The Kansas City Chiefs fell 27-19 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, a rough defeat in primetime. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Co. had several opportunities on the final offensive drive to tie up the game, but they ultimately came up short.
Heading back toward the locker room at Lambeau Field after Mahomes’ failed Hail Mary throw, The Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell reported the hallway was “as quiet as you’d imagine.” Amid the silence, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tapped Mahomes on the shoulder and the two bumped fists. In a soft voice, Kelce gave his QB1 a message of support. “Keep playing, dawg,” Kelce said. “Don’t beat yourself up over it, dawg.”
I know they don’t want to call PI on a Hail Mary either, but Travis Kelce is literally being dragged down to the ground 💀
pic.twitter.com/PbgUuC8TbT— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 4, 2023
While it wasn’t clear if Kelce was commenting on a specific play or the loss as a whole, based on the respective players’ postgame comments, neither was lamenting the questionable play-calling from Brad Allen’s crew. Mahomes was asked about the refs not calling defensive passing interference on Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine, who was draped over Chiefs receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling before the ball arrived on that final drive.
“It is what it is, man,” Mahomes told reporters. “Obviously, the guy was probably a little early, but at the end of the game, they’re letting guys play. I’m kind of about that. “I’d rather you let guys play and let guys win it on the field. But it’s a hard job, man. When we’re in that situation, I can’t be wanting a flag. I have to try to go out there and win the game myself and with the rest of my teammates.”
#Chiefs Travis Kelce on officiating: “I ain’t gonna blame this on anybody but ourselves…” @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/Fvs0LUrtKZ
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) December 4, 2023
Kelce told reporters after the loss, “I ain’t gonna blame this on anyone but ourselves, man.” As for what went wrong, “That’s a good football team,” Kelce answered. “And they executed better than us. That’s the bottom line. We’ve just got to keep rallying together and just fighting and growing together.”
