“Guys just believe… at the end of the day, you gotta keep pushing.” Patrick Mahomes’ words echoed through the locker room after the Chiefs’ nail-biting victory over the Chargers. But it wasn’t just any win – it was the day Travis Kelce rewrote the Chiefs’ record books.

In a postgame chat with Tracy Wolfson, Mahomes let slip a nugget that speaks volumes about Kelce’s character. “[Travis Kelce] doesn’t care who gets the stats, he just wants to win football games,” the quarterback revealed. Talk about a team player, huh?

Let’s rewind the game tape. There’s Kelce, early in the first quarter, hauling in a 38-yard bomb from Mahomes. Boom – tie game with Tony Gonzalez at 916 catches. A few drives later, a quick 5-yard snag. And just like that, Kelce’s name sits atop the Chiefs’ all-time receptions list. It’s not too shabby for a guy who entered the game with fewer yards than some running backs have rushing attempts.

Remember last week? Kelce looked like someone had stolen his lunch money on the sidelines. “I think with how defenses are playing us right now, I’m not really getting a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field,” he’d grumbled on his podcast. Well, consider Sunday his mic drop moment.

But here’s the kicker – Kelce’s not out there chasing personal glory. Nope, he’s all about those W’s. It’s why his teammates showed up rocking custom Kelce tees before the game.

Kelce’s clutch gene saves Chiefs’ bacon amid injury storm

Just when the Chiefs‘ offense was looking shakier than a rookie’s knees at the NFL Combine, Kelce decided to turn back the clock. Five catches, 74 yards – in the first half alone. By the game’s end? Seven grabs for 89 yards. Talk about picking the perfect time to break out of a slump.

Let’s put this in perspective. The Chiefs’ passing game had been about as exciting as watching paint dry, ranking 12th in the NFL with a measly 211.7 yards per game. Kelce’s explosion bumped that up to 228 yards. Not exactly setting the world on fire, but progress is progress.

And boy, did they need it. The injury bug’s been having a field day with KC’s offense. First, it was Isiah Pacheco hitting the IR after breaking his fibula in Week 2. Then, during Sunday’s game, rookie hotshot Rashee Rice got carted off after a freak collision with Mahomes. Talk about insult to injury.

But that’s where Kelce earns his stripes. When the chips are down, number 87 steps up. It’s why he’s the NFL’s postseason reception king. It’s why, at 34 (soon to be 35), he’s still the straw that stirs KC’s offensive drink.

Mahomes summed it up best: “I know he always has it. And, um, he just, whenever we need him and he comes on, makes plays.” Whether snagging touchdowns or hamming it up on FX’s “Grotesquerie,” Kelce knows how to steal the show. And for Chiefs fans, that’s a performance worth every standing ovation – even if Kelce himself couldn’t care less about the stats.