Dec 25, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) watch the action against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

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Travis Kelce clears the air on “Chiefs throwing the game away to get the Bengals out” allegations

Kelce denies Chiefs' Week 18 game allegations

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce didn’t hold back when addressing claims that his team intentionally lost their Week 18 game to the Denver Broncos to keep the Cincinnati Bengals out of the playoffs. Speaking on the “New Heights” podcast, co-hosted with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis dismissed the rumors with a fiery response.

Kelce shuts down conspiracy theories

The Chiefs entered Week 18 with the AFC’s No. 1 seed secured, giving them little incentive to risk their starters. Kansas City fielded backups and suffered a 38-0 blowout against the Broncos. This loss indirectly ended the Bengals’ playoff hopes, as Cincinnati needed both a Miami Dolphins loss and a Chiefs win to make it. While the Dolphins lost to the Jets, the Bengals’ postseason dreams were crushed by the Chiefs’ lack of resistance in Denver.

#Chiefs TE Travis Kelce wasn’t having it when asked about claims that they intentionally lost on Sunday to keep the Bengals out of the playoffs:pic.twitter.com/Khanp8fvyg
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 8, 2025

Kelce emphatically denied the notion that the Chiefs purposely threw the game to keep the Bengals out. “I ain’t scared of fing nobody,” Kelce said. “I wanted them in the f***ing playoffs. I want to slay every dragon one by one, like Mortal Kombat.”

The Bengals, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson, had momentum heading into the final weeks of the season. They boasted league-leading stats in passing, receiving, and sacks, making them a dangerous playoff opponent. Yet Kelce welcomed the challenge. “Give me the best teams—AFC, NFC, all of them. I’ll go through every f**ing one of them,” he added.

Bengals’ Cam Taylor-Britt calls “cap” on Kelce’s claims

Not everyone bought Kelce’s defiant stance. Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt dismissed his comments as “cap”—social media slang for lies. The tension between the two teams is nothing new. After the Bengals beat the Chiefs on their way to the Super Bowl in 2022, Cincinnati players mocked Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium by dubbing it “Burrowhead.”

Kelce responded to that jab earlier this year with his own dig: “‘Burrowhead,’ my f**ing ass. It’s Mahomes’ house!”

Chiefs prepare for postseason without regrets

With their starters rested and the No. 1 seed locked, the Chiefs enter the playoffs chasing a historic third straight Super Bowl title. Kelce made it clear that Kansas City isn’t interested in easy paths. “I’ll play the [Bengals] at the Walmart parking lot,” he said. “I don’t give a s**. We can have our own game in the offseason where we really duke it out.”

“Omg, the Chiefs are scared of the Bengals! That’s why they lost on purpose!”

Travis Kelce: pic.twitter.com/uzcVjfVJsV
— Keaton (@kjonesy1587) January 8, 2025

Kelce also praised the Bengals’ late-season run, calling them “a fun-ass f**ing team to watch.” Still, he pointed out that their playoff elimination ultimately wasn’t the Chiefs’ responsibility. “If they wanted to secure a playoff spot, maybe they should’ve handled their own business instead of counting on us,” Kelce remarked.

Image: Imagn

Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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