The Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce shared his take on his team facing a storm of criticism after their shocking 38-0 defeat against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. Having already secured a first-round bye and home-field advantage, the Chiefs chose to rest several key players, including Patrick Mahomes, Kelce, Chris Jones, and Isiah Pacheco. While this decision may seem logical to preserve player health for the playoffs, it sparked outrage among NFL analysts and fans. Many alleged that the Chiefs intentionally threw the game to prevent the Cincinnati Bengals from sneaking into the playoffs. These accusations arose as the Broncos’ dominant victory denied the Bengals the opportunity to claim the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
The theory gained traction when pundits pointed out that a Bengals postseason appearance could have posed a threat to Kansas City, given their contentious history. Criticism centered on the Chiefs' lineup decisions, fueling speculation that they were trying to manipulate the playoff bracket to avoid a potential rematch with Cincinnati. Travis Kelce, however, dismissed these claims outright during his recent conversation, delivering a fiery response to the allegations:
Breaking Down the Controversy
The controversy stems from a sequence of events tied to the AFC playoff picture. For the Bengals to clinch the final playoff spot, three conditions needed to align: they had to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami Dolphins needed to lose, and the Broncos had to fall to the Chiefs. While the first two scenarios played out, the Chiefs' lopsided loss sealed Cincinnati's fate. The Bengals’ fans, left frustrated, attributed their team’s elimination to Kansas City’s perceived lack of effort in Week 18.
On New Heights podcast, Kelce addressed these allegations with unfiltered candor:
“We didn’t f**king throw any game. The idea that the two-time defending Super Bowl champs might be afraid of anyone is ludicrous.” [23:25 onwards]
Kelce highlighted that Kansas City had no obligation to cater to the Bengals' playoff hopes. Instead, the Chiefs prioritized the long-term health of their roster, having already achieved their regular-season goals. Critics also ignored the fact that Kansas City had already beaten Cincinnati in Week 2, proving their mettle against the Bengals earlier in the season.
The accusations ultimately overshadowed a key point: Cincinnati had numerous opportunities to control its own destiny. Costly losses throughout the season—including a Week 1 defeat to the struggling New England Patriots—left the Bengals dependent on external outcomes in Week 18. Instead of pointing fingers at Kansas City, fans might do well to examine their team’s inconsistencies.
Travis Kelce’s emphatic defense serves as a reminder that playoff dynamics are seldom straightforward. While fans and pundits may speculate about the Chiefs’ motives, the reality is far simpler—Kansas City earned the right to rest its stars, regardless of its impact on the Bengals’ playoff aspirations.