It appears like every part that’s occurred on this season has led us to this second within the AFC. It needed to be this fashion, as if destiny was pulling the 2 collectively on a collision course. As soon as once more, the Buffalo Payments will face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs with a shot to lastly slay the large. A lot of the consideration goes to be on each QBs and playcallers on either side (whichever crew can defend the go out of their base personnel one of the best would possibly win this sport), however I’m going to give attention to one participant whose function has elevated for the reason that final time these two performed: Chiefs’ rookie wideout Xavier Worthy.
Sure, the Xavier Worthy that the Chiefs traded up with the Payments to get. Worthy and Payments’ rookie wideout Keon Coleman will perpetually be linked due to the draft-day commerce between the 2 franchises, however each serve a definite objective of their respective offenses. Worthy’s utilization has been attention-grabbing to me. Since Week 13 there hasn’t been a sport that he hasn’t gotten beneath 80% of snaps (minus the Week 18 Carson Wentz masterclass) and in that very same stretch he’s second on the crew in targets, and first in receptions and yards. Oh and he’s caught two touchdowns throughout that point. What’s actually obtained me going about Worthy’s utilization is that he’s not solely used as “quick man go far” on this offense—he’s getting used as a weapon laterally as an alternative of vertically. His Common Depth of Goal of 5.7 yards is similar as TE Noah Grey, however his 225 Yards after Contact in that point interval leads the crew. Evaluate that to weeks 1-12, the place his ADOT was 12.7, however he solely had 188 Yards after the Catch. What Worthy is doing is changing into the explosive choice beneath for QB Patrick Mahomes, and it’s helped his sport blossom as properly.
The Chiefs this yr are primarily working essentially the most fashionable West Coast offense within the NFL. A lot peppering of the perimeters of the protection with crossing routes, screens and now throws, and Worthy is the lynchpin of that beneath. He’s been the goal on so a lot of these fast flips out to the sting that Mahomes will throw if he doesn’t just like the field rely on a run, and Worthy can take it for a simple six yards. In opposition to Pittsburgh, Mahomes is studying the field rely, however sees the nickel defender about to fly in off the sting and is aware of he’ll have a two-on-two to his proper. A fast flip to Worthy and he will get a primary down.
One thing else the Chiefs will do is scheme up Worthy designed touches within the backfield. Each offensive thoughts needs to present their most explosive man a free launch, and KC is doing it rather well with Worthy in latest weeks. Worthy’s landing in opposition to Pittsburgh got here on a play the place he’s lined up within the backfield and the Chiefs run mesh rail. Nonetheless, Worthy is the rail route and he races into the tip zone as a result of he has the leverage.
Within the playoff victory over the Texans, the Chiefs obtained Worthy a snap within the backfield the place he confirmed off a few of his work on the catch level from out of the backfield. When receivers come out the backfield, most guys run selection routes, giving the receiver a “selection” to interrupt his route in or out. Worthy, as an alternative, runs a choice-and-go, the place he fakes the selection route and takes it upfield. Mahomes lays it out for him after which Worthy makes a fantastic catch via contact.
Kansas Metropolis does a very good job of defending Worthy from being pressed on the line of scrimmage, by way of stacks and bunches. As a result of Worthy has a slight body and doesn’t actually fare properly in opposition to press, the Chiefs will use totally different video games to open some seems up for Worthy.
Not solely is Worthy getting used to pry open holes for himself, his pace and the pace risk is getting used to open up holes in zones for others. Of their first matchup in opposition to the Texans, Kansas Metropolis battered Houston with Worthy’s pace risk throughout the sphere and in these bunches and stacks to create pure picks for guys like WR Hollywood Brown. This one was particularly diabolical, with three receivers in a bunch and TE Travis Kelce off the road of scrimmage to the identical aspect. Worthy’s over route creates a pure decide and Brown is ready to simply stroll into some open voids within the protection.
The Chiefs traded as much as Payments’ decide to pick Worthy at No. 28 total within the 2024 NFL Draft and in addition obtained a fourth rounder out of the deal. The Payments traded again to No. 32, drafted Coleman, and added a third-round decide and a seventh-round decide.
Buffalo’s go protection goes to must be sturdy of their communication and guidelines when confronted with these stacks and motions that Kansas Metropolis goes to throw at them. It’s the Chiefs’ approach of gaining info and leverage on their opponents, whereas placing defenders’ minds in a blender. Worthy goes to be a vital a part of this, and could be the distinction between one other Tremendous Bowl look or an early journey to Cabo.
