Watch: Chargers’ Teair Tart Slaps Travis Kelce Hard Mid-Game, Gets Away Without Getting Ejected

While doing so, they managed to shift Teair Tart to their right, where he was then stopped by Travis Kelce. The tight end then used both his hands to shove the 315lb tackle off him. In retaliation, the undrafted star out of FIU smacked Kelce’s helmet.

Teair Tart gets lenient penalty for slapping Travis Kelce

After the slap, Travis Kelce is seen gesturing to the officials and asking them for a penalty. Center Creed Humphrey also joins in, and the officials then relay the information to the review booth.

After a lot of consultation, the officials assessed Teair Tart with an unnecessary roughness penalty. That penalty moved the chain by 9 yards, which enabled Patrick Mahomes to scramble to his right and score a much-needed touchdown.

The problem is that a smack or slap of that sort generally results in an ejection. It could be that officials felt it was not a deliberate punch or one that was intended to cause harm.

Or it could be that they felt the star tight end had done enough to instigate that response. There was no need to shove the big defensive tackle in the first place. However, this adds to the already questionable officiating that has plagued the NFL.

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce combine for TD in next drive

At that point, there were concerns about whether the Kansas City Chiefs had it in them to overcome the outstanding defense Teair Tart and his teammates had displayed throughout the game.

Up until that point, the injury to Xavier Worthy was evident as the Chiefs’ passing attack stuttered with Travis Kelce notching just one catch for 10 yards.

After Patrick Mahomes used his legs to reduce the deficit, the Chargers increased the score back to 8 points with a touchdown before the end of the third quarter.

Entering the 4th, the Chiefs needed a score to keep them in the game and battled through to reach their opponents’ 42-yard line. Knowing time is not on their side, Mahomes and his offense lined up to throw the ball.

His star tight end and close friend started a wheel route slowly and increased his speed when he left his defender in his tracks. Once he caught the ball, the recently engaged Kelce stormed into the end zone to score a touchdown.

That score would bring the deficit down again, but it was not enough. The Chiefs could not convert a 2-point try, and then the Chargers scored one more TD and stopped the Chiefs from scoring one to win the game 27-21.