Travis Kelce addressed recent criticisms regarding the Kansas City Chiefs' decision to rest key players in Week 18 instead of attempting to win against the Denver Broncos. On a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce firmly stated, 'we didn't f--king throw any game' in response to allegations that the Chiefs intentionally lost the match to potentially hinder the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes.

The Chiefs' 38-0 defeat to the Broncos sparked commentary from various NFL analysts who suggested that Kansas City may have deliberately underperformed to avoid facing the Bengals in the postseason. This decision raised questions about the team's priorities and has been perceived as a questionable move for a franchise aiming for a third consecutive Super Bowl title. Kansas City had already secured a first-round bye and home-field advantage, prompting the team to rest numerous prominent players, including Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Jawaan Taylor, and Isiah Pacheco.

While some Bengals fans reacted with disappointment regarding the outcome of the game, it is worth noting that the Chiefs were not obligated to consider the implications for other teams. The Bengals had opportunities earlier in the season to secure their own playoff position, losing crucial games, including a setback against a New England Patriots team that finished with a 4-13 record. Furthermore, the Bengals lost six additional games by a margin of seven points or fewer. Consequently, a single victory in any of those contests could have afforded the Bengals better control over their playoff standing heading into Week 18. Additionally, the notion that the Chiefs were avoiding the Bengals is further underscored by the fact that Kansas City had already defeated Cincinnati earlier in the season during their Week 2 matchup, winning on a last-second Harrison Butker field goal.