Chiefs’ Travis Kelce sets NFL record for receptions in a playoff game by tight end
On a day when his quarterback had to play through an ankle injury, Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce more than picked up the slack.
He set an NFL playoff record along the way, too.
In the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kelce recorded his 14th catch of the game, to go along with 98 yards and two touchdowns. That mark — 14 catches — set a new NFL playoff record for receptions by a tight end.
The NFL record for receptions by any player in a playoff game is 15.
14 catches for Travis Kelce! @TKelce
: #JAXvsKC on NBC
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/3PQhoYeSUP pic.twitter.com/Rw4ZtnslPE— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2023
Kelce made huge plays from the moment the game started. He caught a jump-pass over the middle from Patrick Mahomes to move the chains early on. In that same drive, he helped bail Mahomes out after the quarterback had to escape the pocket under pressure. Then, Kelce ended the series with a touchdown reception on a throw by Mahomes.
After Mahomes’ ankle injury, which held him out for most of the second quarter, Kelce hauled in a touchdown pass from backup Chad Henne, which capped off a 12-play, 98-yard drive and gave the Chiefs a little breathing room.
Tight end so nice he scored twice. @TKelce
: #JAXvsKC on NBC
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/3PQhoYeSUP pic.twitter.com/oochFaCbW6— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2023
Kelce also made a key third-down reception around the line of scrimmage and gained yardage to put the Chiefs in range for a 50-yard Harrison Butker field goal in the second half.
Kelce ended the regular season without a touchdown in his final six games — after posting five touchdown receptions across the three games prior. But he clearly had no issue ramping up the workload with the playoffs underway and the No. 1 seed Chiefs in need of help against a feisty Jacksonville Jaguars squad.
In the 17-game regular season, Kelce led all tight ends with 110 receptions, 1,338 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.