Patrick Mahomes sets aside his friendship with Travis Kelce and pushes him to improve h…see more

Patrick Mahomes sets aside his friendship with Travis Kelce and pushes him to improve his numbers
Kelce has struggled despite the Chiefs strong start to the season

Patrick Mahomes called on the remaining members of his Kansas City Chiefs’ offense to step up their game following a tough start to the 2024/25 NFL season with injuries, despite beating the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

The team’s kicker, Harrison Butker, rescued coach Andy Reid from suffering a first defeat since Christmas Day when he made a 51-yard field goal attempt to slip his colleagues past Joe Burrow’s arm in a 26-25 victory on September 15.

It means the defending champions are now 2-0 for the season as they chase a historic and unprecedented third Super Bowl victory in a row, but neither game has been easy in the absence of their running backs, Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire as well as their receiver, Hollywood Brown.

But still armed with an impressive arsenal of talent, Mahomes has called on Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice to make sure they improve ahead of a Week 3 clash with the Atlanta Falcons.

“I think guys got to step up,” Mahomes said of Brown’s injury to 610 Sports Radio. “I mean, obviously, the hope is that he’s able to make it by the end of the year and we can use that momentum into the playoffs.

“But we’ve got to step up in the meantime. I think Brett Veach did a great job of putting a lot of receivers in that room.”

Kelce struggles at the start of the season

Kelce, despite being regarded as one of the best tight ends in NFL history, has experienced a tough start to the season by combining for 39 yards from four receptions through his opening two games, creating fears he has hit the age wall.

The 34-year-old hasn’t been targeted much by Mahomes’ arm, which is what he will point to in his own defense, but his average yards per carry is at 9.8 – the first time it has dipped below double figures in his career.

If things continue at the current rate for the Chiefs, Kelce will only produce 34 receptions for 333 yards and zero touchdowns across the season marking a substantial and worrying sign for the Chiefs, although he should only get better from how he has began.