New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce – Episode 170 Summary

Chiefs' Streak Ends, Mahomes Injury, Rivers Reactions, Eagles Blowout & Playoff Predictions
Release Date: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode finds Jason and Travis Kelce working through a packed slate of NFL headlines: the Chiefs’ shock elimination from the postseason (and Patrick Mahomes’ devastating ACL injury), the Eagles’ emphatic blowout over the Raiders, Philip Rivers’ remarkable return to the field, and major playoff and NFC forecasts. As usual, the brothers bring a candid, inside-the-locker-room vibe, a brotherly blend of humor and directness, and honest reflections on injuries, leadership, and what makes great teams tick. NFL news gives way to a lighthearted taco debate, rants about bad halftime shows, and some Pokémon nostalgia.

Key Topics & Segments

1. Kansas City Chiefs Season Collapse and Mahomes’ ACL Injury (04:05–11:25)

• Chiefs' Playoff Elimination

  • Travis is open about the pain of seeing Mahomes go down and the Chiefs’ decade-long playoff streak ending.
  • “For a guy that puts in that much and puts his body on the line week in, week out… it just sucks, man.” (Travis, 05:12)
  • Travis highlights the emotional toll on the team, noting lost momentum and one-score-game heartbreaks.
  • Jason reflects on being at the stadium and experiencing, for the first time, a Chiefs regular season game with no playoff implications since 2014.
  • “That is an outrageous stat: over a decade of postseason play for the KayCee Chiefs.” (Jason, 06:08)

• Leadership and Team Integrity

  • Travis acknowledges team unfamiliarity with playing ‘meaningless’ games but preaches keeping standards high:
    • “There’s an integrity thing here… you’re living out a kid’s dream that never got the chance to do this.” (Travis, 08:03)
  • Jason agrees and emphasizes cherishing the fleeting unity of a team, knowing rosters change every year:
    • “You only got three weeks left of this year’s team to play football… try to enjoy those.” (Jason, 09:38)

• Mahomes Injury & Recovery

  • Jason, having suffered an ACL tear himself, discusses the likely 8-9 month rehab and the devastation of seeing Mahomes’ season end in December.
  • Travis is confident in Mahomes’ resilience:
    • “He’s a fearless warrior… he’s going to make sure he comes back stronger than ever.” (Travis, 10:31)
  • Attention turns forward to the upcoming game against the Titans and finding ways to support Gardner Minshew at QB.

2. Chiefs-Chargers Game Respect & “Miked Up” Insights (12:00–13:54)

• Travis swaps jerseys and shares mutual respect with Chargers’ Derwin James, who made the game-sealing interception.
  • “There’s just a bunch of respect for how they carry themselves and go at it.” (Travis, 12:31)
  • Jason jokes about keeping track of who owes who jerseys in the league, including between the brothers.

3. Eagles Blow Out Raiders: Analysis & Playoff Outlook (17:01–22:47)

• Game Breakdown

  • “It’s everything you want to do against the Raiders… Offense did a really good job, run game stuck with it.” (Jason, 17:16)
  • Defense held Raiders to 70 total yards—“an all-time performance.”
  • Jason wants the Eagles to stick with the run, develop balance, and carry momentum into the playoffs:
    • “With the way this defense is playing, this team could be very dangerous in the postseason if they stay true to that formula.” (Jason, 19:22)

• Jalen Hurts’ Bounce Back

  • Near-perfect stat line (12-for-15, 175 yds, 3 TDs), with big praise:
    • “Everybody needs to remember where I came from and how I’m built.” (Hurts quote, 21:51)
  • “They did a great job of being a very balanced offense, and that’s what they need to be.” (Jason, 22:01)

• Playoff Scenarios

  • Eagles need only one more win or a Cowboys’ loss to clinch the division, which would be the first NFC East repeat winner in 20 years.
  • “That is mind-blowing… That is a competitive division.” (Travis, 24:14)

4. Old Guys Rule! Eagles’ Brandon Graham Named Oldest Franchise Sacker (22:52–23:45)

• Brandon Graham sets franchise-age record for a sack:
  • “Grandpa Graham. Everybody’s talking about Old Man Rivers; we got Grandpa Graham on the Eagles.” (Jason, 23:11)
  • Fun banter about veteran longevity; Travis jokes: “It’s always fun when you start breaking your own records for old age.” (23:42)

5. Philip Rivers’ Return at 44: Heart, Courage, & Nostalgia (25:55–28:50)

• Rivers starts for Colts after five years out, nearly beats Seahawks, inspires praise:

  • “...the message that sends to the young men he’s in charge of… Incredible. We forget what sport’s about too often. This is a great reminder by Philip.” (Jason, 28:05)
  • Travis: “He’s always been that guy that’s played this game the right way… awesome to see him still sling the pigskin around, baby.” (28:28)

• Hall-of-Fame “Comebacks”?

  • Joking debate on which other retired stars could still play (Aaron Donald, Gronk, Peyton, Montana), and anecdotes about seeing legends throw at charity games (Doug Flutie is “peak athleticism,” 32:24).

6. NFC Playoff Forecasts & Key Matchups (34:38–36:56)

• Jason and Travis argue the Rams and Seahawks are the class of the NFC (ahead of the Bears, Packers, etc.).
• “I think the Rams are the best team right now in the NFC. Eagles are right there… they’ll be formidable in these playoffs.” (Jason, 35:05)

7. Halftime Shows: Boredom and Ridiculousness (37:15–39:56)

• Jason rants about uninspired shows (dog Frisbee, sheep riding for kids aka “mutton bustin”).
  • “If I have to see another dog catching a Frisbee, I’m gonna blow my brains out.” (Jason, 37:21)
  • Both agree: let’s see more creativity, nostalgia for dangerous and unique halftime stunts.

8. The Great Taco Debate (40:42–44:34)

• Jason and Travis spar about where the best tacos are found—LA vs. Kansas City—and what counts as “authentic”:
  • “I’m not going to KC for tacos.” (Jason, 41:09)
  • “Paper plate, foil – that’s good.” (Brandon, 41:55)
  • Argument about taco trucks, street food, and the true history of the taco, with Jason Googling (“tacos are street…”). Bickering and good-natured ribbing ensue.

9. Other Fun Segments and Picks (47:45–51:21)

• Cast and producers debate their favorite upcoming NFL matchups. Jake highlights Bucks-Panthers, Brandon wants Rams-Seahawks, and everyone is excited for Philip Rivers’ next start.
• Notable banter about how fast an NFL franchise can be “rebuilt” and what makes an organization succeed.

10. Stamps of the Week (52:42–54:02)

• Jason’s Pick: Dion Dawkins for creative offensive line play:
  • “He literally spun on him. Dude, that’s hilarious.” (Travis, 53:43)
• Travis’s Pick: Philip Rivers for proving old dogs can still play:
  • “Going out there and showing everybody I still got it. Even at 44.” (Travis, 53:55)

11. Final Banter: Pokémon Cards & Nostalgic Nerddom (55:08–56:32)

• Hilarious discussion about old and new Pokémon cards, who really knows how to play, and dismissing anything not “canon.”
  • “If it’s not in red or blue, it’s not canon to me.” (Brandon, 55:55)

Notable Quotes

“There’s an integrity thing here, that when you sign up for the gig, you’re living out your dreams.”
— Travis Kelce, 08:03

“You only got three weeks left of this year’s team to play football. Like, next year it’s going to look different… Try to enjoy it.”
— Jason Kelce, 09:38

“He’s a fearless, fearless warrior when it comes to this football thing… he’s going to make sure that he comes back stronger than ever.”
— Travis Kelce, 10:31

“If I have to see another dog catching a Frisbee, I’m gonna blow my brains out.”
— Jason Kelce, 37:21

“Grandpa Graham. Everybody’s talking about Old Man Rivers; we got Grandpa Graham on the Eagles.”
— Jason Kelce, 23:11

“If it’s not in red or blue, it’s not canon to me. I’m sorry for whatever nerd that pisses off.”
— Brandon, 55:55

Suggested Timestamps for Key Segments

• Chiefs Elimination & Mahomes Injury: 04:05–11:25
• Travis & Derwin James Respect: 12:00–13:54
• Eagles Blowout & Jalen Hurts: 17:01–22:47
• Brandon Graham’s Sack Record: 22:52–23:45
• Philip Rivers Returns: 25:55–28:50
• NFC Playoff Discussion: 34:38–36:56
• Halftime Show Rants: 37:15–39:56
• Taco Debate: 40:42–44:34
• Game Picks/Predictions: 47:45–51:21
• Stamps of the Week: 52:42–54:02
• Pokémon Banter: 55:08–56:32

Tone & Style

• Classic Kelce banter—raw, brotherly, self-deprecating, occasionally crass, but always authentic.
• Insightful breakdowns of football with colorful side debates and rabbit holes.
• Inside-the-locker-room culture: direct references to the emotional and physical realities of the NFL.
• Humor flows, but so does poignant honesty about injury, team identity, and transition.

For listeners who missed the episode:
Expect a candid, sometimes hilarious, but always thoughtful look at a pivotal NFL week, lead by two of football’s most relatable personalities. The Kelces’ mix of insight, grief over Mahomes, playful food wars, veteran nostalgia, and genuine love for the game makes this a must-catch episode for football fans and pop-culture listeners alike.