Travis Kelce's Historic Streak Could Be Sacrificed for the Greater Good

Within the world of sports, there's something sacred about stats and figures. They aren't perfect—judging someone's passing numbers during a rush-dominant era, for example, doesn't tell the full story of their talent—but they do provide a sense of impartial history. Whether you love or hate a player, their numbers stand tall in the history books. And Travis Kelce's stats certainly tower over the competition.

While there's plenty that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end can feel good about, his streak of 1,000-yard seasons is something to be especially proud of. If continued success is the mark of a true star, then Kelce's credentials are undeniable.

The 2023 season, however, may bring that run to an end. Thanks to another quiet week, Kelce is now staring down a situation where his unprecedented run could be sacrificed for the greater good.

Kelce Is Still Chasing 1,000 Yards This Season

2023 was something of a mixed bag for Travis Kelce. While there was a Super Bowl victory and some major personal developments during the year, the tight end's on-field performance has been under the microscope. Whether you believe he's getting old, is thinking about things other than football, or is struggling to create separation as the only reliable receiving threat, his performance has been a lingering concern this season.

Week 17's performance won't do anything to quiet those whispers. The Chiefs managed to secure a win over the Bengals, but Kelce didn't exactly drag the team to victory. He only caught three passes for 16 yards.

That means Kelce hasn't broken 100 receiving yards in a game since October 22. That game, which saw the tight end pull in 12 catches for 179 yards, was also the last time that No. 87 had double-digit catches in a single contest.

His quiet streak leaves him on 984 yards for the season, which would be a respectable haul for most tight ends. Kelce, however, has broken the 1,000-receiving-yard plateau for an incredible seven straight seasons. That's the best haul ever by a tight end. No one else at the position has posted more than back-to-back 1,000 receiving seasons. Even if you want to expand the field to all-time 1,000 yard seasons, the next closest tight-end competition (Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski) clock in with four apiece.

Does widening the gap further really matter? Only Kelce can answer that, but professional athletes are usually rather competitive, especially when it comes to proving their all-time credentials.

The good news is that Kelce is only 16 yards short of the threshold, and the Chiefs have one regular-season game remaining. The bad news, however, is that Kelce's role in the game could be limited.

Kelce Might Not See Much Action Week 18

After Week 17's dust settled, the Chiefs' regular season was, for all intents and purposes, over. While there's still one game on the schedule, the AFC West club was locked into place. No matter what the final round of action holds, KC will enter the postseason as a number-three seed. Their first-round matchup is still up in the air, but that will be determined by other results.

That leaves Andy Reid and his coaching staff with a decision to make. Where does the balance between rest and rust lie? Should the star players get a bit of work in Week 18 before taking an early shower? If so, how much time will they spend on the gridiron? Alternatively, maybe it's best to keep the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Kelce completely off the field. As No. 87 reminded us before Week 1, a freak injury can rear its head at any moment.

When asked about that scenario after beating Cincinnati, Reid said that he hadn't got that far yet.

And while it pales in comparison to the big picture, the idea of resting players makes Kelce's run at another 1,000-yard campaign more complicated. Do you let the tight end play a few series, hoping that he'll secure 16 yards without too much trouble? That sounds straightforward enough, but the 2023 stats suggest that it's easier said than done. No matter where you assign the responsibility, No. 87 simply hasn't been at his best this season. While 2020's Kelce could take the field, run a single route for 20 yards and hit the showers, that player seems to be confined to the past.

An individual record, especially one where the player in question comfortably holds the high-water mark, is insignificant compared to the chase for another championship. At the same time, though, it would still be awkward if Kelce gets a bit of playing time and can't reach the plateau. You can almost see him standing on the sidelines as the crowd urges Reid to give him one more shot.

Ultimately, though, something has to give. And given the tight end's importance to the current Chiefs—regardless of his ups and downs, Kelce is still the undisputed target in must-convert situations—risking him in a meaningless game would be foolish. At the risk of trying to predict the sporting future, there's no way he plays the full game. He'll probably get a quarter or a few series, depending on how the possessions shake out, to take one final run at the record book.

If he reaches 1,000, great. If No. 87 comes up short, tough luck. Playoff health is more important than personal glory.

Whether he makes it or not, though, the fact that we're talking about keeping the streak alive in Week 18 is another reminder of the same uncomfortable truth that Chiefs fans have been staring down all season. Kelce, like it or not, is getting older. He can't be an all-world talent forever. He can't play forever. He's going to retire, and he's going to have to be replaced.

That day will be painful for everyone involved, but it's inching closer. And there's nothing anyone can do about it.