Chiefs TE Travis Kelce passes Jerry Rice for most postseason receptions in NFL history

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most postseason receptions all-time in Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Kelce snagged the 152nd playoff catch of his career in the second quarter. The 34-year-old came into the matchup needing seven catches to pass Rice for the most in postseason history. At halftime, he had nine catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Kelce had been consistent this postseason and was on a streak of 12 postseason games with at least five catches. He led the Chiefs in receiving this season with 984 yards on 93 receptions.

What makes Kelce so effective?

Kelce’s longevity, durability and athleticism allowed him to break a record that was quite remarkable, even for a postseason mark. Rice has always been, and always will be, the highest standard when it comes to Hall of Fame pass catchers. Playing alongside Mahomes, Kelce has been just as reliable for Mahomes as Rice was for Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. Many opposing defenses have tried to limit Kelce’s effectiveness — trying to jam him at the line of scrimmage, assigning two defenders to cover him or putting their best defender on him.

Kelce has always had the proper answer to the chess match, whether ad-libbing his routes against zone coverage or just out-jumping or out-willing a defender for a contested catch. One of the largest reasons the Chiefs have reached six consecutive AFC Championship Games, and won two Super Bowls in a four-year span, is because they have Kelce, the greatest receiving tight end in the NFL’s 104-year history. — Nate Taylor, Chiefs staff writer