Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce looked like lost figures when the camera clocked the pair chatting on the sidelines as the Kansas City Chiefs were demolished in Super Bowl LIX. The AFC champions were eyeing a historic third straight Super Bowl win in New Orelans but the Philadelphia Eagles destroyed their plans at the Caesars Superdome. The score was 17-0 as the two-minute warning approached in the first half before the cameras panned to Mahomes chatting with Kelce. The pair looked lost for words as their attack failed to fire and Philadelphia took control.
With seven minutes left in the opening half, Mahomes was picked off by Eagles rookie Cooper DeJean, who returned the ball for a 38-yard pick-six. With half-time closing in the Chiefs needed some hope and their quarterback forced another pass when deep in his own territory, which was intercepted. Jalen Hurts then threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Brown and the Chiefs were faced with a mountain to climb in the second half - one they couldn't scale.
Kelce was also left frustrated as he failed to contribute - he didn't catch a single pass in the first half and went unused. Kelce ended up finishing with 39 yards from four receptions as the Chiefs' tight end struggled. Kelce said after the crushing defeat: "We haven't played that bad all year." He wasn't quizzed on his future but Mahomes made it clear that he wants his 35-year-old team-mate to return.
"I'll let Travis make that decision on his own," he said. "He's given so much to this team and to the NFL and been such a joy, not only for me to work with but for people to watch. He knows he still has a lot of football left in him. You can see it. He always makes plays in the biggest moments. "But it's if he wants to put in that grind 'cause it's a grind to go out there and play 20 games, whatever it is, and get to the Super Bowl. He's done enough to be a gold jacket guy and a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but I know he's still got a love for the game. He'll get to spend some time with his family and make that decision on his own.
