The Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated through the first three games of the 2024 NFL season, but there is a certain subset of fans who aren’t happy with the team’s star quarterback.
Some Swifties are rapidly turning on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Why? Because Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, hasn’t had a great start to the 2024 NFL season. He’s having a career-worst start to an NFL season, recording just eight receptions for 69 yards through three games. It’s an abysmal pace and Kelce hasn’t managed to find the end zone yet this season either.
According to Mahomes, this slow start is all about how much respect defenses have for the future Hall of Fame tight end.
“Yeah, I mean it’s crazy because teams still — the respect factor they have for Travis (Kelce) is just unreal,” Mahomes said after the Week 3 win. “I mean, it’s well deserved, but we’re calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three people are going to him. So, he understands. I think that’s the great thing about him, is he wants to make an impact on the game, but he wants to win at the end of the day. And I’m going to try to do my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he’s there, whenever he’s open.
“I think the more Rashee (Rice) makes plays, the more we’re able to run the football, the more we can get (Xavier) Worthy involved. I think that’s going to open Travis (Kelce) up more. I mean, people are really emphasizing trying to take him away, and it’s getting other guys open.”
Swifties are not buying Mahomes’ explanation. They’re starting to sound a lot like fantasy football players. They flocked to my X post (tweet) about Mahomes’ comments to express their disbelief, dismay, and overall frustration.
“That’s ridiculous we watched the game,” @LifeintoPoetry wrote. “That may have happened a couple of times but he had a window and man coverage on many routes but Patrick didn’t throw it. They better get it fixed fast.”
“He’s a liar,” @taybeautifullll wrote.
“I know a gaslighter when I see one,” @findingtt_ wrote.
“Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining, 15,” @andjustrun wrote. “I’ll be watching the All-22 tomorrow.”
The passion is quite impressive. That’s just a taste of 65 (and counting) replies and quotes from angry (or joking) fans. A few replies even went so far as to suggest that Mahomes is actively not throwing the ball to Kelce when he’s open, which is patently absurd. They say it’s because Swift endorsed the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for president, instead of the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Let’s hope those were jokes.
Bringing things back to reality, Mahomes himself has hardly managed a perfect start to the 2024 NFL season, and he admitted as much on Sunday night. His four interceptions on the season are tied with five others for the third-most in the NFL through three weeks (albeit with two games left to be played on Monday night). He knows he can play better, including finding ways to get Kelce more involved.
Is it possible that Mahomes missed an open Kelce a few times this season? It’s absolutely possible, if not probable. It happens in the NFL, even between players who have boasted a legendary connection in the past. It’s also likely that defenses are doing things schematically to take Kelce away because they know how lethal he can be. It’s also likely that the Chiefs are trying to run their offense through other pieces at times while knowing that Kelce is closer to the end of his career than the beginning of it. What’s unlikely and unfair? The assertion that Kelce’s personal life or relationship with Swift is impacting his play on the field.
But let’s not forget that Kelce had a 41-yard catch-and-run called back on a holding penalty in Week 2 against the Bengals. He also had a key third-down reception ripped from his hands by Falcons S Jessie Bates. He hasn’t been as absent from the key moments as Swifties might think and still has plenty of big ones ahead of him. Week 4 against the Chargers could be a good one as Kelce has 100 receptions for 1,223 yards and nine touchdowns against L.A. in his career.