The Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated (8-0) with pop superstar Taylor Swift in the Arrowhead Stadium crowd during the 2024-25 NFL season. She’ll be there this afternoon when the Chiefs take on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
The AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans was Swift’s 21st Chiefs game since the couple started dating in 2023.
Swift performs songs in bedazzled outfits on stages worldwide. Her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, performs football moves in red and gold uniforms on fields across the United States. Does the star tight end post better stats with Swift cheering from the luxury suite?
Travis Kelce’s Stats With Taylor Swift at Chiefs Games
Divisional Round, 2025 vs. Houston Texans
Stat line: targets (8), receptions (7), yards (117), touchdowns (1)
Result: 23-14
Week 16, 2024 vs. Houston Texans
Stat line: targets (7), receptions (5), yards (30), touchdowns (0)
Result: 27-19
Week 13, 2024 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Stat line: targets (13), receptions (7), yards (68), touchdowns (0)
Result: 19-17
Week 10, 2024 vs. Denver Broncos
Stat line: targets (12), receptions (8), yards (64), touchdowns (1)
Result: 16-14
Week 9, 2024 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stat line: targets (16), receptions (14), yards (100), touchdowns (0)
Result: 30-24
Week 5, 2024 vs. New Orleans Saints
Stat line: targets (10), receptions (9), yards (70), touchdowns (0)
Result: 26-13
Week 2, 2024 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stat line: targets (3), receptions (1), yards (5), touchdowns (0)
Result: 26-25
Week 1, 2024 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stat line: targets (4), receptions (3), yards (34), touchdowns (0)
Result: 27-20
Super Bowl 58 vs. San Fransisco 49ers
Stat line: targets (10), receptions (9), yards (93), touchdowns (0)
Result: 25-22
2023 AFC Championship @ Baltimore Ravens
Stat line: targets (11), receptions (11), yards (116), touchdowns (0)
Result: 17-10
2023 AFC Divisional @ Buffalo Bills
Stat line: targets (6), receptions (5), yards (75), touchdowns (2)
Result: 16-14
2023 Wild Card vs. Miami Dolphins
Stat line: targets (10), receptions (7), yards (71), touchdowns (0)
Result: 26-7
Week 17, 2023 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stat line: targets (4), receptions (3), yards (16), touchdowns (0)
Result: 25-17
Week 16, 2023 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Stat line: targets (7), receptions (5), yards (44), touchdowns (0)
Result: 20-14 (loss)
Week 15, 2023 @ New England Patriots
Stat line: targets (7), receptions (5), yards (28), touchdowns (0)
Result: 27-17
Week 14, 2023 vs. Buffalo Bills
Stat line: targets (10), receptions (6), yards (83), touchdowns (0)
Result: 20-17 (loss)
Week 13, 2023 @ Green Bay Packers
Stat line: targets (5), receptions (4), yards (81), touchdowns (0)
Result: 27-19 (loss)
Week 7, 2023 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stat line: targets (13), receptions (12), yards (179), touchdowns (1)
Result: 31-17
Week 6, 2023 vs. Denver Broncos
Stat line: targets (9), receptions (9), yards (124), touchdowns (0)
Result: 19-8
Week 4, 2023 @ New York Jets
Stat line: targets (9), receptions (6), yards (60), touchdowns (0)
Result: 23-20
Week 3, 2023 vs. Chicago Bears
Stat line: targets (8), receptions (7), yards (69), touchdowns (1)
Result: 41-10
Does Kelce Perform Better In Front of Swift?
Surprisingly (or maybe not for someone with Kelce’s clutch reputation), the numbers suggest he performs better when Swift cheers him on. In the games Swift has attended, Kelce’s stats have seen an uptick compared to when she’s not around.
While Swifties believe Kelce’s pop star girlfriend motivates him, Kelce’s elite performance doesn’t need any extra inspiration — it’s just who he’s always been.
The “Taylor Swift effect” might make for fun headlines, but the data still shows Kelce is a dominant force regardless of who’s in the stands. But if having Swift there brings a little extra magic to Arrowhead Stadium, Chiefs Kingdom isn’t complaining.
Chiefs vs. Bills Game Preview
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kanas City
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Streaming: CBS/Paramount+
Now, Kelce will try to lead the Chiefs past the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
In the Super Bowl era, the Bills and Chiefs are the fifth pair of teams to face each other in the playoffs four times within a five-season span. The Chiefs could become the first team to play in the Super Bowl while seeking a Super Bowl three-peat.
The Bills lead the league in turnover margin this season, including the playoffs, at +27. Buffalo has maintained an even or positive turnover margin in 21 consecutive games dating back to last season, tying the 1952-53 Rams for the longest streak since turnovers became an official stat in 1933.
On the other side, the Chiefs have gone eight straight games without a turnover, the longest streak since turnovers became an official stat in 1933.
Josh Allen is one of the league’s best quarterbacks against the blitz. Including the playoffs, he averages the second-highest EPA(Expected Points Added) per dropback (0.30) when blitzed, with 16 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions.
However, the Chiefs excel at blitzing effectively. Including the playoffs, Kansas City blitzes at the ninth-highest rate in the league (30%) and ranks 10th in pressure rate (44%) when sending extra rushers.
The Bills have been one of the league’s best defenses on early downs this season, ranking fifth in EPA per play (0.08) on first and second down. However, their performance drops significantly on third down, where they rank 31st in EPA per play (-0.26) and have allowed the fifth-highest third-down conversion rate (44%).
That’s an ominous sign against a Chiefs offense that thrives on third downs. Kansas City ranks fourth in third down conversion rate (47.9%) and fourth in EPA per play (0.22) on third down. Conversely, they only rank 15th in EPA per play on first and second down (-0.02).
In two playoff games against the Chiefs, Allen has posted QB+ scores of 86.6 (B) in 2021 and 74.8 (C) in 2023. Meanwhile, Mahomes has earned QB+ scores of 86.9 (B) in 2021 and 79.0 (C+) in 2023 in two postseason games against the Bills.
Many fans (and Houston Texans players) were frustrated with the officiating in Kansas City’s Divisional Round win. Since 2018, the Chiefs have received nine roughing-the-passer calls in the playoffs (including the Will Anderson Jr. call on Saturday), while the rest of the NFL combined has totaled 18 such calls, with no other team receiving more than two.
Kansas City has now made seven consecutive Conference Championship appearances — only the New England Patriots had more in a row (eight from 2011-18) in NFL history.
PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives the Bills a 50.7% chance of winning this game while the Chiefs have 49.3% odds, showing just how close this game should be.