Travis Kelce Breaks NFL Playoff Records and Leads Chiefs Back to Super Bowl

The Kansas City Chiefs came away with a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon. Along the way, tight end Travis Kelce made playoff history as he helped lead his team to another Super Bowl appearance.

Travis Kelce Playoff Records

Kelce registered seven catches in the first half of Sunday’s game to pass Jerry Rice for the most postseason receptions in NFL history.

He broke the record in the second quarter on an eight-yard pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It was the Chiefs star’s 152nd career catch in the playoffs. Rice, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, recorded 151 postseason catches in his 20-season NFL career.

Kelce has appeared in the playoffs every year since the 2015 season. In this playoff run, he is now up to 21 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Entering the playoffs, the TE had 93 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He led the team in receptions and yards and was second in TD catches.

Kelce is also chasing another of Rice’s postseason records. He scored his 19th playoff touchdown Sunday to cap the Chiefs’ first drive. Rice holds the NFL record for career postseason touchdowns with 22.

Rice likewise holds the record for all-time postseason yards (2,245). Kelce, currently in second with 1,694, still has some work to do to catch up there.

After recently quashing rumors of a potential retirement, Kelce could hold all three records within a couple of years, assuming the Chiefs continue to be the NFL juggernauts they’ve been over the past half-decade.

In the game, the Ravens answered the Kelce TD late in the first quarter with a pass from Lamar Jackson to receiver Zay Flowers for Baltimore’s first points.

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The Chiefs then had a touchdown run from Isiah Pacheco, who had 24 carries for 68 yards in the matchup.

Kansas City then hit a field goal at the end of the second quarter, and those would be all the points they needed to hold on for the win — the only point scored in the second half was a Baltimore field goal.

Kelce finished the championship game with 11 catches for 116 yards.

What makes Kelce’s record-breaking run particularly impressive is the fact that he is a tight end, while Rice is one of the best receivers the NFL has ever seen.

A Hall of Fame player, Rice was enshrined in 2010 after having 14 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion and holds the NFL records for the most career receptions, career receiving yards, and career receiving touchdowns.

Kelce had already broken one record this postseason together with Mahomes. Mahomes and Kelce set the record for most postseason touchdowns for a duo in NFL history with 16, passing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. The new milestone was achieved as Mahomes hit Kelce on a three-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of their Divisional Round matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs are now the third team in Super Bowl history to go to four Super Bowls in five years. The team will take on either the Detroit Lions or the 49ers, who play on Sunday evening.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!