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How Travis Kelce ‘went above and beyond’ to stay focused amid Taylor Swift circus as Kansas City Chiefs aim to extend perfect start
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How Travis Kelce ‘went above and beyond’ to stay focused amid Taylor Swift circus as Kansas City Chiefs aim to extend perfect start

The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 9 as the only undefeated team in the NFL.

A prime-time Monday night matchup pits the defending champions against each other Super Bowl champions against Tampa Bay Buccaneersas they look to set a new record.

The Chiefs look to extend their unbeaten run this season

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The Chiefs look to extend their unbeaten run this seasonCredit: Getty

The Chiefs kick off November having won every match since a loss on Christmas Day to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, including four playoff games and all seven contests so far this season.

Victory against Tampa Bay, which started the season strong but has since suffered back-to-back losses and lost two key receivers to injury, would see Kansas City extend its winning streak to 14 games.

This would be a new franchise record for a group of stars pursuing the ultimate goal of a historic hat-trick.

A championship defense has stifled all challengers thus far and provided the driving force behind Kansas City’s unbeaten run so far in 2024, while Patrick Mahomes continued to deliver results at opportune times to continue racking up victories.

And in recent weeks, Travis Kelce burst into life.

The tight end, who has been Mahomes’ main weapon in years past, scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 8.

In doing so, he became just the fifth tight end in NFL history to have 75 receiving touchdowns, and since WR Rashee Rice was injured against the LA Chargers in Week 4, Kelce has averaged 67 yards per game.

If he continues this trend, Kelce would finish the regular season with an impressive total of 1,139 yards.

He’s arguably the hottest player in the NFL these days, thanks to his relationship with Taylor Swift.

His level of fame is such that if Kelce underperforming on the field, his not-so-private life would qualify as a distraction.

Kelce is arguably the biggest celebrity in the NFL thanks to his high-profile relationship

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Kelce is arguably the biggest celebrity in the NFL thanks to his high-profile relationshipCredit: Getty

But, according to Pete Sweeney, Arrowhead Pride editor and NFL analyst for KSHB 41 News and Sports Radio 810 WHB, that suggestion couldn’t be further from the truth.

Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of Monday Night Football, Sweeney explained how Kelce did his best to silence the circus around Swift.

“I just think he had so many productive years. I mean, he could have retired probably three years ago and still gone into the Hall of Fame,” Sweeney said when asked asked how Kelce became the cornerstone of this Kansas City team.

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“He just has the ultimate respect from his peers. And from what I’ve heard with this Taylor Swift thing, talking to people in the building, he went above and beyond to make sure that his teammates knew he always got his work in.

“When you bring in something that people are talking about that’s external to the team, I think you have to go the extra mile to make sure, okay, I want my guys to see me come in early, stay late, those -there. types of things.

“He’s still level-headed despite all the affairs and attention he gets as a celebrity.”

Kelce proves to be the hardest worker in the room.

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Kelce proves to be the hardest worker in the room.Credit: Getty

Sweeney added that despite his new celebrity status, Kelce “always kept football at the forefront.”

“I think those guys realize too, and I extend this to Mahomes and Chris Jones, I think they realize that extracurricular activities are cool,” he continued.

“You can make a lot of money doing this stuff. But the only reason it exists is because we’re so good at what we do primarily. And it’s awesome to watch.”

Kelce and Mahomes look to extend Kansas City's winning streak

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Kelce and Mahomes look to extend Kansas City’s winning streak

With a game against the Buccaneers coming up in Week 9, the Chiefs are hoping Kelce can continue to do his job on the field and help his team extend its unbeaten run.

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