You can’t imagine Chiefs winning a ‘Super Bowl’ without ‘Travis Kelce’, can you? It’s like when the tight end’s off his game, alarms go off across the NFL. After Kansas City’s latest game against the Falcons, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the burning question: Does Patrick Mahomes really need Kelce to be great to three-peat?

On the First Take show, Smith didn’t mince words. “Oh, yes,” he stated, emphasizing Kelce’s importance. He pointed out that last season, the Chiefs dropped a jaw-dropping 44 passes, underlining how essential a reliable target like Kelce is for Mahomes. “When you’ve got an elite tight end, that’s a security blanket,” he noted. 

Smith went hard on Kelce’s impressive resume, calling him “a future Hall of Fame tight end.” And he’s not just blowing smoke—those numbers don’t lie. The three-time Super Bowl champ and nine-time Pro Bowl selection has racked up over 1,000 receiving yards for seven straight seasons, missing just 16 yards of that last year despite sitting out two games. “He’s Mr. Reliable,” the sports commentator insisted. 

“There’s one thing Patrick Mahomes cannot do. He can’t throw the football and catch it himself. … There’s one person that he can rely upon … and that man is Travis Kelce.”@StephenASmith says the Chiefs need Kelce to three-peat 😤 pic.twitter.com/DoMzhQpAoX

— First Take (@FirstTake) September 25, 2024

Remember that Super Bowl against the Niners? Stephen A. Smith reminded everyone that in crucial moments when San Fran started to take control, Mahomes turned to his trusted target. Travis Kelce was the go-to guy, and the Chiefs need that to succeed. 

But with everything going on in the star TE’s life outside of football, questions have emerged about his focus and performance. Smith noted, “There’s a lot going on in the life of Kelce that extended beyond football.” He acknowledged that while the concerns are legitimate, he’s not overly worried. “Does he need to get it going? Yes,” Smith admitted. But the stakes are high. “Without him, brother, Kansas City ain’t winning no Super Bowl, and I can promise you that.”

As the Chiefs steer through their way this season, it’s clear that Patrick Mahomes cannot do it all alone. “No matter how great Mahomes is, one thing he cannot do is he can’t throw the football and catch it himself. There’s one person that he can rely upon and that man is Travis Kelce,” Smith pointed out. The connection between Mahomes and Kelce’s vital, and without it, their championship dreams could slip away.

In short, Stephen A. Smith makes it clear: if the Chiefs want to three-peat, they need ‘Mr. Reliable’ Travis Kelce at his best, especially considering Mahomes’ comments after the Falcons win.

Patrick Mahomes’ message: Wins aren’t enough when one can do better 

Patrick Mahomes is setting the tone: winning isn’t everything, especially when you know you can play better. After the Chiefs scraped past the Falcons, the star QB dropped some surprising self-criticism that might just make the rest of the NFL rethink their game plans. 

“We haven’t played well in, really, all three games,” he said after the games. Yes, the Chiefs are at 3-0, but Mahomes is not letting that victory champagne get to his head. Irrespective of the wins, Mahomes feels something’s off. His stats—26-of-39 for 217 yards, two TDs, and an interception—might look solid, but for the QB, this isn’t it. He admitted, “I feel like I’m missing opportunities,” clearly holding himself accountable. It’s not just about making throws; it’s about nailing those sweet spots like a true pro.

The three-time Super Bowl champ even called out his footwork, admitting, “I think I’m trusting my arm too much on some of those throws.” Remember that flick he threw to Rashee Rice? Yeah, he was supposed to nail that. “I got to get back to my fundamentals,” he said, proving that even the best have off days.

Even HC Andy Reid, who knows Mahomes like the back of his hand, wasn’t shocked by the candid remarks. “He’s a phenomenal player,” Reid said, emphasizing the importance of finding that rhythm. “I thought he really hit it well in the second half and had some beautiful throws.”

With Mahomes on the warpath for improvement, the NFL better take note. If he cranks it up a notch, the Chiefs won’t just be a team to watch—they’ll be the team to beat.