FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The on-field chemistry between Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce is undeniable, and it's perhaps the biggest threat to the Atlanta Falcons' success on Sunday.
The two have been a dynamic duo ever since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. Kelce, to be fair, was doing well before that. But the majority of his stats have only increased since then.
"They just have a unique connection," Falcons safety Justin Simmons said. "When you go up against guys like that, they're able to almost just look at each other and telegraph what they need to do in order to get the play done. I think they're both so smart."
They're a big part of the reason the Chiefs have won three Super Bowls in the last five seasons, including the last two. Quarterbacks tend to get the most credit for a team's success, and Mahomes was named MVP in each of those championships, but Kelce was his favorite target through the regular-season lead-up that landed the team there. Their partnership is mutually beneficial.
Mahomes has already been given his flowers in Week 3, with an entire story dedicated to his September success. So, now it's Kelce's turn in the spotlight.
"Kelce can line up and kind of diagnose what the defense is presenting, and they can adjust their routes and their play off of that," said Simmons, who played the Chiefs regularly from 2016-23 when he was with the Denver Broncos. "We've seen it time and time again. Everyone's like, 'Why is he open?' And it's because they're really good at what they do."
So much so, Kelce leads all NFL tight ends since 2018 in receiving yards. He has totaled 7,467. The next best is the San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle with 5,875. Kelce's leading 52 receiving touchdowns is also 16 more than that of Kittle.
Those numbers just cover the time Kelce has worked with Mahomes, because they matter more so together for the Falcons' purposes Sunday. Kelce, though, is also the top receiving tight end since 2013, when he joined the league. He has seven 1,000-yard seasons so far in his career from 2016-22. So, again, he was good – really good – even before Mahomes.
In fact, Kelce has been chosen to the last nine consecutive Pro Bowl games, dating back to 2015, his third year overall but first as a full-time starter.
"He's an alien," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "He's unique. He's a freak. You can't necessarily go and draw his routes up on a card. You can't draw his routes up on a piece of paper. I'm not even sure what his routes are. I'm not sure if Patrick knows. I'm not sure if he knows. But they work."
The Chiefs know how well they work, too.
Kelce has been Mahomes' No. 1 target in all but one year (2021, when he was No. 2 behind wide receiver Tyreek Hill). Kelce has produced the most receiving yards for the Chiefs in all but two years (2018 and 2021). He has been top-3 in receiving touchdowns every year.
He's a great first option and perhaps a better second option.
"When the play breaks down and we get to that second act of the play, Travis Kelce has a way of finding the hole," Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss said. "A lot of guys, they kind of routine what they do when it comes to a scramble situation: go to the sideline, turn back, come down to the quarterback. Not Kelce. I just watched one where he's running to the opposite side of the field as Mahomes is running the other way, and they get a completion.
"It's one of those things where you have to keep your eyes on him. If that's your guy in coverage, stay stuck to him like glue no matter how long the play goes until that whistle blows. You got to stay on him. Because if not, he's going to make you pay."
And the Falcons, who are currently 1-1, certainly don't want that.
There's a plan in place to shut down Kelce in Atlanta. The details of that plan, though, are confidential beyond the basics of what Elliss shared. Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake wouldn't get into it, knowing Kelce doesn't need any type of advantage come Sunday.
"Another player that I believe is going to end up being a first-ballot Hall of Famer," Lake said. "He's one of the best tight ends in the world, and he will be an extreme challenge for our defense."
