Stephen A. Smith uses Taylor Swift reference to shade Travis Kelce’s slow start

Stephen A. Smith declared “the honeymoon’s over” between Travis Kelce and girlfriend Taylor Swift after the Chiefs tight end was hardly a factor in Kansas City’s first two wins of the season.

During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith urged the All-Pro superstar to get things going on the field after he was outshined by the singer, along with second-year wideout Rashee Rice, in a last-minute, 26-25 win over the Bengals on Sunday.

“We saw more of Taylor Swift than we saw of Travis Kelce yesterday, on a Sunday afternoon,” Smith said, referring to the 14-time Grammy winner being featured on the CBS broadcast.

“… That wasn’t supposed to happen [Sunday]. We were supposed to see more of Travis Kelce yesterday than we saw of her. That’s not happening though. You’ve got to get going, you’ve got 39 receiving yards in the first two games. Come on now. Football season is here.

“Honeymoon’s over. Let’s handle our business, OK.”
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Kelce had just one catch for five yards against the Bengals, although what would have been a clutch 41-yard reception in the fourth quarter was called back on Kingsley Suamataia’s holding penalty.

He had three catches for 34 yards in the Chiefs’ home opener against the Ravens, which Swift also attended.

The Chiefs pulling off last-second victories in both contests has kept the criticism of Kelce and the team mostly at bay.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Getty Images

Smith went on to praise Rice for his performances on Sunday.

“Rashee Rice had five catches for 75 yards, so that’s good… That brother talked before the game and then went out on the field and backed it up. So give credit where credit is due,” Smith said.

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal as time expired gave Kansas City the 26-25 victory over the Bengals.

A pass interference call, which moved the Chiefs to the Cincinnati 36, set up the kick.

“Kansas City lucked up, but the pass interference call was the right call,” Smith said.

Stephen A. Smith said Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce needs to get it going on the field after just four catches and no touchdowns in the first two games of the 2024 season.
Stephen A. Smith said Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce needs to get it going on the field after just four catches and no touchdowns in the first two games of the 2024 season. YouTube

“What I’m thinking about is, you look at Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, you’re talking about three receptions for 22 yards and they managed to win this game.

“You’re not supposed to win that game when something like that happens for you on the offensive side of the ball. Cincinnati did play better but they weren’t able to close the deal.”

The Bengals fell to 0-2 to start the season.

Taylor Swift celebrates a catch by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) before the play is called back for a penalty in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024.
Taylor Swift celebrates a catch by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce before the play is called back for a penalty in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Across two games this season, Kelce was targeted seven times and has four receptions for 39 yards and no scores.

Kelce saw a decline in his numbers last season on the field, as his Q Score skyrocketed off of it thanks to his relationship with Swift.

Kelce had 93 catches for 984 yards in 15 games, the first time he was under 1,000 yards receiving since 2015.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass against Cincinnati Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony (33) during the second half against the Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass against Cincinnati Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony (33) during the second half against the Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The small sample size this season indicates those numbers will likely drop even further.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Kelce will get his catches in due time.

“They did have some things that they were attempting there,” Reid said after the game. “He’ll get his catches. It’s not that he’s slowing down or any of that bit, that’s not what the deal is.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have dinner at Waverly Inn on October 15, 2023 in New York City.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have dinner at Waverly Inn on October 15, 2023 in New York City. GC Images

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce with Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes during the Men’s Singles Championship Final at the 2024 U.S. Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens on Sept. 8, 2024.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce with Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes during the Men’s Singles Championship Final at the 2024 U.S. Open Tennis Championships in Flushing, Queens on Sept. 8, 2024. David Lobel/INSTARimages

“It’s just teams focus on him and kind of know he’s been [quarterback Patrick Mahomes’] go-to guy. What it’s done though, Soren (Petro), is that it’s allowed us to utilize the other guys around him and they’ve been productive.”

The Chiefs (2-0) face the Falcons (1-1) in Atlanta on Sunday.