Patrick Mahomes’ praise of Travis Kelce says it all. With their collective offensive dominance in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and tight end duo have done just that. The tandem of Kelce’s unmatched playmaking ability (7 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons) and Mahomes’ MVP-caliber game form is the glue for one of the most dangerous offenses in NFL history.

This weekend’s Chiefs are slated to face the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round, and everyone is putting their hopes on this young tandem to do it all over again. The Chiefs – coming off a first-round bye after 15-2, a season-high 15 victories – have a historic quest to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. And the Texans are an excellent opponent, but as no one knows better than Mahomes and Kelce: the playoffs are the stuff of legends.

 On Kelce’s selflessness

At the close of the 2023 regular season against the Los Angeles Chargers, Kelce was 16 yards away from an eighth 1,000-yard season. That would have been yet another TD for someone who has already established himself as the best tight end in his generation. But Kelce chose to pursue the team first rather than his glory and that decision is an example of Kelce’s team-first attitude.

“He obviously could’ve gotten the 1,000 yards pretty quickly there, and all of us wanted him to get it. But he said, ‘That’s not my goal. My goal is to win the Super Bowl.’ It inspired the team.”, said Mahomes, who was on board with the move. It fired up the team.

“I was never into this,” Kelce shared later. “It never felt right to go out there chasing stats. I was kind of in and out of practice all week. For me to just jump in on game day and try to get 15 [or] 16 yards… which is a lot harder than what you guys think it is. Even though I had a hundred and something against the Chargers earlier that year, it’s hard to do that twice against a team.”

He reasoned far beyond strategy. “It had nothing to really do with my health… it just didn’t feel right in my gut. If I could get some rest going into next week and stay off the turf in LA and just avoid some hits, man, I was all for that to gear up for the playoffs here.”

Kelce’s struggles and redemption

Kelce’s decision wasn’t always easy. He deserved every minute of sleep before the playoffs after his season was over, and the sport of his trade had called for all his muscle. But it was not just to keep his feet from wilting: he wanted to be a leader. And then when the playoffs started, Kelce showed everyone why he’s a Hall of Famer.

“He has the heart of a champion, and I think that inspires everybody,” Mahomes said of the superstar. “When your leaders and your Hall of Fame guys are doing that, I think everybody knows that they gotta put it all out on the line.”

The Chiefs grabbed the AFC’s No. 1 seed, a 15-2 regular season record. Kelce is a “champion,” Mahomes told reporters with “grit and determination” as he plays not just in his leadership role but in the locker room. “The greats, they step up in the playoffs,” Mahomes said, and Kelce was that guy again.

Next up for the Chiefs will be a matchup against the Texans. The Texans were lucky enough to knock off the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round but now have to host an over-heated and already guaranteed Chiefs squad at GEHA Field Arrowhead Stadium. There’s just too much riding on it as Kansas City seeks to make it three consecutive Lombardi Trophy runs.

The Chiefs have the best offense in the NFL, thanks to Mahomes and Kelce getting the boot off the bottom. Not because they’re talented — they’re successful because of moments like Kelce’s sacrifice, Mahomes’ leadership, and a culture where success in the collective is more important than anything.

Because in Kansas City, records are good, and rings are everything. And the Chiefs will move the next step in making their dynasty happen this weekend.