ESPN author Don Van Natta Jr. went viral this previous Sunday when he accused the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs of “taking a dive” en path to struggling a 38-0 Week 18 loss to the rival Denver Broncos that resulted in 10-7 Denver clinching a playoff berth and the 9-8 Cincinnati Bengals being eradicated from the postseason.
Throughout the newest version of his “New Heights” podcast, All-Professional Kansas Metropolis tight finish Travis Kelce addressed takes that claimed people inside the Chiefs might have been “scared” of doubtless seeing the Bengals and star quarterback Joe Burrow throughout the playoffs.
“I ain’t fearful of [expletive] no one. I wished them within the [expletive] playoffs,” Kelce instantly stated in regards to the Bengals, as shared by Andy Nesbitt of Sports activities Illustrated. “I need to slay each dragon one after the other like ‘Mortal Kombat.’ I don’t even need this to be, we play the bottom seed. Simply give me the very best groups. AFC, NFC, give me all of them, ‘Mortal Kombat’ type. I’ll undergo each [expletive] certainly one of them giving them my finest [expletive] effort.”
Understandably, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid rested starters towards the Broncos, as Kansas Metropolis was already locked into the No. 1 seed for the AFC portion of the postseason event following a Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that stated, the Bengals closed the marketing campaign with 5 straight victories and will have featured the league’s Most Helpful Participant Award winner for the common season had they made the playoffs.
Per Pro Football Reference, Burrow ended Week 18 main the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns for the season. He’s third amongst certified gamers with a 75.0 adjusted QBR and a 108.5 passer score.
For what it is price, Kelce and the Chiefs defeated the Bengals in January 2023 en path to profitable Tremendous Bowl LVII. Cincinnati beat Kansas Metropolis within the AFC Championship Recreation again in January 2022.
“The Bengals have been a [expletive] enjoyable group to observe in the direction of the tip of the season,” Kelce added throughout the podcast. “It’s a disgrace they didn’t make it within the playoffs as a result of it might have made the playoffs that a lot [expletive] crazier and that a lot extra enjoyable.”
The Chiefs will now hope to have enjoyable by hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy for a 3rd straight yr, whereas Burrow and Co. are left questioning what may have been had Cincinnati not suffered a Week 1 loss to the lowly New England Patriots (4-13) in September.
