Chiefs TE Travis Kelce finally breaks out against the Chargers

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had a much-needed breakout game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, helping his team to a 17-10 win.

Kelce, 34 — who turns 35 in less than a week — had five catches for 74 yards in the first half alone. Those 74 yards eclipsed the 69 yards he had in the first three games of the season combined. He finished Sunday with 89 yards on seven receptions.

Entering Sunday, Kelce hadn’t caught more than four passes or finished with more than 34 yards in any game this season.

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Late in the first half of a win over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, Kelce was caught off to the side, looking dejected, an image that quickly became a meme.

“I think with the way defenses are playing us right now, I don’t really get a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field, but I don’t use that as an excuse,” Kelce said on his podcast before the Chargers game. “Moving forward, I always try to make sure I can help the team in that regard.”

Kelce’s teammates showed their support for their struggling tight end before the game, as several wore personalized T-shirts adorned with his name and photos.

The Chiefs entered their Week 4 battle with the Chargers undefeated but with an average passing attack by their standards. Kansas City was averaging 211.7 yards per game through the air after three weeks, 12th best in the NFL. He finished Sunday’s game with 228 passing yards.

Kelce’s escape came at a desperate time for the Chiefs offense.

Kansas City is already without its leading runner, Isiah Pacheco, who underwent surgery after breaking his fibula in Week 2. Pacheco was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least six weeks.

Then on Sunday, the team’s leading receiver, Rashee Rice, was carted off the field after injuring his knee. Rice was trying to make a tackle after Patrick Mahomes threw an interception when Mahomes inadvertently dove into his knee.

Kelce was the Chiefs’ leading receiver last season. He finishes the 2023 regular season with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns.

In Kansas City’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58, Kelce had nine catches for 93 yards. He is the Chiefs’ all-time leader in receiving yards and owns the NFL record for career playoff receptions.

During the offseason, Kelce acted professionally for the first time, shooting a role in the FX series “Grotesquerie.” He also appeared on stage with his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, during her Eras Tour show in London.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com