It was a nail-biting finish to Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season for the Kansas City Chiefs with a 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The emergence of rookie WR Xavier Worthy was the highlight of the game . The former first-round draft pick out of the University of Texas scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown with over 60 yards from scrimmage. He was an instant impact player for Kansas City, making his presence felt the moment he stepped on the field.
"He's a playmaker," Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes told NBC's Melissa Stark postgame. "To come out here against one of the best defenses in the league and score some touchdowns? It's just a start, though. He's got a long way to go. He's going to be great."
Mahomes couldn't let his rookie receiver get a big ego in the first-ever NFL game. However exciting Worthy's emergence in Week 1 might be, it was Mahomes' revelation about the rookie's impact when he wasn't catching touchdown passes that should have the NFL afraid, very afraid.
The Chiefs' offense hasn't even reached its final form
The offense was humming for Kansas City in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. It was hardly a perfect performance, but it was also the first game of the year. There are always some things to work on, whether it's communication or conditioning. At the end of the day, they produced three touchdowns and 353 net yards of offensive production.
Seven different receivers caught passes against Baltimore, including Worthy. However, the biggest impact the rookie made might have come when he wasn't catching the ball. His speed and big-play potential forces defenses to act and defend the Chiefs differently.
"I mean, just having him out there, it just opens up stuff," Mahomes explained following the game. "I mean, you saw when he's out there, they're playing shell coverages. Again, it's getting guys like Trav (Kelce), and it's getting guys like Rashee (Rice) open underneath. And that's what's so great about this offense. We're able to do all of that. And that's when we're at our best. And so, like I said, we get Hollywood out there too. It's going to be tough for defenses to decide who they want to cover."
Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce accounted for practically a third of the team's offensive production on Thursday. When the All-22 is available several plays will show exactly what Mahomes is mentioning here. The fact of his being on the field is making life easier on his teammates and it's not just because of the points he racked up in his first start.
The best part about it all is that this offense isn't complete yet. Their prized free agent addition, Hollywood Brown, sat against the Ravens as he recovers from a sternoclavicular joint injury . When he gets back in the fold, it's going to really stress defenses in a way that this offense has seldom seen before.
Related: Patrick Mahomes surpasses Chiefs legend Len Dawson in a franchise record that has stood for decades
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