NEED TO KNOW
- The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are formally out of playoff rivalry with their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14
- Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes will not have an opportunity to avenge their 2025 Tremendous Bowl loss in February
- Mahomes was injured within the closing play of the sport
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are formally out of playoff rivalry.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and co. is not going to be competing within the 2025-26 NFL postseason after their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The Chiefs began out effectively with a landing early within the first quarter, and their possibilities appeared promising going into halftime with the rating at 13-3 going into halftime, thanks to 2 subject objectives to the Chargers’ one.
However the Justin Herbert-led group got here out exhausting within the second half, snagging a landing and two subject objectives to place them up 16-13 going into the ultimate quarter. The Chiefs’ finest shot to seize the lead away got here early within the fourth quarter once they appeared poised to attain a landing, just for Mahomes to throw an interception on the Chargers’ 17 yard line.
The Chiefs’ closing shot at a win got here within the final two minutes of the sport, however as Mahomes tried a throw on the Chargers’ 46-yard-line, he appeared to harm his knee as he was pulled to the bottom. The 30-year-old quarterback clutched at his left leg, and gamers had been seen trying frightened as Mahomes was helped off the sphere. His backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew, then threw an interception to finish the sport and seal the Chiefs’ destiny with a 16-13 loss that definitively put them out of the playoffs.
Kelce’s household, together with fiancée Taylor Swift, got here out in full drive for what could possibly be the tight finish’s final significant recreation of his 13-year NFL profession, if he decides to retire after this season. Swift was noticed in his suite alongside her mom Andrea Swift, his mom Donna Kelce and his sister-in-law Kylie Kelce.
Swift and Kylie chatted as they held the Not Gonna Lie podcast host’s 4 kids with husband Jason Kelce: daughters Elliotte Ray, 4, Wyatt Elizabeth, 6, Bennett Llewellyn, 2, and Finnley “Finn” Anne, 8 months.
The Chiefs went into what could possibly be Kelce’s closing season within the NFL with massive hopes to return to the Tremendous Bowl after shedding to the Eagles in New Orleans on the massive recreation a season prior.
Kelce nonetheless has time to make his resolution about whether or not or to not return subsequent season, however the tight finish’s contract with the group will expire and each he and the Chiefs can have a troublesome resolution to make within the offseason.
In November, Kelce mentioned he needs to present the Chiefs “a very good alternative” to enhance their roster within the upcoming offseason by telling them early if he plans to play one other season.
“Like, whether or not they need me again or not, it is a type of issues the place I would prefer to make that call earlier than they have to get draft picks and free company opens up,” Kelce instructed reporters.
He additionally referenced his brother Jason’s emotional resolution to retire in 2024. “, seeing my brother undergo it and seeing…simply how the league works, the season sort of restarts in April, and I wish to give the Chiefs a very good alternative to know whether or not I come again or not,” he mentioned.
Mahomes, in the meantime, lately instructed reporters the potential for Kelce’s retirement has been on his thoughts this season. “Each season I’ve had with him these previous couple of years, I attempt to cherish since you by no means know [if this will be Kelce’s last season],” Mahomes mentioned after their loss on Dec. 7.
“He acquired himself in nice form this yr and he is performed nice soccer,” he added of Kelce.
Mahomes and Kelce have performed alongside each other since 2017, when the quarterback was drafted by the Chiefs and joined the group’s longtime tight finish on offense. Collectively, the duo has spearheaded one of many best dynasties within the historical past of the NFL, successful three Tremendous Bowls and showing in 5 of the final six — a stretch that lives among the many most dominant runs in American sports activities historical past.
