“Struggling in terms of stats. I was still playing winning football. That’s all that f—–g matters.” Those were the candid words of Travis Kelce after leading the Chiefs to a victory over the Chargers in week 4. With the reigning champs sitting pretty at 4-0, no doubt the hope for a 3-peat is still alive. But let’s be real—while the team’s success is great, fans are definitely raising an eyebrow at Trav’s dwindling numbers. And who’s getting the side-eye? You guessed it—Taylor Swift! But former DE JJ Watt isn’t buying the Swift blame game, though.

On the Pat McAfee Show, while JJ agreed with McAfee that the critics against Trav currently are wrong, he laid down some real talk for the 34-year-old tight end: “At some point, your stats start to go down. People don’t need to find something to blame it on—his offseason, his girlfriend, whatever it may be. At some point, football’s football, man.” The ex-Texan was talking about the future, not the present. And he might not be wrong.

At 34, the real question isn’t when Trav will retire, but how much longer he can keep pushing himself. Pat McAfee already ranks him among the GOAT tight ends, but as JJ Watt pointed out, expecting too much from a mid-30s player might be a stretch. It’s time to shift those expectations elsewhere because Kelce isn’t the future—he’s part of an incredible legacy.

Kelce’s aware of the chatter surrounding his stats this season, but does he care? Nope! “I’m not listening to the outside noise,” he said, and honestly, he shouldn’t. Winning is the name of the game, and those big numbers? They’re just icing on the cake. Sure, some fans might be blaming Tay-Tay, especially with her missing the last couple of games, but let’s pump the brakes on that train of thought!

The reality is that Swift’s absence from the Chiefs’ games isn’t drama-driven. According to sources, it’s all about security when she’s at different stadiums, not her romance with Travis. “If she is going to a place that isn’t Arrowhead, there are security concerns,” a source shared with PageSix. That’s some classic football logic, right? Keep the focus on the game and let’s not get sidetracked by off-field distractions. And let’s face it, with her busy schedule gearing up for the last leg of her Eras Tour, it’s hard to juggle all those commitments.

But here’s the kicker: stats aren’t everything. Travis joked on the New Heights, “Since when is 89 yards a big game?” It’s true! A big game for him is scoring a touchdown. So, while he may not be racking up the numbers that we’re used to, he’s still making those clutch plays when it counts. Trav’s focus? It’s on getting the “dubs,” no matter the role. But in all honesty, is the Chiefs #87 really struggling?

Travis Kelce: From slow starts to bashing records!

15 receptions for 158 yards and 0 touchdowns over four games might not scream ‘GOAT’ for Travis Kelce. But here’s the kicker: nearly half of those receptions came in one game against the Chargers. Talk about a mic drop! This past Sunday, he shushed the doubters by becoming the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time receptions leader (922), snagging seven catches for 89 yards.

He surpassed the legendary Tony Gonzalez‘s mark of 916 receptions from ’97 to ’08. So, while he may have skipped the locker room chats, his performance did all the talking—proving that sometimes, actions really do speak louder than words!

Now, his ‘slow start’—just eight catches for 69 yards in three games—did raise eyebrows. But Coach Andy Reid had faith in his seasoned vet. “I really don’t care what anybody thinks,” he said, focusing on how defenses treat Kelce. It’s a refreshing perspective, don’t you think? While the world might fret over stats, Reid is all about that work ethic, noting, “He’s all in all the time.” And hey, his teammates had his back too, sporting custom Kelce T-shirts during warmups. It’s a team thing, and that support goes a long way.

Patrick Mahomes wasn’t worried either. “I know whatever we need, he’s going to make plays,” he stated, which, honestly, feels like a nod to their chemistry on and off the field. The duo clicked right away, with Kelce snagging a 38-yard catch on the opening drive to tie the record before breaking it just a few plays later. It’s moments like these that remind us of his playmaking prowess, even when defenses try to clamp down on him.

With injuries impacting the team—Rashee Rice going down against the Chargers—Kelce might find himself in the spotlight even more. Mahomes hinted, “You’ve got to put Kelce back in that situation where he can get high-volume catches.” As Kelce approaches more franchise records, one has to wonder: how much longer can this tight end keep defying the odds?