The Kansas City Chiefs are the most-hated team in the NFL, and everybody knows it. Plenty of AFC rivals have been pitted against Patrick Mahomes, and it seems like reigning MVP Lamar Jackson is next on the NFL’s list, but Travis Kelce doesn’t agree with the way the league is building the Mahomes-Lamar rivalry.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the most-hated team in the NFL, and everybody knows it. Plenty of AFC rivals have been pitted against Patrick Mahomes, and it seems like reigning MVP Lamar Jackson is next on the NFL’s list, but Travis Kelce doesn’t agree with the way the league is building the Mahomes-Lamar rivalry.

The Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to kick off the 2024 NFL season with a highly anticipated showdown between Mahomes and Jackson on Thursday night, September 5. “Do you think the NFL is trying to build up Mahomes-Lamar rivalry the same way that there is also the Mahomes-Burrow, Mahomes-Allen (rivalries)?” Jason Kelce asked his little brother candidly on this week’s episode of New Heights Show after the season opener was announced.

It was an interesting question coming from the former Philadelphia Eagles center, who was accused of being one of the NFL scriptwriters after his trip to the league office this week and his new role covering Monday Night Football for ESPN. “I don’t think they necessarily have to,” Travis replied, questioning the need for the NFL to force the rivalry.

“Every game we’ve ever played against the Ravens has been barnburner to the end of the game. There’s been excitement left and right. There have been so many of those games,” he said, before referencing a game from Mahomes’ rookie season. Pat and Lamar have combined to win two straight NFL MVP awards and four of the last six. Jackson’s 2023 MVP campaign led the Ravens to the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but Kansas City went into Baltimore and toppled them in the AFC Championship game.

The tough road win added another chapter to the rivalry and to Mahomes’ growing legacy, which he dipped further in gold with his third Super Bowl title a month later. Mahomes holds a 4-1 advantage in head-to-head matchups with Jackson. Like Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and any other quarterback who wishes to take the throne from Mahomes, Lamar will have to do it in the playoffs, where his 2-4 postseason record can’t compare.

But as Kelce pointed out, the games between them are already good and the motivation is already there. Unlike his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, this is one that the NFL doesn’t need to force on football fans.