Arrowhead Pride
Broncos-Chiefs takeaways: Denver escapes K.C. to stay on track for AFC’s top seed | The Athletic
End of an era?
Kelce hasn’t announced whether he’ll retire at the end of this season. If he does, though, Thursday will be remembered as his final home game at Arrowhead Stadium.
There were times — including during pregame introductions — when Kelce seemed to take an extra second or two to soak up the atmosphere, just in case this was his home curtain call.
Kelce was mostly quiet until the final drive Thursday; he finished with five catches for 36 yards. His 11-yard catch in the first quarter was one of the most memorable as he contributed to a third-and-6 conversion before waving to the crowd in celebration afterward.
Kelce, 36, is expected to decide on his future in the next few months. He’s played 13 seasons in the NFL — all with the Chiefs — while earning a Pro Bowl nod in each of his last 11 campaigns. — Jesse Newell, Chiefs beat writer
The Good, Bad and Ugly, NFL Week 17: Broncos Survive Scare, Vikings End Lions’ Season | SI
Good: Travis Kelce doesn’t go out in an embarrassment at ArrowheadEmpty heading
The Chiefs were supposed to get blown out, going into the game as 13.5-point underdogs in some books. Yet, Kansas City showed some fight, losing by a touchdown to a Denver team attempting to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
On Christmas night, Kelce led the Chiefs with five catches and 36 receiving yards, which doesn’t sound like much until you realize Oladokun threw for only 66 yards in a miserable showing.
If that was it for Kelce at Arrowhead, as we wrote earlier this week, there was nothing to be ashamed of. —Matt Verderame
Broncos-Chiefs on Christmas Day: What We Learned from Denver’s 20-13 win | NFL.com
Oladokun came up just short in first start for Chiefs. Chris Oladokun had to wait four years on the Chiefs’ practice squad for his opportunity to start his first NFL game, and he had a chance to lead a game-tying or winning drive in the final minutes, but it came up just short. Oladokun was held to 43 passing yards prior to the drive, but he hit Travis Kelce three times for 23 yards and had a 7-yard scramble to put the Chiefs in business, down, 20-13, in the waning moments. That’s when a delay of game penalty and two incomplete passes doomed the Chiefs in their third straight home loss. If this was Kelce’s final home game, he finished with five catches for 36 yards as the one consistent weapon in the passing game. His 11-yard catch in the first quarter drew a rousing ovation, but he was targeted only once more until the final drive. The 28-year-old Oladokun played mostly mistake-free ball and threw his first...
