Stunning loss to Texans shows why Chiefs should prepare for future without TE Travis Kelce

The Kansas City Chiefs must stop trying to convince themselves star tight end Travis Kelce remains a viable No. 1 option. 

Yes, the four-time first-team All-Pro is a future Hall of Famer and ranks among the best TEs in NFL history. At 36, though, he looks like a declining player. The Chiefs denying that he's no longer in his prime may be costing them games. Look no further than what happened on "Sunday Night Football" against the Houston Texans. 

With the Chiefs trailing 17-10 late in the fourth quarter, Kelce dropped an on-target pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair grabbed an interception at Kansas City's 26-yard line. Kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn subsequently made a 28-yard field goal, sealing a 20-10 win for Houston. 

Cris Collinsworth, Patrick Mahomes react to Travis Kelce's drop

In a postgame news conference, Mahomes took blame for Kelce's drop.

"He has made that play 99 percent of the time," the QB said of TE, who finished Sunday's game with one reception for eight yards on five targets. "And I've got to give him a better chance with a ball, maybe more on his body." 

NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth, a former Cincinnati Bengals WR, believes the gaffe was all Kelce. 

"Kelce had his hands on it, and basically hands it to Al-Shaair off his own helmet, who's there to make the play," he said (h/t Awful Announcing). "And the season is being defined by miscues from the stars."