Well, the Chiefs have a shiny new toy to play with. They wasted no time trying to figure out how to get the ball into the hands of speedy rookie receiver Xavier Worthy. Worthy had just three touches in Kansas City’s season-opening 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. But he managed to turn them into two long touchdowns, absolutely showing off the blistering 4.21-second 40-yard dash time that made him the fastest man in NFL combine history. Three touches, 68 yards and two touchdowns in a debut isn’t too shabby, but the way Worthy got his scores shows his place in the Chiefs’ offense is still being defined.
The first touchdown was amazing. Seriously. Worthy got the ball on a pass from Patrick Mahomes, had a crease lined up in front of him thanks to incredible blocking from his teammates, and just… exploded into the end zone. On a field filled with some of the most physically gifted people in the world, Worthy’s speed really stood out. Ravens defenders could do nothing but grab at the air and pieces of his jersey as the rookie flew at top speed. Sure, it’s just the first game of the entire regular season, but that speed in that tight space is absolutely stunning, and arguably one of the coolest plays to come all season.
Worthy’s second score was simply a total collapse of the Ravens defense, but a strong A reminder for teams coming up on the schedule: Worthy is not a player you can afford to lose sight of down the stretch. There was a miscommunication between the cornerbacks and safeties and Worthy found himself untouched deep in Ravens territory. Mahomes threw the ball, caught it and nobody You can catch him from behind. Once he moves across the open grass field, forget about it.
This is exactly the kind of speed the Chiefs missed last year in their offense, but seeing how they’re willing to utilize Worthy and put the ball in his hands will be a critical development for this team. Right now, Worthy is obviously still finding his way. The end-around was more of a gadget play, and Mahomes is clearly more comfortable throwing to wide receiver Rashee Rice, who led the Chiefs with nine passes in the season opener. The end-around and blown coverage were a reminder of how fast Worthy is, but they’re not really things that can be repeated on a consistent basis.
I don’t want to be a party pooper or a hater, but Worthy will have to win as a true receiver going forward. The clever plays will likely continue to work simply because no one has the level of speed that Worthy has, but following his progress as a true receiver is important. The Chiefs will get a boost when Hollywood Brown returns from injury, but anything Worthy can give them in terms of real, repeatable football plays will only increase their potential further as they look for three straight Super Bowl victories.
Worthy is here. His presence on the Chiefs was much needed as they struggled to produce explosive plays on a consistent basis last season. While there is plenty of room for improvement, it is important to remember that this is the floor for Worthy, a player capable of scoring anytime the defense isn’t perfect. Thursday was a good start for Worthy, but there are so plenty of room for improvement, which should be scary for the rest of the AFC.
