Rookie Xavier Worthy came up big for Chiefs, showed Bills what they passed on

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Two days before the biggest game of his rookie season, Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy knew exactly why his role would be a major subplot of the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills.

Unlike most of his teammates, Worthy was happy to explain why his motivation included more than just helping the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LIX.

Advertisement I feel its a sign that they didnt want me, Worthy said Friday of the Bills.

Im going to play with a chip on my shoulder.

This game means a little bit more.

This is a team that traded their pick away to get somebody else.

Teams make trades for lots of reasons.

But in late April, Worthy still felt rejected by the Bills, a team he knew needed to draft a dynamic receiver to bolster its offense for quarterback Josh Allen.

Instead of starting his career in Buffalo, he landed in Kansas City after the Bills traded their first-round pick, No.

28, to the Chiefs, who began that day with the 32nd pick.

The Chiefs, just like the Bills, needed to add a dynamic receiver to improve their offense for Patrick Mahomes.

I take it as a blessing, Worthy said Friday.

After the Chiefs 32-29 victory Sunday, he added: I felt like it was a disrespect to me that they went and grabbed a receiver right after they traded their pick.

I took it as they didnt want me.

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In front of Coleman and the rest of the Bills in the AFC title game, Worthy had his best performance of the season.

He likely surprised the Bills by having the most touches among the Chiefs skill-position players not named running back Kareem Hunt.

Displaying his rare speed having run the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in a record-setting 4.21 seconds Worthy turned eight touches into 101 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.

Im just grateful for the opportunity, he said.

Having the leaders and the guys that have been in the league for a little while to help me out and just helping me grow as a player, I just cant ask for a better (group).

Its a blessing, man.

Not too many guys get to experience this feeling.

I (saw) guys crying and guys excited.

Im just happy for my guys, man.

NO.

1 IS ON ONE pic.twitter.com/ihHcq1mqxJ Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 27, 2025 Worthy knew early Sunday that he could be a productive contributor against the Bills secondary.

A quick screen pass to him on the perimeter created an 8-yard gain late in the first quarter.

The Chiefs second touchdown drive featured Worthy winning one-on-one matchups against three Bills cornerbacks Kaiir Elam and Rasul Douglas and safety Damar Hamlin.

Worthy ended the drive in the red zone by sprinting past Hamlin on an out route for an easy 11-yard touchdown.

Advertisement The kid every week has just gotten better and better and better, coach Andy Reid said Monday.

Hes really put together a nice second half of the season.

You could see that he was learning in the first half and (Mahomes) was learning where he was going to be (on certain timing routes) and how he was going to get there against all these different coverages that teams throw at you.

It looks like theyre on the same page.

GO DEEPER Inside Patrick Mahomes' 'superhero' transformation and another Chiefs AFC title When the Chiefs fell to the Bills in November, Worthy recorded 68 all-purpose yards on five touches, including a touchdown.

But early in the second quarter of that game, he failed to get both feet in bounds while catching the ball, leading to perhaps the Chiefs most critical incompletion.

Part of Worthys left foot was out of bounds, eliciting groans from CBS broadcasters Jim Nantz and Tony Romo when they watched the replay.

Instead of a 40-yard completion one that wouldve put the ball at the Bills 30-yard line the Chiefs offense never gained a yard on the possession, instead going backward for a 9-yard loss with a sack of Mahomes.

No highlight in Sundays win better illustrated the chemistry that Mahomes and Worthy have built than their deep connection before halftime.

While under pressure in the pocket, Mahomes threw a pass where the ball traveled 25 yards past the line of scrimmage.

Even against tight coverage from Douglas and rookie safety Cole Bishop, Worthy still wrestled the ball away from Bishop for a reception that was upheld after replay review and set up the Chiefs third touchdown.

Hes a dawg, man, and hes going to go down as one of the greatest to ever do it, Worthy said of Mahomes.

I knew I was going up to get the ball.

I definitely had the ball.

UPDATE: HE'S STILL ON ONE pic.twitter.com/GE8yN72GER Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 27, 2025 Throughout their dynasty, the Chiefs have benefited from trades on Day 1 of the draft with the rival Bills.

The biggest trade with the Bills came in 2017 when the Chiefs moved up 17 spots in the first round to acquire Mahomes.

In 2022, when the Chiefs were beginning the process of reloading their roster after trading receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, general manager Brett Veach pulled off another trade, this time with the New England Patriots, to move up eight spots jumping ahead of the Bills to select All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.

The Bills responded two picks later by selecting Elam.

GO DEEPER Chiefs' all-out blitz with Super Bowl berth on the line is defensive play call of the year To acquire Worthy last year, the Chiefs sent the Nos.

32, 95 and 221 picks to the Bills for picks 28, 133 and 248.

Hes a great player, Veach said of Worthy.

The Bills have a great staff and thats one of the best teams in the NFL.

A lot of people make it out like the Bills didnt want him.

They know what theyre doing.

We just stick to our board.

We have a plan and we believe in it.

We dont really second-guess ourselves.

Advertisement Xavier was a guy that we really loved and were passionate about and we were fortunate to go up there and get him.

Hes only going to get better.

Coach (Reid) talked about it, like (receiver) Rashee (Rice) last year.

After Week 11 and 12, (Worthy) just took off.

Last season, Rice, a second-round pick, emerged as the Chiefs top receiver, making 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.

In the four-game postseason run, Rice produced 26 receptions for 262 yards and a touchdown.

When Rice suffered a season-ending right knee injury in Week 4, it gave others a chance to step up.

Worthy has taken advantage, setting a franchise rookie record with 10 touchdowns from scrimmage.

Xavier Worthy down to the 10! : #BUFvsKC on CBS : Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/AETwB3M92D NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025 Reid demonstrated his trust in Worthy against the Bills by having him play 54 of the 66 offensive snaps, the most among Chiefs receivers.

Worthy also went in motion on 38.5 percent of his snaps, his highest single-game motion rate, according to Next Gen Stats.

He went in motion before his final reception, too, a pre-snap tactic that indicated the Bills were in man coverage.

Running a shallow crossing route against Taron Johnson, the Bills best cornerback, Worthy ran away from him for a 23-yard gain to set up the game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker.

Donning a commemorative ballcap and T-shirt on the field after the game, Worthy was happy to mention the opponent one more time.

I said it once: They skipped on me, Worthy said.

Thats their loss.

(Photo: Mark J.

Rebilas / Imagn Images).

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