In the Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room, the pressure is high and the demands are higher as a result. No team in NFL history has ever done what the 8-0 Chiefs are attempting to do; the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are aiming for a three-peat, and they are favored to complete that quest as the 2024 season hits the midway point.
But in order to make those three-peat dreams a reality, the Chiefs must maintain high standards and continue to form good, winning habits. Every player on the 53-man roster must pull their weight — or else risk reprisal from a team leader like Travis Kelce or Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes asks more of Worthy
Before the 2024 NFL Draft, Mahomes publicly hinted to Chiefs brass that they should select Xavier Worthy — which they did, after acquiring the 28th overall pick from the AFC title rival Buffalo Bills. Worthy, who set a new record in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, was expected to complement Kelce and Rashee Rice with his blazing speed — but after a positive start to his rookie season, Worthy has faded and Rice has been rendered unavailable due to a knee injury.
During the Chiefs’ opening drive in their Monday night win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Worthy hauled in a long pass from Mahomes that would have set up Kansas City on a first-and-goal. But Worthy made the catch out of bounds, and it was ruled incomplete. Mahomes remembered the play, and the fine margins it represented.
“He’ll learn from that, but I thought he did a great job on that play in general of recognizing the coverage and getting to the right spot,” Mahomes told the media.
Patrick Mahomes completion percentage this season when targeting:
* Xavier Worthy: 48.7%
* Everyone else: 73.5%— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 5, 2024
With former All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins now in the mix for the Chiefs offense, Worthy has recorded only one touchdown in the past four games while rushing for negative-2 yards. But Mahomes is not giving up on the 21-year-old speedster, whom defenses must continue to keep an eye on in Week 10 and beyond.
“I promise you the defenses are respecting his speed, and that’s helping getting guys like DeAndre and (Travis) open in that medium range,” Mahomes explained.
Rookie receiving leaders after nine weeks of play 🙌 https://t.co/ADoW6zMhW4 pic.twitter.com/A9Y76uzbK7
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 6, 2024
