Travis Kelce is still keeping opposing defenses on their toes.
During the Kansas City Chiefs' Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kelce once again looked to lateral the ball to a teammate. This time, it came on a historic catch for the star tight end.
In the third quarter with the Chiefs leading 16-10 and facing second-and-6 from Pittsburgh's 43-yard line, Patrick Mahomes dropped back and found Kelce over the middle of the field. That's when things got interesting. Kelce secured the ball, then pump-faked a lateral to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, before turning up field for a 19-yard gain.
Kelce wanted the lateral so bad 😂
— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) December 25, 2024
📺 Steelers vs. Chiefs on NFL Game Pass on DAZN pic.twitter.com/3S43GFu6b0
Everyone immediately reacted to it.
Me every time Travis Kelce fakes a lateral pic.twitter.com/tDighwU1ul
— Games with Names (@gameswithnames) December 25, 2024
I kno Kelce was trolling but I wish teams would work it more. The threat of a constant lateral would be TERROR on defenses. If you practiced it and did it with discipline it could really turn you into a monster offense. YAC would go up 25-30%
— point for J (@peachtownJ) December 25, 2024
Yes Kelce is old
— Edwin Porras, DPT (@FBInjuryDoc) December 25, 2024
But man the game has slowed down for him BY DEFINITION if he’s actively still looking for that lateral
Imagine lateraling enough that you've been able to add a pump-fake to your repertoire.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) December 25, 2024
100% he was. I'm sure he is still seething the one to Kadarius Toney was called back
— Total Apex Media (@TotalApexMedia) December 25, 2024
He definitely saw it would be a less than fleet of foot DHop on the receiving end, tucked it and kept going instead 😂 https://t.co/4H58ud3RnB
— Andrew Schnittker (@aschnitt53) December 25, 2024
TRAV WANTED TO LATERAL THAT SO BAD 😭😂
— Lexi (@lexiosborne) December 25, 2024
Threat got him an xtra couple yards. https://t.co/4ryMcFMOSB
— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) December 25, 2024
That reception wasn't just a key 19-yard gain, it was also the 1,000th of Kelce's career, adding to his Hall of Fame credentials. The Chiefs finished the drive with a touchdown and failed two-point conversion to take a 22-10 lead.
On the next possession, they scored again, and Kelce made more history. He capped it with a 12-yard touchdown catch, the 77th of his career, making him the Chiefs' all-time leader in touchdown receptions, passing Tony Gonzalez.
The Chiefs are on the verge of improving to 15-1, with a 29-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fans Loved Travis Kelce's Fake for Trick Play During Historic Completion.
