Chiefs’ Travis Kelce said he’s to blame for Mecole Hardman’s fumble out of end zone
The Chiefs were poised to make the Bills pay big for a botched fake punt in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC Divisional playoff game.
A run by Isiah Pacheco moved the ball inside the 5-yard line but instead of going up by two scores, the Chiefs gave the ball back to the Bills.
Wide receiver Mecole Hardman fumbled the ball through the end zone for a touchback, and Next Gen Stats said that play increased Buffalo’s win probability by 23.5%.
Of course, we know now that the Bills’ win probability was 0%, as the Chiefs came out of Highmark Stadium with a 27-24 victory.
Fans torched Hardman on social media for the turnover, but Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said Wednesday on the “New Heights” podcast that he was to blame.
Kelce said he didn’t block Buffalo’s Jordan Poyer, and he was able to knock the ball from Hardman’s hands.
“I’m not gonna lie man. I owe Mecole ... a new car or something,” Kelce said. “I owe so much to him, man.”
Jason Kelce asked why his brother felt that way.
“My block was the one that knocked the ball out. And I’ve been sick,” Travis Kelce said. “I apologized to him every single time I saw him today and I’ll apologize again. My bad, Mecole. My guy’s just trying to be great and get the ball in the end zone.
“I’m thinking it’s a speed type, we’re (going) outside where the guy goes inside ... and he just finished the play better than I did and got a hand on the ball and I owe my guy big time, man. And I feel bad for him. There’s nothing worse than giving up the ball.”
Kelce expects Hardman to atone for the mistake in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens.
“I mean, he’s fired up to get after it again, though,” Kelce said. “I know my guy. He wants another opportunity to get the ball and show what he can do with it. And sure enough, you’ll see him next Sunday.”
Jason Kelce asked what his brother thought of the touchback rule, which many fans want to see changed because it results in a loss of possession.
But Travis Kelce is not one of the people.
“It’s fine. It’s a rule. Rules are rules,” Kelce said. “That’s why I said, ‘I owe you, big dog. My bad, man.’ That should never even have happened.”
This story was originally published January 24, 2024 at 9:57 AM.
