CELEBRITY
Travis Kelce embraces the Holiday spirit as Santa Claus but his real gift could change Chiefs and NFL history
Chiefs can clinch the top seed in AFC with win over Steelers.
The Kansas City Chiefs are playing their third game in the last 11 days, but they could receive the best possible Christmas present with a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers – a game that will be broadcast on Netflix. If the Chiefs win, they will clinch the top seed in the AFC for the third time in the last five years, guaranteeing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This would also allow Patrick Mahomes to rest in the final week of the season to fully recover from the minor injury he sustained in the win over Cleveland. Additionally, if Andy Reid so chooses, he could rest key players like Travis Kelce and Chris Jones for the final regular season game in Denver, as it wouldn’t affect their playoff seeding.
Santa Kelce Leading the Way
The Chiefs have won 20 of their last 21 games dating back to last season and have posted 14 wins in a single season for just the third time in franchise history – all during the Patrick Mahomes era. To add to the holiday festivities, the Chiefs brought Santa Claus to Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers. But this Santa is delivering gifts exclusively to Chiefs fans – because in this case, Santa is Travis Kelce. Arriving at the stadium with a festive holiday hat and a laser-focused demeanor, Kelce is ready for arguably the most important game of the Chiefs’ season to date as they chase the first three-peat in NFL history.
Speaking of Kelce, the tight end – and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, though she’s not attending tonight’s game – is having his worst season in terms of yards and touchdowns. It’s obvious that his numbers are declining, as last season was already the lowest of his 11-year career, and now, in his 12th year, the trend continues. There’s little doubt that we’ll see his best version in the playoffs, but with the constant rumors of retirement, it’s likely that he’ll call it a career if the Chiefs achieve the three-peat. Kelce himself has admitted that he doesn’t see himself playing many more games, as at 35 years old, his prime is in the past
Mahomes on Fire as Chiefs Eye Home-Field Advantage
Mahomes and the Chiefs clearly want home-field advantage in the playoffs, as their only loss this season came on the road against the Bills. Buffalo and the Ravens are the Chiefs’ two biggest threats in the AFC, and Kansas City would much rather host those teams than play them in their stadiums. If the Chiefs fail to secure a win, they would have to beat Denver next week – a team against which Mahomes holds a 13-1 record. However, for the Broncos, this game could either secure their spot in the playoffs or extend their streak to nine consecutive seasons without postseason action, so obviously it would be better for the Chiefs to win against the Steelers to have “two bye weeks” before the playoffs.
Mahomes is playing at an incredible level and enters the game against the Steelers with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last five games. He’s also gone 199 pass attempts without a pick, and he’s heating up and playing at his best as the playoffs approach. Opponents should fear him and bring their A-game if they want to stop the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight.