Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs will place their season on the line against the Houston Texans on Sunday. The Chiefs fell to 6-6 after their disappointing Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys. While another defeat against the Texans will not eliminate them from playoff contention, it will make life very difficult for the Chiefs.
Kelce, who registered five catches for 45 yards and one touchdown in the Week 13 loss to the Cowboys, has sounded off on the Chiefs’ upcoming matchup. The four-time All-Pro tight end sent a strong message about how important Sunday’s game will be.
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) looks on during the game against the Indianapolis Colts.Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Kelce is having another big year for the Chiefs this season. In 12 games played thus far, the 10-time Pro Bowler has already amassed 59 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns. He recently scored his 84th career touchdown, setting a new record for the most touchdowns in the Chiefs’ franchise history.
Kelce’s strong play still hasn’t been enough for the Chiefs, though. At the moment, they are in serious danger of missing out on the playoffs entirely. This is exactly why Kelce has sounded the alarm ahead of Sunday’s big game against Houston.
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“We’ll see you guys at Arrowhead, and hopefully we come away with the [expletive] win,” Kelce said on Tuesday’s episode of his “New Heights” podcast. “A must-need win against a really good football team. We’re fighting [Texans head coach] DeMeco Ryans, man.”
The Chiefs will host Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium, with the weather expected to hover around 20 degrees at kickoff. Kelce expressed how much he’s looking forward to the cold.
“It’s my kind of football, baby,” Kelce said. “Especially after a weekend of rest, go out there and fly around in the ice. [Expletive], man. Take me back. … There’s something about being in the cold and sweating that I feel my most athletic self. I don’t know why that feels like my sanctuary. … There’s something about the cold that just gets my excitement for the game.”
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The Chiefs will need to win all five of their remaining games of the regular season, but even that might not be enough to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. At this point, however, the Chiefs will need to focus on the factors they can control, which is why Kelce has already set his sights on Sunday’s crucial matchup.
Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium is scheduled at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Related: Travis Kelce Makes His Opinion of Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Decision Very Clear
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.