The Chiefs defeated the Bengals, 25-17
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce wrapped up 2023 with another division title and a New Year’s kiss with pop sensation and girlfriend Taylor Swift.
Not a bad way to kick off 2024.
The pair were first spotted together, hand in hand, in October in New York City. (Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images)
Videos circulating on social media early Monday morning showed the pair share a New Year’s kiss at a party reportedly held in downtown Kansas City.
It came after the 12-time Grammy Award-winning artist was spotted at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Swift, 34, was spotted wearing a Chiefs’ letterman-style jacket as she watched Kansas City come from behind to win their eighth consecutive AFC West title with a 25-17 victory.
Taylor Swift cheers during the first quarter between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“Everybody contributed to this thing, which I think was great,” head coach Andy Reid said after the game, via the team website. “As you saw, nobody gave up hope. It wasn’t the smoothest early on, but the guys battled through, and they supported each other. That was a positive.”
The Chiefs also secured the No. 3 seed in the AFC after rallying back from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter.
“Obviously, we’re not winning this in Week 12 or Week 13 like we have before,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “We had to battle through adversity and find a way to win this game, but it’s not over. We have to continue to get better and better, and we understand that… Now you’re in the playoffs, it’s one game, single elimination, and I think we can go out there and compete with anybody.”
Kansas City Chiefs players surround running back Isiah Pacheco (10) after his touchdown reception in the first quarter of an NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs on Dec 31, 2023 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mahomes, 28, completed 21 of 29 for 245 passing yards and a touchdown. He surpassed 4,000 passing yards for the sixth consecutive season.
A good day for the Chiefs spelled trouble for the Bengals.
Cincinnati was eliminated from playoff contention with Sunday’s loss.
“Not every locker room in the league is like this — guys that work together, guys that have been out there since July 25 or whatever it was,” head coach Zac Taylor said.
“We just came up a little bit short. Unfortunately, not every year is your year, but we have one more game to play. It’s a big game at home against a divisional team. So we’re not here today talking like our season is over, because it’s not. We still have one game left.”
The Bengals will close out the season next Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns.
