For the first time in a while, the Kansas City Chiefs not only secured a win but thoroughly seemed to be in a different class than a top-tier opponent. Sunday’s 37-20 runaway triumph against the Baltimore Ravens served as a reminder to the NFL.
It also provided Kansas City the opportunity to send a warning shot. With wide receiver Xavier Worthy back in the lineup, this is a new team with a much higher ceiling.
That excitement was evident when head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke to the media after Week 4’s win. Worthy changes the Chiefs‘ identity in a great way.
Andy Reid Tips Cap to Matt Nagy & Xavier Worthy for Week 4 Plan
Worthy got plenty of reps in, receiving the ball on Kansas City’s very first offensive play. The 2024 first-round pick worked in a variety of ways on offense, which was entirely by design. He also managed to protect himself in his first game back from a dislocated shoulder suffered in Week 1.
Reid tips his cap to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for helping construct the best Worthy-related plan possible.
“I thought Matt used him the right way,” Reid said. “He put him in great positions, and then Worthy didn’t flinch at all. People were worried about the shoulder and so on but right from the start, he gets the first play and goes. That’s the way he’s approached his rehab and everything else. I’m glad he came out healthy, but I thought the way Nags used him, that was smart.”
Reid says having someone like Worthy in the lineup makes Mahomes’s life easier.
“It did today,” Reid said. “The speed was good. Pat’s got trust — I mentioned he’s developing more trust in 5 [Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown] and more trust in 80 [Tyquan Thornton]. Now you add 1 [Worthy] into the mix, who he’s already got time with, game time, I think that’s important. I think that just kind of brought it together, and they fed off of each other’s success.”
That success was plentiful. Mahomes threw for 270 yards and 4 touchdowns, carving up a depleted Baltimore defense. A good chunk of that was thanks to his most exciting target being back.
Patrick Mahomes Says Worthy ‘Can Do Everything’ in Chiefs’ Offense
Worthy posted a nice stat line in his own right. On the afternoon, he had 5 catches for 83 yards, both of which led the Chiefs. He also ran the ball twice for a team-best 38 yards. His 35-yard scamper on an end around was a perfect example of his versatility.
Mahomes felt the impact immediately.
“Yeah, he’s just so explosive,” Mahomes said. “You just see it. When you get the football in his hands, it makes defenses have to adjust. When they adjust, it’s like he gets so much attention on him that other guys can make plays happen. Just having him out there, not just for his physical ability but just the morale of the room, I thought it was huge.”
Coming into the game, Kansas City outlined that they had clear expectations for Worthy. Opposing defenses wouldn’t take it easy on him, so he had to be ready for a physical challenge. He passed that, as well as the mental one, with flying colors. It was a fantastic outing for the second-year man.
Worthy made his presence felt at all areas of the field. Mahomes believes there’s more to come, as this is the optimal role for him within the offense.
“I think you saw at the end of last year, he’s not just this fast receiver that can run down the field,” Mahomes said. “He’s gained weight, he’s kept his speed and he’s shown that he can be a guy that can do everything. I think last year was so pivotal [with] him having to be in a bigger role, obviously, with injuries and stuff like that. I think he had an injury at the beginning of this year, but this was the role that we expected him to be in. He showcased it today.”
Worthy returned just in time, helping the Chiefs get back to .500 on the young season.
Chiefs Send NFL Warning Shot With Xavier Worthy’s Return to Lineup