"I'm always competing my a** off, man": Travis Kelce breaks down his playoff prowess after an underwhelming 2024 regular season

Travis Kelce delivered in the Chiefs' divisional playoff clash against the Houston Texans on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. After an underwhelming season, where he could only record three touchdowns and 97 receptions for 823 yards, Kelce was phenomenal in the playoff game. He recorded a touchdown and seven receptions for 117 yards, helping the team advance to the AFC Championship title game.

Kelce discussed his performance after struggling during the regular season in Ep. 121 of the "New Heights" podcast, which the Chiefs' tight end hosts with his brother Jason Kelce.

"When the ball is in our hands, we make plays when we're called upon," Travis said (at 16:28). "And I was fortunate that I had seven to eight chances to make a play. I failed on one, and had a ball slapped out of my hand early on and, you know, from that point on, I felt like I could get a rhythm and get going here, but at the same time, it's just football, baby.

"There's never a time where I'm, you know, holding back and I gotta make sure I keep some things in my back pocket. I'm always competing my a** off, man."

Travis Kelce had 110 receptions for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2022 NFL season. From 2016 to 2022, he averaged more than 1,000 receiving yards every season. However, in 2023, he had 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns, and his performance dipped further in the 2024 regular season.

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Patrick Mahomes praises Travis Kelce for game in the Chiefs' Divisional Playoff

Travis Kelce grabbed headlines after his remarkable performance in the divisional playoff. The Chiefs shared a post on their Instagram page, praising the tight end's performance with a four-word caption, writing:

"Playoff Trav is different."

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also appreciated Travis Kelce for his performance, saying (via ESPN):

"He goes out there and does that, and it seems like he does it in every single playoff game. He doesn't let the moment be bigger than what it is. He just goes out there and executes at a high level just like he does in a regular-season game. He just does that with a little bit higher intensity."

Travis Kelce had a record-breaking performance against the Texans. It was his ninth time recording 100 yards in a postseason game, and with that, the 35-year-old surpassed Jerry Rice for the most 100-yard games in the postseason.

The Chiefs are all set to play in the AFC Championship title game against the Buffalo Bills at the Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.