Even Nickelodeon Is Making Fun of the KC Chiefs’ Receiver Woes.

While the Kansas City Chiefs largely enjoyed a good 2023, the club has taken some lumps as of late. Most franchises would be thrilled with a Super Bowl title and a 9-5 record the following season, but KC hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders. There have been some tough losses, some ugly reactions and a surprising amount of offensive issues.

That’s all combined to subject the Chiefs to plenty of social media ribbing. And, with the year coming to a close, even Nickelodeon couldn’t help but get in on the action.

Ahead of the Christmas Day “Nickmas” game, which features the defending champs hosting the Las Vegas Raiders, Nickelodeon and the NFL posted an Instagram cartoon promoting the broadcast. And, amid the colors and references, Marquez Valdes-Scantling got called out for his butter fingers.

In the world of sports, there are plenty of cliches about not beating yourself with mistakes. The 2023 Chiefs, however, seem to have missed that memo.

This season, the club has been repeatedly undone by costly mistakes, whether that’s an offside penalty or a high-profile drop. One of the latter came at the end of KC’s Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles, when receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped a deep pass that would have given the Chiefs the late lead.

And while everyone at Arrowhead would like to forget that moment ever happened, Nick and the NFL aren’t letting that happen.

As mentioned above, the two brands shared an Instagram post promoting the “Nickmas” game, showing cartoon versions of the Chiefs and Raiders taking part in various holiday hi-jinks. Valdes-Scantling appears in the image, receiving a block of butter as a gift from a Vegas player (his number is obscured, but it seems to be cornerback Amik Robertson).

For what it’s worth, the cartoon version of MVS doesn’t look too pleased with the present. And, in fairness to the receiver, he’s a bit unlucky to be singled out. He’s only dropped two passes this season (5.3% of his targets), while Kadarius Toney (five drops for a 13.2 drop percentage) has been more problematic for KC.

MVS Isn’t the Only Chiefs Reference

It wouldn’t be much of a social media graphic, however, with only one visual gag. And, if you’re a Chiefs fan, there’s a bit more to unpack.

The biggest reference is (unsurprisingly) Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift. The tight end is seen sitting in the bottom-right corner of the image, making friendship bracelets. That, of course, alludes to a key part of the Swift experience and how the tight end planned to give the pop star his phone number.

Beyond that, Chris Jones is sacking Aiden O’Connell, Patrick Mahomes is diving away from Maxx Crosby (you could also argue that the Raider is tackling Mahomes, but he’s stretching out a present like he’s diving for the end zone) and Isiah Pacheco is tearing the wrapping paper off a present. The latter image is a bit generic, but it could also be a reference to the ball-carrier’s reputation for “angry” running.

On the Raiders side of things, Josh Jacobs is also carrying a present like a football and Davante Adams has a stack of presents, like the ones he apparently handed out in real life.

But, with all of that being said, both fanbases would probably be happy with a win over their hated rival on Christmas Day. Oh, and those in Kansas City might want some Stickum, or at least some new gloves, left under the receiver’s tree.