Talk about a bombshell admission: Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce just straight up confessed to getting away with a blatant holding penalty on Patrick Mahomes’ opening touchdown run against the Broncos in their Week 1 clash, a play that gave Kansas City an early 7-0 lead in their 31-10 win. If you’ve ever felt like the Chiefs get all the breaks, well, you’re not going to be thrilled about what Kelce spilled on the “New Heights” podcast.
The Blatant Miss Everyone Saw (Except the Refs)
The whole thing went down during Mahomes’ 15-yard touchdown scramble, the very first score of the game for the Chiefs. As Mahomes was cruising into the end zone, Kelce clearly got a grip on Denver’s Talanoa Hufanga, literally by the neck, in what should have been a screaming holding call. But did a flag fly? Nope. The touchdown stood, and the Chiefs were off to the races. Kelce himself couldn’t even believe it, admitting on the podcast that it was “definitely a questionable play.” He said, “That’s one of those where you get up slowly like, ‘Please don’t be any laundry on the field.’ I had the man up by his neck. Can’t do it. Can’t do it, almost cost us.” Even ESPN’s Troy Aikman, during the broadcast, noted Kelce “got away with a hold,” and rules analyst Russell Yurk agreed a penalty should have been thrown.
The “Risky Business” That Paid Off
What makes this even wilder is the context. Mahomes had actually scored on the play right before this one too, a second-and-goal from the 5-yard line. But that touchdown got called back because of a holding penalty on Kansas City, pushing them all the way back to the 15-yard line. So, when Mahomes ran it in again on the very next play, this time with Kelce’s uncalled grab, it was like a twisted redo. Kelce knew how big the missed call was, pointing out that a holding penalty there “would’ve taken us out of the red zone.” He called it “risky business right there,” adding, “You know what? Sometimes you’re just living right.” This admission is only going to fuel the fire for all those fans who already suspect NFL officials show bias toward the Chiefs.
Kelce’s honesty here is something, but it does leave a bitter taste. When a player outright admits they should have been flagged for a critical play that changes the whole complexion of an opening drive, it’s hard to just shake that off. It is Week 1, and every little advantage matters, especially early in the season as teams are trying to find their rhythm. This one’s definitely going to be talked about for a while.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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