Travis Kelce Dismisses Claims Chiefs Intentionally Lost to Broncos to Block Bengals from Playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has vehemently denied allegations that the team deliberately lost their Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos to prevent the Cincinnati Bengals from securing a playoff spot. The Chiefs, who had already clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed, rested several starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kelce himself, leading to a 38-0 defeat.
Critics suggested that the Chiefs’ decision to rest key players was a strategic move to eliminate a potential postseason threat in the Bengals. Addressing these claims on the “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason, Kelce expressed his frustration:
“I ain’t scared of f—ing nobody. I wanted [the Bengals] in the f—ing playoffs. I want to slay every dragon one by one, like Mortal Kombat.”
Kelce emphasized his desire to compete against the best teams, dismissing any notion of the Chiefs avoiding competition:
“Just give me the best teams… AFC, NFC, give me all of them, Mortal Kombat style. I’ll go through every f—ing one of them just giving them my best f—ing effort. I ain’t scared of a single soul, man.”
The Chiefs’ loss to the Broncos, combined with other results, led to the Bengals missing the playoffs despite a strong finish to their season. Kelce acknowledged the Bengals’ impressive performance and expressed regret that they wouldn’t face them in the postseason:
“I wanted to play the Bengals. They were playing some of the best football in the league.”
The Chiefs’ decision to rest starters was primarily to avoid injuries ahead of the playoffs, a common practice for teams with secured playoff positions. Kelce’s passionate rebuttal underscores his competitive spirit and the team’s commitment to facing any challenger in their pursuit of a Super Bowl title.
As the Chiefs prepare for the Divisional Round, Kelce’s statements reflect a focused and fearless mindset, ready to take on any opponent that comes their way.
