KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With eight receptions for 69 yards and no touchdowns through three games, Travis Kelce is off to the slowest start of his decorated NFL career.

His response when asked Friday about the drop-off in production was a verbal shrug.

“Stats may say something different, but at the same time you still see the same guy inside this building, and that’s all I care about,” Kelce said. “I’m my own worst critic. Everything outside of this building is just noise.”

The Chiefs (3-0) visit the Los Angeles Chargers (2-1) on Sunday, and perhaps that environment will change Kelce’s early trend line this season. He’s had 100-yard receiving performances in four of his past five games against the Chargers and turned in a three-touchdown game at SoFi Stadium in 2022.

A season earlier, Kelce — who turns 35 on Oct. 5 — went for 191 yards in Los Angeles.

Now in his 12th year in the league, Kelce opened the season with four receptions for 30 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. He matched a career-low with one catch for five yards the next week against the Cincinnati Bengals, then caught three passes for 34 yards last weekend in Atlanta.

Kelce has been targeted 12 times through three games. His biggest play to date this season, a 41-yard catch against the Bengals, was wiped out by a penalty.

Is age catching up to Kelce, who has been an NFL starter for the Chiefs since his second season in the league?

He said that’s not the case.

“I’m ready to rock,” he said.

Kelce has been one of the most productive tight ends in NFL history. He’s the only one, ever, to record seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He’s closing in on 1,000 career receptions and has rewritten several postseason records for receiving.

But this season’s numbers stand out, and not in a good way.

To be fair, the Chiefs’ offense is working through some broader issues this season. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been critical of his own play thus far and the Chiefs have been coming up short in the red zone.

Most concerning? They’ve been unable to put away games in the final minutes.

But Kelce maintains complete faith in Mahomes.

“I’m fortunate I’ve had the success in the past, and I realize the ball can’t always go to one person,” Kelce said. “At the same time, I’ve got all the trust in (Mahomes) to make the right decisions.

“We might not be putting up as much points as we want to, but at the same time we’re 3-0.”

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