The Kansas City Chiefs continue to show their dominance in the defense of their Super Bowl title, consolidating their path to the playoffs with a resounding 29-10 Christmas victory over thePittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The three-peat dream lives on, while Travis Kelce made history with a touchdown that reinforces his legacy as one of the best tight ends in NFL history. Patrick Mahomes also shined with another stellar performance.
As Patrick and Travis were being interviewed after the game, the footballs decorating the stage in front of them hid a sweet surprise. What really caught the eye was the complete opposite reaction from the Chiefs players. While Mahomes showed caution and preferred to avoid risks thinking about the playoffs, Kelce did not hesitate to go on the attack with enthusiasm.
Mahomes and Kelce: two opposite reactions to the same situation
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and tight end were interviewed on the field at the end of the game. In front of them, two footballs were part of the scenery, but in reality they were perfectly decorated red velvet cakes. Upon discovering it, both tried to open them, but Patrick Mahomes was quick to express his doubts: he admitted he was afraid and decided not to eat, justifying that he had to watch his weight for the playoffs. On the other hand, Travis Kelce did not think twice and took a big bite of the cake without any remorse.
This anecdote shows the contrasting personalities of these two Chiefs stars when facing the same situation: a red velvet cake.
A memorable game for Mahomes and Kelce
On the ground, Patrick Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards. Kelce made history by becoming the third tight end to reach 1,000 receptions in the NFL, joining the legendary Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. He also sealed Kansas City's fifth consecutive victory with a 12-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. For his part, Mahomes broke another record by catching the most touchdown passes in his first eight seasons.
Kelce, 35, celebrated the victory by throwing the ball over the goalpost, which earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. In contrast, Mahomes maintained his unblemished 4-0 record against the Steelers, racking up 17 touchdowns against just one interception in those games.
With the win, the Chiefs secured the top seed in the AFC and the coveted BYE in the first round of the playoffs, guaranteeing home-field advantage until a possible Super Bowl LIX at the New Orleans Saints' Superdome.