With their second touchdown connection of the game in the third quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ eventual win over the Buffalo Bills, the prolific duo of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have now combined for the most such passes in NFL postseason history.
They surpassed the storied duo of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to the top spot, which Mahomes addressed after the game.
“Passing anything that has Brady and Gronk in it is special because those are two of the greatest players – Tom is the greatest player and one of the greatest tight ends of all time,” Mahomes told reporters after the game. “And so those are great postseason players, and so to be mentioning that and passing that, you appreciate that.”
Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Passing Tom Brady in Chiefs’ Win Over Bills
The record-setting touchdown came on a shovel pass from less than 10 yards out. Mahomes completed 73.9% of his passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions or sacks.
Kelce had five receptions for 75 yards and two scores on six targets.
“We always emphasize getting Travis the ball,” Mahomes said. “He did a great job of getting himself open. And then once they started putting a lot of attention on him, other guys like [Marquez Valdes-Scantling] made plays. And so that’s what it takes it takes: everybody’s got to make plays in order to win playoff games.”
Chiefs start the 2nd half strong. @tkelce has another TD to give KC the lead!
📺: #KCvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FR6a2VkD33 pic.twitter.com/Yv4IlHu0Zm— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2024
Kelce has now gone over 70 yards in each of the Chiefs’ two playoff games so far. He hadn’t gained more than 44 yards in a single game since Week 13. The nine-time Pro Bowler had 13 grabs for 88 yards on 18 targets over the final three weeks and called himself out during the season.
Brady also took notice of his name coming down off the top of the postseason passing touchdown leaderboard.
Tom Brady Calls Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce ‘Beasts’
“BEASTS,” Brady said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on January 21. “When you one up gronk you’re doing something right.”
The two duos have become tied together in the annals of history, both a testament to their respective accomplishments and an almost unfair comparison that robs each of what made them special.
For Brady and Gronkowski, it was the sustained success; being the constants in the New England Patriots (and later Tampa Bay Buccaneers) while so many other parts changed. Brady was in his 10th season and had already won three Super Bowls when the Patriots drafted Gronkowski.
It was the other way around for Mahomes and Kelce’s ascension has been rapid, with the former in just Year 6.
Kelce was four seasons in with a 1,000-yard campaign to his credit before Mahomes. But their growth and development together have been nothing short of impressive both for the speed with which they have done it and how reliable it has been for them. The only threat could be time.
Insider: Travis Kelce Set to Retire
Kelce, 34, has already played two more seasons than Gronkowski had when he retired.
“I think Travis Kelce’s retiring after this season, just like his brother [Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce],” long-time NFL reporter Michele Tafoya said on CBS Sports Radio on January 21. “I can just say I think he’s looking at future plans. Now with his brother retiring … I could totally see those two pulling a Peyton and Eli Manning sorta gig, maybe on Peacock.”
Main Photo: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
