in, the crowd roared, and Herbert ended up taking a delay of game penalty that moved the ball back only inches ... or maybe centimeters.
Kelce said the atmosphere fed directly into the defense’s energy.
“Our defense is flying around right now, man. They are flying around,” Kelce said.
“I think we had four or five sacks this week. A lot of pressures, a lot of PBU’s (pass breakups).
It was electric to feel the crowd get behind them. There were two or three drives there in the third and fourth quarter, I forget which one it was, where all of a sudden I’m on the bench.
I hear the crowd get rocking at Arrowhead, where I had to get up and start to get rowdy with them.
“It’s moments like those that I just love playing an Arrowhead, man. I love having it as our home field advantage, and they ended up having to call a timeout.
I think it was when they were backed up on about the 1-yard line. I think we fell up short as an offense getting a touchdown on fourth down, and they had it on the 1-yard line, and sure enough, I was on the bench (saying), ‘Man, got to find a way to get that ball in that end zone,’ and then the crowd just snapped me right out of it.
And our defense is rocking.”
CBS Sports broadcaster Kevin Harlan, who used to call Chiefs games on the radio, was reminded of similar Arrowhead scenes as the fans made life miserable for Herbert.
In Other News...
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The timing only makes the Chiefs harder to deal with as they head into Week 7 still unbeaten. Mahomes ability to create on the move has always been a separator, and it is giving Kansas City the sort of margin for error most teams do not get. With Kenneth Walker III also drawing notice for his production, the broader picture is the one the rest of the league has been dreading: the Chiefs are finding answers in more than one place, and Mahomes is once again doing the most damaging work when the pocket disappears. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Bolton Just Passed A Chiefs Standard Fans Know Well
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The milestone carries some real weight because the standard he passed belonged to Derrick Johnson, one of the most respected linebackers in Chiefs history. Boltons consistency has become part of the backbone of this defense, and every time he stacks up another big-tackle performance, it reinforces just how central he has been to Kansas Citys recent success. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Passing Game Faces A Bigger Test Than One Shorthanded Win
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs kept the offense moving Sunday against the Chargers even without Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, turning a thin receiver room into a workable one in a 22-6 win. Mahomes finished 23 of 30 for 272 yards, leaning on Travis Kelce and getting meaningful help from Noah Gray, Xavier Worthy and a handful of other pass catchers who were able to stay involved throughout the game.
The bigger question for Kansas City is what this passing game looks like when the competition stiffens and the missing bodies matter more. The Chiefs were able to spread the ball around and still remain productive, with Cyrus Allen, Jalen Royals and Andrew Armstrong all contributing, but Sunday felt more like a proof of survival than a final answer about how the offense will function if the depth chart stays this way. [Read more 🡒]