Two of the league’s best tight ends took center stage Thursday night. New England’s Rob Gronkowski has earned four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro honors in seven previous seasons. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce has earned two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro honor in four previous seasons.
But neither was a big factor in the first half.
Kelce had a 4-yard run after taking a direct snap in the first half. He caught a 14-yard pass on the Chiefs’ scoring drive before the half to cut the Patriots’ lead to 17-14 at intermission. It was Kelce’s only target in the first half.
Gronkowski caught what officials ruled a 20-yard touchdown from Tom Brady that gave the Patriots a two-score lead, but the score was overturned on replay. Two plays later, the Patriots were stopped short on fourth-and-one at the Kansas City 10, coming away with no points.
Brady targeted Gronkowski four times in the first half, but he made only one catch for 16 yards.