Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most postseason receptions ever in Sunday's AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Kelce made the 152nd playoff catch of his career in the second quarter. The 34-year-old needed seven catches early in the game to pass Rice for the most in postseason history. At halftime, he had nine catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Kelce has been consistent this postseason, having a streak of 12 postseason games with at least five catches. He led the Chiefs in receiving this season with 984 yards on 93 receptions.
What makes Kelce so effective?
Kelce's longevity, endurance and athleticism allowed him to break a record that was remarkable even for the postseason. Rice has always been, and always will be, the highest standard when it comes to Hall of Fame pass catchers. Kelce played alongside Mahomes and was as reliable for Mahomes as Rice was for Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. Many opposing defenses have tried to limit Kelce's effectiveness by trying to hinder him at the offensive line, assigning two defenders to cover him, or putting their best defender on him.
Kelce always had the right answer to the chess game, whether it was using his routes at will against zone coverage or simply outrunning or overpowering a defender to make a contested catch. One of the main reasons the Chiefs have reached six straight AFC Championship Games and won two Super Bowls in four years is because they have Kelce, the best receiving tight end in the NFL's 104-year history. – Nate Taylor, Chiefs staff writer
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(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)