KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs chosen Xavier Worthy within the first spherical of the NFL draft in April with the expectation that the speedy huge receiver out of Texas would give their offense some much-needed pop.
It took Worthy 5 performs in a season-opening 27-20 win over Baltimore on Thursday evening to show it was a smart choice. And to indicate the remainder of the league that they had been fools for letting him land with the Chiefs.
On their first possession, making an attempt to match the Ravens’ opening landing, Patrick Mahomes discovered second-year professional Rashee Rice for a few good features. Isiah Pacheco added a carry. The Chiefs had been helped alongside by a private foul penalty. And all of it arrange Worthy, who sprinted behind Mahomes, grabbed his flip and adopted a pink escort 21 yards to the top zone.
“It was loopy. We ran that within the preseason and I fumbled,” Worthy defined. “For them to have that belief in me, I informed (offensive coordinator Matt) Nagy that I believe this play goes to attain and it occurred. It was a tremendous second.”
Worthy made an much more essential play at one other essential juncture later within the recreation.
Lamar Jackson had simply hit Isaiah Probably on a damaged play for a 49-yard landing cross that had drawn the Ravens to inside 20-17 within the fourth quarter. Mahomes once more answered by discovering Rice for a pleasant achieve, after which tight finish Noah Grey, who earlier within the day had agreed to a contract extension. Lastly, on second down on the Baltimore 35, the Tremendous Bowl MVP noticed Worthy as he ran proper previous Marlon Humphrey, hitting him in stride with the landing strike.
“He’s so cool, calm and picked up, like, on a regular basis,” stated Mahomes, who earlier within the evening handed Len Dawson for the franchise file for profession passing yardage. “You by no means even see the joy on him, however he goes up there and makes performs.”
Worthy wound up with three touches for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Not a nasty NFL debut.
“That is every part I’ve dreamed of,” Worthy stated afterward. “Like I stated earlier than, I didn’t need to go anyplace else however the Chiefs. Having this second and it displaying up the best way it’s, is simply a tremendous feeling.”
What’s Working
Mahomes accomplished 20 passes to eight totally different targets, and the Chiefs offense was buzzing regardless of Travis Kelce catching simply three balls for 37 yards. Simply think about what it may do when Marquise Brown, certainly one of their premier free-agent acquisitions, is again within the subsequent couple of weeks from his shoulder damage.
“It was good to get the entire offense going and type of see the place everyone’s at,” Mahomes stated.
What Wants Assist
The Chiefs did a pleasant job of bottling up new Ravens working again Derrick Henry, who tormented him throughout his time with the Titans; he had simply 46 yards speeding. However they did not include Jackson on each scrambles and designed runs, and the two-time and reigning league MVP made them pay with 122 yards speeding on the evening.
“We had been in a position to maintain on,” Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones stated. “We had been inches away from going into time beyond regulation within the first recreation of the yr. We knew it was going to be a battle. It was an thrilling recreation that got here right down to actually the top.”
Inventory Up
Defensive backs Jaylen Watson and Josh Williams performed properly alongside Trent McDuffie, displaying the Chiefs’ secondary ought to be simply advantageous after L’Jarius Sneed was traded to Tennessee. Chamarri Conner additionally made a few good performs at security.
Inventory Down
Nick Bolton, who’s hoping for a long-term contract extension after the season, had a shaky efficiency in opposition to Baltimore. The often assignment-sound linebacker did not mark Justice Hill out of the backfield for what grew to become two lengthy completions, and Bolton additionally had the protection on Probably when the tight finish caught his lengthy landing cross.
Accidents
The Chiefs made it by unscathed. Now, the query is whether or not Brown can play subsequent week in opposition to Cincinnati. He damage his shoulder within the Chiefs’ preseason opener in opposition to Jacksonville however has to date prevented injured reserve.
Key Numbers
28,715 — The profession passing yardage whole for Mahomes, who had 291 yards with a landing and an interception in opposition to the Ravens. That broke the Chiefs file of 28,507 yards set by Dawson from 1962-75.
Subsequent Steps
The Chiefs go for his or her third straight win over the Bengals on Sept. 15.
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