Today was the fourth game of the season that the Chiefs’ scored 27 or more points. The other three were against the Bears (41-10), the Vikings (27-20), and the Chargers (31-17). In all three of those games Travis Kelce led the Chiefs in total receiving yards. Today’s win against the Raiders marks the first time this season that the Chiefs scored 27 or more points and had their receiving yards led by a player other than Kelce - Rashee Rice with 107 yards (Kelce had a not too shabby 91 yards himself).
It’s also worth noting that it’s the first of these games where Kelce did not also lead in targets. He led in targets in every other game of 27 or more points. Today he was second behind Rice’s 10.
They’ve been doubling and tripling Travis all year. Receivers needed a “and I took that personally” moment and yesterday is maybe the start.
At one point, I saw Travis downfield in receiver mode with two Raiders standing right next to him on each side. He’s had 2-3 guys from the other team on him for the last 3 straight games, and I feel like teams have tapped into that strategy to ensure that he doesn’t get the ball. Sucks for him and us.