Travis Kelce breaks silence on NFL struggles with Taylor Swift being blamed

Travis Kelce has gotten off to a slow start this season, hauling in just eight receptions for 69 yards and zero touchdowns through the Kansas City Chiefs' first three games

Travis Kelce has brushed off concerns about his slow start to the NFL season, insisting he's still the same powerhouse player as before.

Despite only making eight catches from 12 targets for a total of 69 yards and no touchdowns in the first three games, Kelce remains confident. During the Kansas City Chiefs' 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, the 34-year-old was seen looking downcast on the sidelines while his girlfriend Taylor Swift was noticeably absent from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Many observers have blamed Kelce's relationship with Swift and the new-found fame it has delivered for his slow-down. However, despite his underwhelming offensive performance at the start of the year, Kelce is adamant that he can still deliver the same results he's achieved throughout his illustrious 11-year NFL career.

"I think this year stats may say something different, but at the same time you'll see the same person inside this building, and that's all I really care about,'' he told reporters on Friday. "I'm my own worst critic. Everything outside of this building is just noise.

"I'm fortunate. I've had the success in the past and I realised that the ball can't always go to one person. It can't always get in my hands, but at the same time, I got all the trust in [Patrick Mahomes] to make the right decision, and he's been making great decisions.

"We might not be putting up as [many] points as we want to, but at the same time we're 3-0 and we're doing something right."

With Kelce struggling, several other Chiefs players have stepped up to carry the offensive load. Against the Falcons, wide receiver Rashee Rice made 12 catches for 110 yards and one touchdown, marking his second game with over 100 yards in receptions.

Backup tight end Noah Gray has caught four passes for 50 yards this season, while undrafted running back Carson Steele racked up 72 yards on the ground in Week 3, stepping in for the injured Isiah Pacheco.

"I love the way Rashee's been playing,'' said Kelce. "He's fun to play with and he's one of my favourite guys in the building. We put more trust in Noah.

It's great to see him go out there and do the things that he can do and he's just such a well-rounded player.

"Outside of that, [Steele], too, I think the emergence of guys stepping up to the plate and making plays for us and helping us win ball games is the most fun so far this year.''

Despite the Chiefs holding a flawless 3-0 record this year thanks to victories over the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Falcons, Kelce insisted that there are still areas where he and his teammates need to improve. "I think there is a bit of understanding of we're going to have to keep working and we're not where we want to be,'' he stated.

"We want to win every single ball game we can and at the same time there's a sense of urgency throughout the week to get things right for the opponent that we're playing.

"And then on top of that, when we're watching the games in review, we're just nonstop trying to critique ourselves to get better."