What the Chiefs said about Travis Kelce’s drop. And why there’s still hope at 0-2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce walked on the field toward the Kansas City Chiefs’ sideline, just a few steps away from the tunnel that would take him to the postgame locker room.

This one hurt.

The Chiefs had just lost 20-17 to the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium, and Kansas City’s tight end was part of Sunday’s most consequential moment — a fourth-quarter-drop-turned-interception that shifted the odds squarely in the Eagles’ favor.

But before he disappeared from the view of fans, Kelce was greeted by one teammate, who’d slowed down to make sure he could walk with him.

Defensive end George Karlaftis paced a few steps beside Kelce, patting him on the chest before saying three words to the Chiefs’ star tight end:

“Back to work.”

“That’s my guy,” Karlaftis said in the locker room, referring to Kelce. “That’s what it is, win or loss: Back to work. Obviously the loss stings, and we’re going to learn a lot from it.”

Those lessons will have to come quickly, considering the season pickle the Chiefs have put themselves in.

K.C. is 0-2 for the first time since the 2014 season. A team that has made three straight Super Bowls suddenly finds itself potentially in a struggle for a playoff spot.

No one — most likely — feels worse about it than Kelce, though he didn’t make himself available to reporters in the locker room afterward.

That left others to speak on his critical mistake — and one that will circle the sports news cycle as pundits try to figure out what exactly to make of this Chiefs squad.

Let’s rewind. Even after trudging through three quarters offensively, the Chiefs found themselves down 13-10 to start the fourth quarter while driving deep into Eagles territory.

That’s where everything unraveled.

On second-and-goal from the 6, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a low inside pass for Kelce, who’d beaten his defender inside. Kelce, though, appeared to be an instant late turning his head to see the throw.

The ball bounced off his hands, then into the waiting arms of Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba.

It didn’t officially end the ballgame. But after the Eagles followed with a touchdown drive, it essentially killed all Chiefs’ hope.

The advanced numbers said the same. According to the win-probability calculator at rbsdm.com, Kelce’s drop-turned-turnover was worth negative-7.1 points by itself. It also moved the Chiefs’ expected win probability from 53 percent to 24 percent.

In a Super Bowl LIX rematch that was likely going to come down to the margins, it was too big a gaffe to overcome.

Though Kelce didn’t speak about the play, those closest to him attempted to take responsibility for their part in the missed connection.

“We can’t have the turnover,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I’ve got to dial up something different than that.”

“I think if I can put it on his body and not so far out in front of him,” Mahomes added, “then he can catch it, take the hit and get in the end zone.”

After speaking in a pregame Fox Sports interview about needing to be more of a leader for his team, Kelce didn’t deliver on the field Sunday during the most crucial of moments.

But the most important — and likely most encouraging — sign in the postgame locker room came from those who did speak.

Their message, repeatedly, even after a disappointing 0-2 start?

That this Chiefs team is sticking together.

“When you deal with adversity, it’s about how you deal with it,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, this isn’t how we wanted to start, but how are we going to respond? I’m excited for the next few weeks to see who wants to be challenged and how we can get back and really get after it.”

Karlaftis preached a similar message with cameras surrounding him in his corner locker.

“We’ve got a group of guys that, I know, it’s not going to be the tale of this team,” he said of the 0-2 start. “And we’re going to rally behind each other and just give it our all, and we’re going to be successful. We’re going to find a way to find a way.”

Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, a few steps away, spoke about not making excuses but still dealing with all the emotions the correct way. He also said it was essential to funnel these emotions correctly.

“Obviously, we’re pissed off about this one,” Chenal said, “but we’re not going to hang our heads.”

The Chiefs, if nothing else, will have eyes wide open about the hole they’ve dug themselves.

And also the type of history they must overcome.

Like this: K.C. previously has started 0-2 on 15 instances in franchise history. Just one of those times did the Chiefs end up making the playoffs.

Mahomes acknowledged that the team, at the moment, was suffering from making mistakes in big moments. In other words, “Stuff we’re not used to doing.”

“I know it sucks to hear for the fans, but I feel like we’re close,” Mahomes said. “All we can do is just continue to work and continue to get after it and be ready to play the Giants.”

Yes, a road game on “Sunday Night Football” against the New York Giants is next. That’ll be after an entire week of national discussion about whether the Chiefs have the same mojo this season as they’ve had in the past.

Meanwhile, Karlaftis — in his fourth NFL season — remained an interesting character in the aftermath of his team’s defeat Sunday.

Just minutes after encouraging Kelce — a future Hall of Famer — while coming off the field, Karlaftis spoke at his locker with rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte. The first-year player peppered him with questions, while also asking for advice after his first game at Arrowhead Stadium.

Karlaftis, in effect, had become team glue on two ends during a difficult stretch. After uplifting a veteran, Karlaftis looked to encourage a rookie — and also a player who’ll likely need to emerge in the weeks ahead if the Chiefs hope to reach their defensive ceiling.

The Chiefs went 15-2 last season and have a 40-13 regular-season record since Karlaftis joined the team in 2022. He has become part of that culture of success.

And he’s not about to let that slip without doing everything he can to turn things around.

“It’s whatever it takes,” Karlaftis said, “for this team to win.”

(Photo: Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images)

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