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Travis Kelce Didn't Know Chiefs Were Losing Playoff Game Until Final Drive

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 16, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 02:  Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attends SiriusXM at Super Bowl LII Radio Row at the Mall of America on February 2, 2018 in Bloomington, Minnesota.  (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce revealed Monday he had no idea his team had blown its 21-3 halftime lead in January's Wild Card loss to the Tennessee Titans after he left the contest with a concussion.

Kelce, who was receiving medical attention during the second half, revealed he didn't get caught up until he got out of an MRI, per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com:

"I missed the entire second half up until the last drive. I jumped out of an MRI machine and looked at the score and (wondered), 'What the heck is going on?' I haven't really peeked at the film ever since because I really don't want to know what the heck just happened. I don't think the people doing the MRIs and the X-rays even watch the game. I don't even there’s a TV in there. I didn't get any updates. Talk about ruin your day. All the air just left my body. I just sat down and had my fingers crossed that (quarterback Alex Smith) could go out there and make some plays and get us on to the next round."

Kelce added that he would have been able to play the team's next game had the Chiefs advanced. But the Titans won, 22-21, outscoring the Chiefs 19-0 in the second half.

Kelce didn't just miss the second half of a playoff loss, he also missed the end of Alex Smith's time in Kansas City. The veteran quarterback was traded to Washington this offseason, clearing the way for Patrick Mahomes to take over the position and leaving Kelce with a new signal-caller this upcoming season.

"He just took control out there on the first day," Kelce said of Mahomes, per the Associated Press (h/t the Tampa Bay Times). "That was the biggest thing, seeing he does have control of the room at a young age. He's not shy taking the lead."

Tom Martin @TomKCTV5

Kelce on Mahomes: “The throws he makes in practice are just mind blowing.” Start filling your bingo cards....

Mahomes will certainly have plenty of talent to work with on offense. Along with returning stars in Kelce, running back Kareem Hunt and wideout Tyreek Hill, the team also added wide receiver Sammy Watkins in free agency.

And Watkins seems excited to work with Mahomes.

"He can throw the ball," he said. "He led the whole process when we were running routes [Monday]. He's going to be a great leader. Caught a couple balls, dropped a couple too, just by his arm strength. But it's going to be a fun time. I can't wait to master this offense."

If Mahomes is the real deal and Watkins bolsters an already dangerous offense, the Chiefs should certainly be back in playoff contention in 2018. Kelce and Co. have the talent in place to advance past the Wild Card Round this time around.