While Patrick Mahomes was initially willing to overlook Tucker moving in on Kansas City’s field space before kickoff of an eventual AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday, Kelce hit his boiling point.
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs dunked all over Justin Tucker and the Baltimore Ravens
A visibly irritated Kelce kicked Tucker’s helmet and a ball away near the end zone, prior to a 17-10 victory for the Chiefs and Super Bowl spot.
While pregame challenges sometimes occur — the teams got into it near the sideline before kickoff, with a light punch being thrown — it’s rare for one side’s player to toss away items being used by an opposing player.
“I asked him (Tucker) to move his stuff,” Mahomes told 610 Sports Radio. “He got up and moved it, I think, two inches but didn’t move it out of the way. I was gonna let it slide, but Travis got in and moved it for me.”
Mahomes said the Chiefs are fine with Tucker overall.
But Kansas City also believes that the Baltimore kicker tries to get under their skin and mentally affect them.
The small acts obviously didn’t work, as the Chiefs ended the Ravens’ season and knocked expected NFL MVP Lamar Jackson out of the playoffs.
“I have a lot of respect for him (Tucker) as a player, one of the best kickers of all time, probably the best kicker of all time,” Mahomes said. “But at the same time, you’ve got to have respect for each team, and we all share the field, and we try to do that in a respectful way.”
Mahomes torched the Ravens, completing 30-of-39 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and a 100.5 rating.
Tucker might regret trying to get in the way of the Super Bowl-bound ChiefsCredit: Getty
Kelce was also sharp, catching a game-high 11 balls fro 116 yards and highlight-reel TD.
While Tucker did hit his only field goal, a 43-yard attempt, the Ravens’ kicker messed with the wrong stars at the wrong time.
His pregame actions only further fired up the Chiefs, who will soon head to Las Vegas to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
The 49ers had a better regular-season record and are favored.
But the Chiefs are reigning NFL champs and have Taylor Swift on their side in 2024.
