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Chiefs Make Travis Kelce Statement Before Commanders Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 7:21 PM ET

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs secured a second straight win in Week 7, moving to 4-3 on the 2025 NFL season after a dominant 31-0 win over Geno Smith and the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, Kelce and the Chiefs will look to make it three straight when Marcus Mariota and the Washington Commanders come to town in Week 8.

After missing the first six games of 2025 due to a suspension, wide receiver Rashee Rice made his return for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, and immediately proved his value, recording a team-high seven catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns. But that didn’t stop Kelce, who in his 13th NFL season, from leading Kansas City with 54 yards on three receptions.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates after a play against the Philadelphia Eagles.Denny Medley-Imagn Images

With 9:31 left in the first quarter and the Chiefs on their opening drive, Mahomes found a wide-open Kelce along the right sideline for his second catch of the day. The 35-year-old rumbled downfield before being forced out of bounds by a Las Vegas defender, but not before picking up 44 yards and a first down, setting Kansas City up to score.

"Guess who's getting to reap the benefits of all these guys coming back," CBS Sports' Tony Romo said after Kelce's play. "Travis Kelce, you won't have as many people around you anymore. First time we've ever seen Worthy, Rice, Brown, Kelce on the field at the same time. And you see, going to be able to run all the way across the field."

The Chiefs reacted to Kelce's tone-setting play with a social media post.

". @tkelce set the tone early ," the Chiefs wrote on X.