The reasons Travis Kelce may have a huge game in Week 16 for Chiefs

Billy Heyen

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The reasons Travis Kelce may have a huge game in Week 16 for Chiefs image

The Kansas City Chiefs don't really have anything to play for in Week 16.

They're officially eliminated from the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes has a torn ACL. And they can't even play spoiler, because the other sideline features the lowly Tennessee Titans.

Travis Kelce, though, might be looking at a big game.

Fantasy sports writer Mark Garcia explained it this way in a post on X:

"Travis Kelce is an UFA, is getting married in the offseason, was just eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in his career, and is 99 yards shy of moving into second on the career tight end receiving list and 203 yards shy of his 8th 1,000-yard season."

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The implication? Kelce may get a lot of looks.

Teams don't always push to get their players certain numbers or statistics. But for the Chiefs at this point, there really isn't much else to go for.

They might have a better idea inside the building as to whether Kelce is leaning toward retirement or not. But a lot of things would certainly have it make sense for him to hang up his cleats after this campaign.

Kelce's usage down the stretch could also provide a hint at that. The more the Chiefs play him, the less they would appear to be worried about his health for next season and the more they may just be seeking to send him out with a bang.

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The last couple seasons haven't been Kelce's best. At 36, he's certainly not the player he once was.

But it would make some sense for Gardner Minshew to look Kelce's way early and often on Sunday. Don't be surprised if he has a huge day.

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Contributing Writer