Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce find time to have fun in close win

The Kansas City Chiefs needed every offensive slam to count towards their narrow 33-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Perhaps that’s why 53% of the Chiefs’ plays have gone to either wide receiver Tyreek Hill or tight end Travis Kelce.

The superstar duo combined for 30 targets, 19 receptions, 272 receiving yards and two touchdowns – both scored by Hill. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes leaned on both pass catchers in the second half to regain the lead and hold a persistent Panthers team.

With all the pressure supposed to be in a game like this, Hill and Kelce found ways to have fun flaunting their monster stat lines.

“It’s always laughs and smiles,” Hill told reporters after the victory. “We always try to find situations to have fun in the game – depending on the score. There was a point in the game where we were down and we called a deep shot, and I said, ‘I know I understand,’ and then Kelce was like, ‘No, I know I understand. So it’s always fun and playful; we just want to go out and win. We’re kind of pushing each other, we’re still trying to see who’s taken the better path because we’re watching the movie together. It’s always fun and fun. “

The two made public jokes. Hill changed her Twitter profile picture to an old Kelce high school photo this week. During her post-game press conference, Kelce warned Hill before changing her own profile picture.

“Tyreek, he’s such a funny man,” Kelce laughs. “I think it might have backfired on him, because I also found some old photos of him.

He went on to explain the chemistry of the organization.

“We’re having so much fun in this attack, in this team and in this building.” Kelce watched. “We just have a lot of great guys who love what they’re doing. So, coming into the building every day you’re going to laugh, but at the same time you know that it matters to a lot of people, so football is always first. So we make sure to take care of business, but we have fun with it. ”

Kelce is definitely doing business. Heading into Week 9, he’s led the NFL’s tight ends in all major receiving categories. After another huge game, his quarterback ensured he recognized his impact.

“It’s something I’ll never take for granted,” Mahomes said of Kelce. “To get into that attack – I’ve never played a tight volley before – and get the best tight volley in the league, it’s special to have a guy that I always know where he’s going to be and he’s going to keep going. to work. “

Mahomes also used the word “special” to describe Tyreek Hill. Their connection resulted in four touchdowns in the past two weeks – but it hasn’t been perfect. There were a few missed opportunities between the two in the first half of Sunday’s game, and Hill was blamed for one of them. In general, Hill is convinced that when the two are not in sync, they will quickly return to the same page.

“Pat is going to be Pat no matter what, and I’m going to be me. Hill pointed out. “I know, if Pat passes me a play or if I drop a pass, we’ll continue to trust each other to come back and make the next play.”

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Hill’s running mate gave him the ultimate praise after the game. Kelce told reporters he believed his game was taken to another level once Hill became part of the Chiefs’ offense in 2016. He continued to hype only one of two. NFL players reach 10 touchdowns so far this season.

“He’s the National Football League’s deadliest threat,” Kelce proclaimed. “In his first two years we had him on the court handing it over to him as a running back and then he moved on to jet sweeps and gadget games that he can absolutely kill you with. Where he has taken his game to another level is his journey. You can’t limit its speed, you can’t.

“Every week it’s not necessarily how to stop Tyreek Hill. That’s how you can contain it, and you can’t contain the cheetah, man.

With all the compliments thrown in, it was fitting that both receivers had the chance to share their thoughts on Mahomes’ level of play. When he responded if he thought the quarterback was playing the best he’s ever had, Kelce praised the amount of movies Mahomes watches before confirming the growing narrative.

“I can definitely second or third that, whoever says so,” Kelce assured. “He’s definitely playing his best ball right now.”

Tyreek Hill agreed.

“The year he threw the 50 touchdowns he was amazing, obviously,” Hill recalls. “But this year it’s like he’s seeing things differently. He makes more looks, he reads defense better, he changes his game. He’s just great, he’s improved.

Entering the week off, Mahomes is on pace for one of the most unique seasons in NFL history – 4,700 yards and 44 touchdowns, but only two turnovers in total.

Mahomes’ big year kept Hill and Kelce on pace with career seasons. Kelce is set to score a career-high 12 TDs, while Hill is on a nearly 18 TD total this year.

As long as this trio puts up that kind of production, they should be in good shape to potentially compete for a second in a row. super bowl Title.