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During player introductions, Kelce ran out of the tunnel and seemed to stop and soak in the moment. Most took that as an indicator that the seven-time All-Pro tight end would be retiring after the season, but Kelce said after the game he hasn’t made up his mind.
“Honestly, I’ve just been focused on trying to win football games, man,” Kelce said about the possibility of retirement. “I’ll make that decision with my family, friends and the Chiefs organization when the time comes.”
One road game against the Las Vegas Raiders stands between the team and the end of their brutal 2025 campaign, and after that, there is no telling what Kelce may do. Chris Jones, who has been right by Kelce’s side for this dynasty, made his feelings known about what he wants Kelce to do.
“He’s been like a brother. … I hope he gives it one more year. Just one more.”
The Chiefs rank in the bottom 11 of the league in rushing at 108 yards per game. Love has 35 rushing touchdowns since 2024, which is the most of any player in that span, and has averaged 6.9 yards per carry over the last two seasons with a whopping 2,497 rushing yards.
Love would be a massive boost for a KC team that will need to establish the run more as Patrick Mahomes returns from a torn ACL.
Kelce didn’t perform like a player who’d reached the twilight. Or one who needs to walk away to save himself from falling off a proverbial cliff.
The proof of that? His team’s final offensive play might summarize it best.
The Chiefs had a fourth-and-8 at the Broncos’ 26 with 20 seconds left, trailing by seven with one last chance to pull off an unlikely comeback. And third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun got to run the play he’d requested — one he’d handpicked during a night-before meeting with coaches.
After getting the snap, the defensive picture in front of him played out as he anticipated.
“We knew two were probably going to collect on Trav,” Oladokun said. “It’s exactly what happened.”
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While landing the No. 1 pick would help the Raiders’ long-term plans, Crosby couldn’t care less.
“Yeah, I don’t give a s— about the pick, to be honest,” he said Tuesday. “I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world. That’s what I focus on every day. Being a great leader, being an influence. Being that guy on a consistent basis for my team.”
Unlike the Giants, who have 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart under center, the Raiders are searching for a franchise quarterback. As it stands a couple of months before the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, the top quarterbacks expected to be selected early on in the draft are reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sits one sack away from the single-season record. He’d like to get there by taking down Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
”[Rodgers is] legendary himself, and it’s a legendary record I’m here chasing,” Garrett said Friday, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. “That’d be a great one to put a picture on the wall with.”
Garrett currently has 22 sacks. The record of 22.5 is shared by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Rodgers’s current teammate, linebacker T.J. Watt.
Of course, there’s a chance Rodgers will get the day off. If the Ravens lose to the Packers on Saturday night, that “may” affect Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s personnel decisions, since the Steelers will have clinched the AFC North title before their Week 17 game at Cleveland even begins.
Love was downgraded from questionable to out on Friday after he sustained a concussion in last Saturday’s overtime loss to the Chicago Bears because he did not clear all the required stages of the concussion protocol. Willis finished the game against the Bears but injured his right (throwing) shoulder on the final play of regulation.
Love and Willis were limited participants in practice this week, although Willis missed a day because of an illness that has been spreading through the Packers’ locker room.
“It’s just a very delicate issue, you know what I’m saying in terms of, we’ve seen it with certain guys they come in, they feel great one day and then the next day they don’t,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this week of Love’s path through the concussion protocol. “So it kind of is a little bit of a moving target.”
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Winners
Cornerback Nohl Williams: The rookie from Cal once again showed why fans and pundits have been pounding the table for him. We’ve come to expect he’ll be great in outside coverage — but on Thursday, he also showed tremendous physicality and instincts as a run defender. Williams battled through blocks for three tackles-for-loss against the Broncos. He looks like a guy who should get 100% of future snaps.
Safety Bryan Cook: His ascension has been lost in 2025’s frustrating season. He was tremendous in this matchup (and for most of the season) as an enforcer all over the field. He looked like the type of player who can help define the defense’s identity.
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