NFL analyst suggests Madden ratings for Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are “crazy” wrong
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have been one of the premier quarterback-tight end duos in the NFL over the past half-decade. Fans might assume that to be the case once again this season.
However, that opinion is outdated according to NFL analyst Chris Simms. Speaking on Thursday's episode of "Pro Football Talk," Simms suggested both Mahomes and Kelce's Madden ratings are beyond wrong.
"I wouldn't trust Madden ratings. ... Here's one for you that [will] just blow you away. Travis Kelce's still a 99 and Mahomes is a 97. Come on. That's crazy. There's bunch of crazy Madden ratings in there, so I wouldn't believe either way up or down," he said.
The Kansas City Chiefs might be continuing to win, but they have been far from invincible. Two last-second field goal disasters and a smattering of other plays could have seen the team's nearly perfect record go up in smoke. With Mahomes' injury factored in, the Chiefs might be as vulnerable as they've ever been as the regular season winds down.
Travis Kelce in danger of finishing with career-worst season
Mahomes' numbers haven't been the best in his career, but he can make the case he's played with a revolving door at wide receiver and running back.
Kelce has little to point to with his production. While he's still having a decent season, the tight end has three games to log three touchdowns and 280 yards or he will put up the worst stat line of his career in any season.
He may have even less time than that, considering the Chiefs have a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed early. If that happens, coach Andy Reid has every reason to pull Kelce to save him for the playoffs. As such, Kelce might have just one or two games to make up the difference instead of three.
The Chiefs face the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos to close the year. Two of these three teams have defenses ranked near the top of the league, putting Kelce's back up against the wall to keep pace with his 2023 self.
Will the Chiefs tight end slip into what will be remembered as another season of decline?