No, the Chiefs didn't intentionally get waxed by the Broncos to keep the Bengals out of the playoffs.
That's according to star tight end Travis Kelce, who gave an expletive-filled response to speculation that Kansas City doesn't want to play the surging Bengals in the postseason.
The Broncos clinched the seventh seed in the AFC on Sunday with a 38-0 victory over the defending Super Bowl champions, who rested several starting pitchers.
Former Eagles center Jason Kelce began by saying, “Some people say it was intentional harassment.'' On Wednesday's episode of the podcast “New Heights” Before Travis, 35, interjects, “I'm not scared of anyone.”
“I wanted them to be in the playoffs,” Travis continued about the Bengals. The Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive and entered Sunday on a five-game winning streak, including a 19-17 win over the division rival Steelers on Saturday to end the regular season. .
“I want to take down the dragons one by one like in 'Mortal Kombat.' I don't want to be in a situation where we're playing the lowest seed. Give me the best team in the AFC, the NFC. Give me all of them.” Please tell me in the style of “Mortal Kombat”. I will look at all of them. Just give them your all. I am not afraid of a single soul. ”
The Bengals and Chiefs have clashed in the AFC Championship in recent years.
Cincinnati defeated Kansas City in January 2022, but lost to the Rams for the championship.
The AFC heavyweights met again the following January, with the Chiefs defeating the Bengals. Kansas City then defeated Jason's Eagles in the 2023 Super Bowl.
The Chiefs defeated the Ravens in last year's AFC title game and won their second straight Super Bowl with an overtime victory over the 49ers in February 2024.
The Chiefs aren't going to play the Bengals for their third consecutive Super Bowl title, but Travis offered an alternative.
“I'll play in the Walmart parking lot,” the nine-time Pro Bowler joked. “I'm not giving anything away. We can play our game in the offseason and really compete. Listen, I love competing against the greats. It was a fun shitty team to watch towards the end. It's a shame they didn't make the playoffs, because the playoffs would have been so much more fun.”
The Bengals, who fell to 4-7 before the bye week, turned around and finished the year with 9-8.
Quarterback Joe Burrow set career highs in touchdowns (43) and yards (4,918) through 17 games and was named MVP.
As the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Chiefs will have a week of rest before next weekend's divisional round.
