ATL Standard

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The on-field chemistry between Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce is a significant threat to the Atlanta Falcons' success on Sunday.

The duo has been dynamic since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. Kelce's performance was notable even before that, but his statistics have seen a substantial increase since their partnership began.

"They just have a unique connection," Falcons safety Justin Simmons said. "When you go up against guys like that, they're able to almost just look at each other and telegraph what they need to do in order to get the play done. I think they're both so smart."

Their synergy has contributed significantly to the Chiefs' three Super Bowl victories in the last five seasons, including the last two. While quarterbacks often receive most of the credit for a team's success—Mahomes was named MVP in each of those championships—Kelce has been his favorite target throughout the regular season, leading up to those wins.

"Kelce can line up and kind of diagnose what the defense is presenting, and they can adjust their routes and their play off of that," said Simmons, who played against the Chiefs regularly from 2016-23 while with the Denver Broncos. "We've seen it time and time again. Everyone's like, 'Why is he open?' And it's because they're really good at what they do."

Since 2018, Kelce leads all NFL tight ends in receiving yards with 7,467 yards. The next best is George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers with 5,875 yards. Kelce also leads with 52 receiving touchdowns, which is 16 more than Kittle.

These statistics underscore Kelce's importance alongside Mahomes for Sunday's game against the Falcons. Since joining the league in 2013, Kelce has been a top receiver among tight ends and has achieved seven 1,000-yard seasons from 2016-22.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris remarked on Kelce's unique abilities: "He's an alien," Morris said. "He's unique. He's a freak. You can't necessarily go and draw his routes up on a card... But they work."

Kelce has consistently been Mahomes' primary target except for one year (2021) when wide receiver Tyreek Hill took precedence. He led in receiving yards for the Chiefs in all but two years (2018 and 2021) and has consistently ranked top-3 in receiving touchdowns annually.

"When the play breaks down and we get to that second act of the play, Travis Kelce has a way of finding the hole," Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss noted. "A lot of guys... routine what they do when it comes to a scramble situation... Not Kelce."

Elliss emphasized staying vigilant: "If that's your guy in coverage, stay stuck to him like glue no matter how long the play goes until that whistle blows... Because if not, he's going to make you pay."

Currently standing at 1-1 this season, the Falcons aim to counteract Kelce's impact with a strategic plan whose details remain confidential beyond basic tactics shared by Elliss.

Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake acknowledged Kelce's prowess: "Another player that I believe is going to end up being a first-ballot Hall of Famer," Lake said. "He's one of the best tight ends in the world, and he will be an extreme challenge for our defense."