It's hard to make a case against Travis Kelce as the best tight end in the NFL.
He continued to bolster his claim early against the Jaguars on Saturday, hauling in 10 catches in the first half of the teams' AFC divisional round game, even with Patrick Mahomes exiting with an ankle injury toward the end of the first quarter.
Kelce was on pace to break an NFL record that was set in 2012 and tied in 2019: most catches in a single playoff game. the record is 15, held by running backs Darren Sproles and James White. Kelce's 10 first-half catches tied for most first-half catches in NFL postseason history.
Kelce already holds the record for tight ends, with 13 against the Bills in the 2021 postseason. He had matched that total by early in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars, and passed it on the same drive. He would finish with 14 catches on the day, just one short of the NFL postseason record.
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Who has the most catches in a single playoff game?
You have to go far down the list to find a wide receiver. Kelce is fourth all time from his 2021 performance against the Bills, while Sproles and White are ahead of him on the list (White is on it twice). Kelce's teammate, Smith-Schuster, is the top receiver, having caught 13 passes in 2021.
| Player | Catches | Date |
| Darren Sproles | 15 | Jan. 14, 2012 |
| James White | 15 | Jan. 13, 2019 |
| James White | 14 | Feb. 5, 2017 |
| Travis Kelce | 14 | Jan. 21, 2023 |
| Travis Kelce | 13 | Jan. 24, 2021 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 13 | Jan. 10, 2021 |
| Demaryius Thomas | 13 | Feb. 2, 2014 |
| T.Y. Hilton | 13 | Jan. 4, 2014 |
| Chad Morton | 13 | Jan. 6, 2001 |
| Shannon Sharpe | 13 | Jan. 9, 1994 |
| Thurman Thomas | 13 | Jan. 6, 1990 |
| Kellen Winslow | 13 | Jan. 2, 1982 |
Kelce is the second player and the first tight end to reach 13 catches twice in the playoffs.
"What was working for me was everybody around me," Kelce said after the game. "We got the ultimate team right now. We're playing great ball in all three phases. I can't say enough about Chad Henne stepping up and doing his thing, this ball goes to Chad Henne right here. Hennething is possible baby."
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Whether Chad Henne or Mahomes is throwing the ball, Kelce is the No. 1 target in the Chiefs' offense. After the wide receiver overhaul prior to the 2022 season, Kelce is the one constant that can't be compromised in Kansas City.
