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Xavier Worthy and four more Chiefs players who can be game-changers against the Ravens in Week 1

By Charles Goldman,

14 hours ago

The Kansas City Chiefs will soon take on the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to kick off the 2024 NFL season .

It's a rematch of the heavyweight variety, with the top two teams in the AFC from a season ago meeting in the first game of the regular season. Last time around, the Chiefs won 17-10 in a game that'd send them to their second consecutive Super Bowl. What will happen in this Week 1 matchup? There are sure to be plenty of theatrics and game-changing moments from players new and old.

Here's a look at five players who I believe can be game-changers in this upcoming matchup.

WR Xavier Worthy

No player has the potential to have more impact on this game than rookie WR Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs' receiving corps looks vastly different than it did a season ago, but Worthy's ability to stretch the field vertically with his record-setting speed will almost certainly be featured with WR Hollywood Brown sidelined by a sternoclavicular joint injury . The Chiefs' longest reception against the Ravens in the AFC title game last year was 32 yards. I'd be shocked if we didn't see a few shot plays to Worthy during this game and if one of those plays didn't connect for a long gain.

LG Joe Thuney

Nick Allegretti filled in for Thuney during the AFC Championship Game , and he was serviceable, but also the clear weakest link for Kansas City. He was the only offensive lineman to allow a sack and allowed three other pressures on top of that according to PFF. Thuney hasn't played during the preseason, but he's healthy in his return from a pectoral injury that kept him sidelined through the playoffs and most of the offseason. Having their All-Pro left guard back for Week 1 should only help Kansas City when it comes to protecting Patrick Mahomes against a talented Baltimore front seven.

DT Tershawn Wharton

If I had to choose one player to step up and become a difference-maker alongside the likes of Chris Jones, George Karalftis, and Mike Danna, it's Turk Wharton. The fifth-year interior defensive lineman is the only person that Chiefs D-Line coach Joe Cullen described as "dominating" during Chiefs training camp. He's one year further removed from the season-ending knee injury that cost him his contract year. That's motivation in and of itself to have a big season in 2024. Also, look for Wharton to potentially get some opportunities rushing from the edge in Week 1 until the team gets trade acquisition Cameron Thomas up to speed.

S Bryan Cook

Cook was on the injured reserve list tending to a severe ankle injury last season when the Chiefs faced the Ravens in the AFC title game. The Chiefs were actually down to their No. 4 safety during that game when Deon Bush entered the game and made a red zone interception. This former 2022 NFL draft pick is ready to remind people that he was ascending before the ankle injury. He played 20 snaps during the preseason, recorded two solo tackles, and wasn't targeted once in coverage. He could even help offset one of the team's biggest losses in the secondary .

P Matt Araiza

Chiefs special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub said without actually saying that Matt Araiza is better than both the punters who came before him. Both Tommy Townsend and Dustin Colquitt were fine punters, but Araiza has something different and special to his game. He described him as a "punch-hitter" in boxing, basically, someone who can land a lot of blows that wear the opponent down. We saw that during the preseason, with him forcing a turnover in the red zone on special teams by putting some backspin on a punt. Being a lefty punter also has its advantages .