Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are on the verge of missing the NFL playoffs for the first time together as the Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 6-7 on the season with a 20-10 loss to C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 14. Now, to reach the postseason, the Chiefs will likely need to win out and get plenty of help from other teams.
Against the Texans, Mahomes had one of the worst games of his nine-year career, completing 14-of-33 passes for 160 yards and three interceptions. Kelce, 36, wasn’t any better, bringing in just one catch on five targets for eight yards. He also had a crucial drop late in the fourth quarter that led to an interception, allowing Houston to take a two-possession lead.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce during a postgame interview.Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
After Sunday’s loss, Mahomes spoke with reporters about the disappointing performance, but Kelce declined interview requests. But according to the Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell, there was more behind his silence: the tight end was visibly frustrated with both his play and the defeat. Instead of his usual lively behavior, Kelce sat quietly on a locker-room bench for more than 15 minutes, staring down at the floor.
“But in the center of the space sat a future Hall of Famer, oblivious to the commotion surrounding him, picking at his fingernails,” McDowell wrote. “Travis Kelce stayed there for more than 15 minutes, his hands running over his hair, then plastered to his head, one on each side, as he stared down at the carpet.”
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But Kelce wasn’t the only Chiefs captain clearly upset with the loss. Mahomes sat across from his favorite pass-catcher with a towel over his face, reflecting the same frustration.
“The most striking image sat directly across from Kelce — not that he bothered to glance up long enough to see it,” McDowell added. “But there sat his best friend in this league, Patrick Mahomes. A quarterback who has not only accepted the spotlight but thrived in it and sought it sat instead with a towel over his head, intentionally covering his face.”
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Mahomes and Kelce will look to finish the season strong as the Chiefs host Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Related: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs Off-Field Move Announced Before Vikings Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.