George Kittle and Travis Kelce on Super Bowl collision course

George Kittle and Travis Kelce are each on the verge of playing in Super Bowl LIV, a game that could settle the debate over which of the star tight ends is superior.

That debate has tilted significantly in Kittle’s favor this season, but through a remarkable three-touchdown performance in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 51-31 comeback win over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round, Kelce delivered a reminder that he is worthy of consideration as the league’s best.

Kelce caught 10 passes for 134 yards and three scores, earning a Pro Football Network Offensive Share Metric (OSM) grade of 43.1. OSM uses NFL’s NextGen Stats and a series of algorithms to calculate a player’s contribution to his offense’s production by looking at the factors only he could control.

The grade Kelce earned indicates an elite level of performance, and it was a display that served as a thrilling demonstration of why he is among the best at his position.

Kittle is regarded as the better athlete of the two, but Kelce’s intelligence as a route runner is undoubted. He used that nous on his first touchdown catch, executing a stop-and-go move to gain the separation he needed over the middle.

Between his athleticism, his size and ability to box out and make tough catches, Kelce has long been one of the best in the league at his position. However, the rapport he has developed with Patrick Mahomes since the 2018 MVP became the starter last year has taken his game to new heights.

Their understanding was evident on Kelce’s third touchdown reception, on which he was rewarded for finding free space and giving Mahomes an option as he rolled out and attracted pressure from defenders.

Where Kelce is considered significantly inferior to Kittle is in the blocking game. George Kittle has earned a deserved reputation as the best blocking tight end in the NFL, and his work in that area sees him make a massive contribution to the 49ers’ success and potential Super Bowl run, even when he isn’t catching the ball.

That was the case last Saturday when Kittle earned a very good OSM grade of 32.87 despite making just three receptions for 16 yards. Kittle was dominant as a blocker, playing a pivotal role as Tevin Coleman racked up 105 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground by moving the likes of Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter off the ball.

Here, Kittle drives back Griffen and seals him off to create a cutback lane for Coleman to pick up the first down.

When he is delivering such impressive blocks and making plays in the receiving game, it is tough to argue Kittle isn’t the complete package at tight end. That is reflected by his overall OSM grade for the 2019 season of 41.48. Despite missing two games because of an ankle injury, only three tight ends earned a higher OSM score for the year.

The perfect summation of the incredible threat Kittle offers in the receiving game came in the Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals when he produced a devastating exhibition of his prowess as a route runner, showcased his athleticism, and his incredible ability to gain significant yardage after the catch.

Kittle, per NextGen Stats, averaged 7.5 yards after the catch per reception in 2019. After he caught six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in the regular season meeting with the Green Bay Packers, look for the 49ers to make the most of his knack for getting open over the middle to build a decisive advantage in the NFC Championship game rematch, and seal a Super Bowl berth.

Kelce will have a similar burden on his shoulders in the AFC Championship game against a Tennessee Titans defense that limited Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to 6.2 yards per attempt in their previous playoff game. However, the Chiefs – as they proved in the defeat of Houston – are built to play from behind, and Kelce earned an OSM score of 48.86 in the Week 10 loss to Tennessee.

If he and Mahomes can remain on the same page, then Kelce will have every chance to replicate that performance and help the Chiefs book a trip to Miami.

This is a golden era for elite tight ends, with Kittle and Kelce picking up the mantle from the retired Rob Gronkowski. Should they each produce their best on Championship Sunday, the discussion over who sits atop the tight end pile may well be decided by who shines brightest on the biggest stage, and enables his team to climb the mountain.