By Reice ShipleyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSitting at 6-6 on the year multiple games out of the AFC Wild Card picture, the Kansas City Chiefs have their back squarely up against the wall heading into their Week 14 matchup against the Houston Texans. Despite the less than ideal situation the Chiefs find themselves in, Travis Kelce remains confident that his team will fight their way into a postseason spot.
Given how competitive the AFC playoff picture currently is, Kansas City may very well need to win out for the remainder of the year, along with getting some help with teams above them losing down the stretch.
Kelce seems to understand the important of a win on Sunday night for the Chiefs, warning the Texans about the level of urgency that he plans to play with in the crucial game.
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"I'm sure everyone is sick of us saying it, but we are a few plays away from being a one seed in my mind," said Kelce on the latest edition of his "New Heights" podcast. "All of the losses are within one score. And there is a handful of plays within those games that are determining the outcome. It's hard, it's my drop against the Eagles. It's penalties that are keeping up behind the sticks. It's coming away with three points instead of touchdowns in some games.
"It's crazy that you watch the film and you see what is real. What's real is that we are this close man. You look at our offense and Patrick Mahomes' production, it's top of the league. You look at our defense in terms of points allowed. We're holding teams at the right moments. In other moments, we're just not scoring enough. It's tough to be apart of this reality right now. We're 6-6, fighting for our lives to find out way into the playoffs. What's real is we still have a chance baby. That's all that matters to me is that we have a chance. I'm going to keep coming into work with the mentality and sense of urgency that we need to have to get this s*** fixed."
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One factor that Kelce believes will be to his personal benefit going into Sunday's game is the current forecast at Arrowhead stadium. Currently, the game is projected to be played at around 28 degrees at kickoff, which the three-time Super Bowl champion believes will help bring out his best level of play.
"It's my kind of football baby," said Kelce. "Especially after a weekend off. Go out there and fly around on the ice. It feels like we're there in an ice rink. There is something about being in the cold and sweating that I feel my most athletic self. I don't know why, that feels like my sanctuary. There is just something about the cold that gets my excitement going. That's the beauty of football, you get to play in all elements."
History has certainly shown that Kelce does indeed take his play to another level once the weather gets colder. After all, he does hold the NFL record for the most career postseason receptions and most postseason games with over 100 receiving yards.
While Sunday's matchup won't be a postseason contest, it may as well be for a Chiefs team that is in a must-win scenario to keep their playoff hopes alive. So it's fair to expect that Kelce will put forward his best performance to date in the crucial game.
For more on the Kansas City Chiefs and all things NFL, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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