Sep 15, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) return to the sidelines after a score against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
NBCNFLBy Sam Neumann on

Travis Kelce hasn’t looked like Travis Kelce.

Everyone knows it, and it’s especially on full display when perhaps he’s the most public figure in the National Football League and yet again struggling for the world to see on primetime Sunday Night Football. Kelce isn’t the only Chiefs player who’s struggled’ Patrick Mahomes doesn’t quite look right, either, and yet, Kansas City is 3-0.

But that didn’t stop NBC’s Cris Collinsworth from sounding the alarm on the Chiefs All-Pro tight end, as well as his quarterback counterpart. He didn’t mince words when talking about how the “magic” with Mahomes and Kelce was just not there at the moment.

“I’m just flabbergasted. I mean, one game, big deal. Two games, alright,” says Collinsworth. “This is the third game now where we have not seen the magic of Mahomes and Kelce, and I can’t really explain that one.”

As the game headed into halftime, Mike Tirico acknowledged that Kelce had played 10 quarters and just six receptions. Well, after the 22-17 win, he’s now played 12 quarters and has just eight receptions and 69 yards to show for it.

There’s more at play here, and former Chiefs All-Pro offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz highlighted Kelce putting in the work that doesn’t get acknowledged on the box score. Even then, that doesn’t show why there’s been this big disconnect between the best duo since Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

Kelce’s still playing at a high level, but the connection between him and Mahomes for three games just hasn’t been there for whatever reason — and Collinsworth is “flabbergasted.”

Whether it’s an adjustment period, or simply a slump, the Kelce-Mahomes connection just hasn’t been the same.

As Collinsworth put it, the “magic” is missing, and after three games, fans are left wondering why. However, if there’s any duo capable of bouncing back, it’s these two. The Chiefs are 3-0 despite the struggles, and if Kelce and Mahomes can rediscover their spark, the rest of the league will have much more to worry about.

For now, though, we can only wait and watch, flabbergasted, just like Collinsworth.

[SNF on NBC]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

View all posts by Sam Neumann