Travis Kelce went from a season-best 12 receptions for 179 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers to being bottled to six grabs for just 58 yards in the Kansas City Chiefs’ stunning 24-9 Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos.
One Broncos and NFL legend in Shannon Sharpe, though, believed Kelce’s disappointing performance had something to do with a Friday decision — and it didn’t involve Kelce’s beau Taylor Swift.
Shannon Sharpe Criticizes Travis Kelce for Attending the World Series in Short Timing
Speaking on his podcast The Nightcap alongside former NFL wide receiver and multiple Pro Bowler Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Sharpe called Kelce’s appearance at the World Series down in Arlington, Texas an “awful look” for the All-Pro TE.
Sharpe’s reasoning behind the criticism? He believes the short time for Kelce to fly to Texas and then Colorado for his Sunday game.
Shannon Sharpe blasts #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce for attending a World Series game last Friday night:
"It's an awful look… This is the NFL, you got a game on Sunday." (via @NightcapShow_)
Thoughts? 🤔
More on the streak ending: https://t.co/rmpwxJzYcC#ChiefsKingdom | #NFL pic.twitter.com/xfFVUrduGL
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 30, 2023
“We know the only receiver [Patrick Mahomes] can consistently count on is Travis Kelce, and he didn’t have his best day. And I’m kind of disappointed because, Friday night he was at the [Texas] Rangers game,” Sharpe pointed.
When Johnson asked why Sharpe took issue with Kelce going to Game 1 between the home team Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, including asking why Kelce can’t enjoy himself on a Friday night, Sharpe yelled out, “It’s the middle of the season! What do you mean what’s wrong with that?”
“It was in Texas. He lives in Kansas City,” Sharpe told Johnson.
Johnson then reacted with an “oh s—. OK,” before asking again why it was a bad look for Kelce.
“It’s an awful look. It’s a terrible look,” Sharpe responded. “Now if it was a bye week, Ocho, you do realize this is the NFL. You’ve got a game on Sunday, you’re going to board a plane?”
Was Sunday the Worst Game of 2023 for Kelce?
Following Kelce’s appearance at Choctaw Stadium, did the two-time Super Bowl winner deliver his worst performance yet?
Turns out it was his second-worst outing in terms of receiving yards.
By settling for 58 yards, that output becomes the second-fewest yardage in a game for Kelce. His fewest was being held to 26 yards in the 17-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Outside of the low-yard output, Kelce was kept out of the end zone along with the rest of the Chiefs’ offense at Empower Field at Mile High. It’s the third time this season Kelce didn’t cross the goal line.
His teammate Mahomes, though, deflected the blame on the offense as a whole and not Kelce after the loss with reporters.
“It wasn’t good enough,” Mahomes began while also mentioning his two-turnover day. “They did a good job against us with their defense, but we’ve got to execute at a higher level. And we clearly haven’t done that in the last two games we’ve played against them.”
Mahomes added, “I’ve got to be better, and the offense has to be better. It’s the worst I’ve felt walking out of that stadium.”
Again, the NFL Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion Sharpe believes that Kelce came into the Week 8 game with travel lag and rust from his quick trip to the first game of the World Series.
“Every coach I’ve ever played for has told us one thing on Friday: Make sure you get off your feet,” Sharpe told Johnson.
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