Kelce Denies The Chiefs 'Threw' Week 18 Game In Order To Avoid The Bengals

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce denies the fact that the Chiefs purposely lost against the Denver Broncos in week 18, in order to avoid the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs.

week 18 of the NFL season, some fans argued the Chiefs purposely rested the majority of their starting line up, such as Patrick Mahomes and Kelce himself, in order to avoid the possibility of matching up against the Bengals in the second round of this years playoffs. In a recent episode of the Kelce brothers New Heights podcast, the Chiefs tight end replied with ‘I ain't scared of Fucking nobody, I wanted them in the playoffs. When asked whether they purposely aimed to avoid the chance of meeting the Bengals.

Coming into week 18, Cincinnati found themselves relying solely on the Denver Broncos to fall to the powerhouse Chiefs in order to make the playoffs, but prior to the game, almost every single starter on the Chiefs roster was inactive, leaving nothing but a glimmer of hope for the Bengals. The Bengals came into week 18 on a 4 game winning streak, and started to look like a dangerous opponent after a poor start to the season, but with fate falling into the hands of Carson Wentz as the Chiefs backup, it was looking bleak for the Bengals, as the Chiefs were shutout for the first time of the season after a 38-0 loss. 

Following the blowout, much speculation and unrest around the fact Kansas effectively handed the win to Denver caused Kelce to proceed with his comments, but had the Bengals made the playoff, Kansas may have had a bigger problem than they thought. Although the Chiefs have the advantage over the Bengals overall in previous years, the back to back Superbowl champs look more vulnerable than they ever have, and despite beating the Bengals 26-25 early into the season, with the Bengals end of season form, they would be the team to avoid for the Chiefs.

Although Kelce denies any fear of the Bengals, and claims he wanted to matchup against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, there is certainly a sense of relief amongst the Kansas City locker room, as Joe Burrow and Ja’marr Chase, wont have said opportunity to knockout the reigning champs.