Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been instrumental in 3-0 start, even without his usual production

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ask anybody in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room, from Andy Reid to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, why Travis Kelce hasn't been catching passes and they will have the same answer: It's not his fault.

In fact, they will say the fact that the four-time All-Pro tight end has a mere eight catches for 69 yards through the first three weeks of the season is also a big reason why the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are 3-0 heading into a game at the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.

Kelce simply demands coverage, even as his 35th birthday approaches next weekend. That's hardly a new concept, of course, but opposing defenses have been taking it to an extreme this season. Double-teams are constant, and even triple-teams have become regular, as was the case during a 22-17 victory last Sunday night in Atlanta.

So, with Kelce blanketed, that opened up Rashee Rice to catch 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, JuJu Smith-Schuster to catch his first touchdown pass of the season, and even backup tight end Noah Gray to settle in for an easy catch.