NFL history is within Travis Kelce’s sights as he and the Kansas City Chiefs gear up to host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship on Sunday. The All-Pro tight end is currently in the midst of a stellar playoff run where he’s caught 13 of his 16 targets for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Thanks to that 108-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Super Wild Card Weekend, he is now breathing down the neck of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice in the record books.
Kelce enters the AFC Championship with seven career playoff games of 100 or more receiving yards, which ranks No. 2 all-time. Only Rice stands above him with eight such games, so Kelce could conceivably tie him as early as this weekend against Cincinnati.
Looking at the Bengals track record against tight ends this season, there does seem to be a solid opportunity for Kelce to knot himself up with Rice. This season, the Bengals have allowed opposing tight end units to log 100 or more yards four times. That does not include Cincinnati’s previous matchup against Kansas City in Week 17 when the tight was un uncharacteristically quiet, totaling just 25 yards receiving on five catches.
That said, fellow elite tight ends have been able to put together strong outings against this Cincinnati defense this year like Darren Waller (116 yards in Week 11), George Kittle (151 yards in Week 14), and Mark Andrews (125 yards in Week 16).
Meanwhile, Kelce only needs one more touchdown reception to tie himself with Steelers Hall of Fame receiver John Stallworth for third all-time on the postseason touchdown list with 12 scores. Rice (22) and Rob Gronkowski (15) sit at No. 1 and No. 2 on that list, respectively.
