KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs once again witnessed the transformation of Travis Kelce as the playoffs began, with Kelce becoming what Mahomes said was " Playoff Traf”.

"That's what he lives for, playing in these moments, having the opportunity," Mahomes said after Kelce provided nearly half of his receptions and more than half of his receiving yards for the Chiefs (23-14). Played a great game against the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.

“He comes in and does that, and he seems to do that in every playoff game.

"He doesn't make the moment bigger than it is. He just goes out there and executes at a high level, just like he does in regular season games. He just does it with a higher intensity."

Kelce caught seven passes from Mahomes for 117 yards and an 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was his first 100-yard game of the season and ninth of his postseason career, which set an NFL record.

Kelce has averaged more receiving yards per game in the postseason than his regular-season average every year since 2020. Kelce had more than double his season average of 56 receiving yards per game against the Texans.

Kelce said he had no explanation.

"I was hoping it was some type of switch or something like that that I just turned on in the playoffs," Kelce said.

Kelce was one of several players who didn't play until Saturday after the Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day to earn the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Kelce, 35, said he felt better after taking more than three weeks of rest heading into the playoffs, and Mahomes agreed.

"It helps Travis a lot because he's an older guy and he plays a very, very tough position physically," Mahomes said. "He's not just sitting on the couch. He's working out, just doing some reps, so for him, it's just about getting himself ready. We've been practicing, we've been practicing, and then we go out there, He plays fast and takes his game to the next level.”

Kelce's highlight play was a 49-yard catch that set up the Chiefs' first touchdown. He gained 36 yards after the catch, most of which came after he got around a defender who fired right at Kelce after the catch.

“It feels good to finally have someone miss this year,” Kelce said.

Kelce ended up getting knocked out in the Houston Six. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy said Kelce could have scored a touchdown in this game so early in his career. Kelce said Worthy is right.

As for making defenders miss, Mahomes said, "Guys who tackled him in the regular season are not going to tackle him in the playoffs."

Mahomes passed to Kelce for a touchdown and the Chiefs led 20-12. It was the pair's 20th career playoff touchdown, but few have been this spectacular. Mahomes found Kelce, who was on the ground after being hit and appeared to be about to be sacked.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has completed all 20 touchdown passes from Mahomes to Kelce, wasn't surprised by this pass.

"Just when you think you've got them, you don't," Jones said.