In a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis Kelce addressed the struggles faced by the Kansas City Chiefs at the start of the season. The Chiefs, who began with a disappointing 0-2 record, have since managed to recover, but the early losses left a mark. Kelce, recognized as one of the top tight ends in the NFL, acknowledged his role in the team”s lack of success during those initial games.
During the discussion, Jason Kelce, Travis” brother and former center for the Philadelphia Eagles, chimed in to critique the Chiefs” performance, particularly focusing on the Week 2 loss to the Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl champions. In that game, Travis missed a crucial catch in the end zone near the game”s conclusion, which allowed Philadelphia to secure a narrow 20-17 victory.
“In the end zone right before half, yeah. I feel like we have a better chance at getting a field goal there late instead of a touchdown,” Travis reflected on the missed opportunity.
Jason then took the opportunity to voice his frustrations regarding the coaching decisions made by Andy Reid, the Chiefs” head coach. He emphasized the importance of executing the “Tush Push” play, a tactic that has gained traction since the Eagles effectively utilized it with quarterback Jalen Hurts. “That play before half, we got to be able to push that thing in,” Jason stated. “They got two. We need to get the Tush Push down, and we need Noah Gray or somebody over there to get the Tush Push down. That”s how they scored every time they got to the one-yard line.”
Jason”s frustration peaked when he declared, “You can”t go into halftime only getting three points because you don”t f***ing got a Tush Push in the goddamn play.” He reiterated the need for the Chiefs to adopt this strategy to improve their scoring chances.
The Tush Push, also known as the Brotherly Shove, has become a hallmark for the Eagles, who have successfully converted this play in critical short-yardage situations, boasting an impressive conversion rate. In fact, the Eagles have completed the play nearly 97 percent of the time in fourth-and-1 scenarios since 2022, prompting discussions about potentially banning the tactic due to its effectiveness.
Despite the rocky start, the Chiefs have bounced back, winning five out of their last seven games since their defeat to the Eagles. One notable highlight for Travis occurred when he achieved his 83rd career touchdown against the Washington Commanders, tying the franchise record previously held by Kansas City icon Priest Holmes.
However, the team faced a setback in Week 9, losing 28-21 to the Buffalo Bills. Currently, the Chiefs sit at 5-4, placing them third in the highly competitive AFC West behind the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers. With a bye week now upon them, the Chiefs will return to action on November 16 for a divisional showdown against Denver.
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