The Kansas City Chiefs have shown glimpses of their old ways several times this season, but consistency from week to week has been lacking when it comes to stringing together wins - something unfamiliar during Patrick Mahomes' tenure as quarterback.
Now 5-5 entering Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts, Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce, widely regarded as a leader in the locker room, issued a strong seven-word warning to his teammates during the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, urging everyone that it's time to figure things out as the postseason slowly approaches.
“It’s about time we put it together,” Kelce stated.
Travis was asked by his brother Jason whether he'd take this year's Chiefs team or last year's Super Bowl squad in a head-to-head matchup. Travis sided with his current team, reflecting his frustration with their 5-5 record, currently good for third place in the AFC West.
“I’m taking this year’s,” Kelce said. “It’s even more frustrating knowing the kind of guys we have, the type of talent we have, the coaches we have… we’ve seen what this train looks like when we’re rocking and rolling and having fun. We just have to get back to playing Chiefs football.”
The Chiefs are entering murky territory if they can't start stringing together wins down the stretch, as the division is already significantly out of reach - for now. The Denver Broncos sit at 9-2, holding a head-to-head victory over Kansas City.
If the season ended today, the Chiefs would miss the playoffs - a scenario that has never happened in the Patrick Mahomes era. In fact, they've never failed to reach the AFC Championship Game during his tenure.
The remainder of their schedule isn't brutal, but it does include three AFC West showdowns against each of the other division teams. They likely can't afford to lose more than two games if they hope to make the postseason.
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