In a hard-fought 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the challenge of losing their top wide receiver, Rashee Rice. In his absence, rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy stepped up significantly, catching a deep touchdown pass and converting a crucial third down that helped secure the win. After the game, Worthy and quarterback Patrick Mahomes discussed their connection on the longest play of the season for KC.
During his postgame press conference, Mahomes praised Worthy’s development throughout the season and highlighted his impact in the game.
“The big-time catch down the field, some big-time third-down conversions—he’s a great football player,” Mahomes said. “I think he’s getting more comfortable within the offense. When I review the tape, I’ll likely see a few more opportunities where I could have taken those chances with him. As I build my confidence in him, I’ll continue to take those risks, and when he makes plays like he did today, it allows me to let him go out there one-on-one and make those catches.”
Worthy’s 54-yard touchdown catch, a spectacular throw from Mahomes late in the second quarter, traveled an impressive 62.2 yards in the air, marking the longest thrown completion of Mahomes’s career according to Next Gen Stats.
In the postgame media session, Worthy recounted the conversation that set up the touchdown, noting how he communicated with Mahomes about their matchups earlier in the game.
“We talked about it on the sideline,” Worthy explained. “I told Pat around the first quarter, ‘If you get this play call, I’m going to stutter a little bit at the top of the route,’ and it worked out perfectly. It’s kind of crazy how it all played out.”
From Mahomes’s perspective, he reiterated the importance of their dialogue leading to the pivotal score.
“I told him, ‘If the safety comes down, I’m going to throw it as far as I can and let you catch it,'” Mahomes recounted. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
When asked if the stutter at the top of his route was the key to the successful play, Worthy had his own take. “I feel like I would have had it if I ran it straight,” he said. “But the stutter just added a little bit of sauce to it.”
With Rice’s absence and the reliance on rookie talent, Worthy’s performance signals a promising development for the Chiefs’ offense as they navigate the season, showcasing their adaptability and playmaking ability in critical moments.
