The Kansas City Chiefs may be 9-1 on the 2024 campaign, but for the second straight season, they have had to find a way to win while receiving limited production from star tight end Travis Kelce. And with lower numbers being put up on a weekly basis, some fans believe that Kelce is beginning to lose a step. Kelce’s numbers on the season aren’t anything to scoff at, as he’s hauled in 62 passes for 507 yards and two touchdowns on the year. However, he just turned 35 years old back in October, so it’s fair to wonder whether or not his age is finally catching up to him.

According to former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Mark Schlereth, though, that simply isn’t the case. Schlereth believes that Kelce is just as effective as he’s always been, but he noted that he’s facing an absurd amount of double teams from opposing defenses, which is limiting his production. “There’s this false narrative that goes on in the NFL right now that Travis Kelce has lost a step,” Schlereth said on FS1’s “Breakfast Ball.” “But when you dig into the tape and you really look at it, you watch how many times he faces double teams…The biggest issue to me with the Kansas City Chiefs is…that there’s nobody else in the passing game that threatens you.”

.@markschlereth explains why Travis Kelce’s career-low this season are misleading. “When you dig into the tape… you watch how many times he faces double teams. There’s nobody else in the passing game that threatens you.” pic.twitter.com/h1NOZV15nR — Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) November 21, 2024

Kelce’s numbers are down, but as Schlereth notes, that’s largely due to the amount of attention he’s receiving from opposing defenses. With their opponents not having to worry about guys like Rashee Rice or Marquise Brown since they are on the sidelines with injuries, it’s allowed them to key in on Kelce and eliminate him from the game.

Kansas City attempted to fix this issue by going out and trading for DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans, but against strong teams like the Buffalo Bills, who just handed Kansas City their first loss of the season in Week 11, it’s simply not enough. Come playoff time, Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and the rest of the Chiefs offense have always found a way to win. And if they intend on three-peating as Super Bowl champions, they are going to have to find a way to free up Kelce from some of the attention he’s been receiving from opposing defenses as of late.