Travis Kelce just casually dropped a bombshell, admitting to a missed holding call on “Monday Night Football” that directly led to a Chiefs touchdown. This isn’t some minor infraction tucked away in a quiet corner of the field, either; it’s a confession that adds serious fuel to the fire for everyone who believes the referees have favored Kansas City for years.
Kelce’s “Oops!” Moment Drops on “New Heights”
The tight end laid it all out on the latest episode of “New Heights,” the podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Jason. Apparently, during the Chiefs’ big win over the Broncos, Kelce got away with a blatant hold in one of the game’s biggest moments. We’re talking about the Chiefs’ first touchdown of the season, a 15-yard scramble by Patrick Mahomes into the endzone, kicking off their scoring in that matchup. But according to Kelce himself, that game-changing score probably shouldn’t have counted. He straight-up admitted to holding a Broncos defender on the play. He was so worried about getting flagged, he actually got up slowly, hoping no referee had spotted his move. “It was definitely a questionable play, that’s one of those where you get up slowly like please don’t be any laundry on the field,” Kelce said on the show. “Can’t do it, almost cost us.” Seriously, imagine that relief when no flag flies!
This “Missed Call” Ignites an Old Firestorm
Now, if you’re a Broncos fan, this admission isn’t going to smooth things over one bit. Especially when Kansas City absolutely dominated Denver, winning 31-10 in their own stadium, a three-touchdown blowout. And get this: the Kelce brothers, instead of fretting over the mistake, had a “nice laugh” about it on their podcast. But for the rest of the league? This is far from funny. This “honest admission” just pours gasoline on that long-standing belief that NFL referees somehow favor the Chiefs. The fact that this missed hold was on their *first touchdown* of the season, and it got them off “on the right foot,” just makes it sting more. What makes it even wilder is that the Chiefs already had one Mahomes rushing touchdown called back on the play *immediately prior* to this one! If the referees had actually thrown a flag on Kelce’s hold, Kansas City would have been staring down a 2nd-and-goal situation from about the 25-yard line. Instead, they got the early lead and then pretty much cruised to victory. Yeah, the Chiefs outplayed Denver significantly, and you could argue this single missed call wasn’t *the* deciding factor in the 31-10 beatdown. But you can bet your bottom dollar it absolutely dug the Broncos into a deeper hole from the jump.
So what now? Kelce’s blunt honesty here just keeps that whole “referee bias” conversation buzzing louder than ever. It’s not just about this one play; it’s about the optics, the integrity, and the lasting impression it leaves on fans and rival teams. Every single questionable call involving the Chiefs from here on out is going to be under a microscope. For the NFL, this candid confession means they’ve got to deal with the renewed spotlight on their officiating, especially when it comes to a team that’s had so much success.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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