The defending, repeat NFL champion Kansas City Chiefs opened up their 2024 NFL season with a nail-biter. It ended with a 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
It was an exciting beginning for a team in search of the first NFL three-peat in history.
The Thursday Night Football matchup was full of big plays, fun surprises, and a few key mistakes. Here, we take a look at three main lessons learned from the action.
Rookie Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy is going to be a star
It didn't take long for the Chiefs to see a significant return on investment from rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy.
The speed-demon receiver put Kansas City on the board with the first touchdown of the season in the first quarter. Check out this amazing play design from head coach Andy Reid, which sprung Worthy for a 21-yard touchdown run.
X GON' GIVE IT TO YA‼️ pic.twitter.com/SPBbzNpJu6
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 6, 2024
Later, in the fourth quarter, Worthy caught a 35-yard touchdown strike to put the nail in the coffin for the win. This play showed off just how dangerous he's going to be as a deep threat, which should make the Chiefs all the more dangerous in 2024.
All told, the rookie receiver tallied 58 yards and two touchdowns on just three touches. That's the way to make an instant impact.
Rashee Rice is clearly WR1
While Worthy was proving his worth, another Chiefs receiver showed he's the team's top dog. Rashee Rice, who is currently dealing with legal issues that could end up causing him to be disciplined by the NFL, didn't show up distracted in Week 1.
Rice was the leading receiver for the Chiefs on Thursday night. He was targeted by Patrick Mahomes nine times and caught seven passes for 103 yards.
In particular, Rice ate the Ravens alive in the middle of the field. Reid had him lined up in bunch often and used motion to get him lined up against linebackers, to devastating effect.
Cornerback Jaylen Watson is ready to shine
There was some concern that the Chiefs could see a decline on the defensive side of the ball this season. One position in particular that was causing some consternation is cornerback, thanks to the departure of L'Jarius Sneed.
That shouldn't be a concern any longer. The reason for optimism is that Jaylen Watson showed up in a big way Thursday night and showed he's ready to take on that role. The former seventh-round pick out of Washington State helped shut down the perimeter and showed off his playmaking abilities with a sensational pass breakup.
Watson and Trent McDuffie both locked down their respective sides for most of the game. They look to be a dynamic duo capable of continuing the trend of excellent cornerback play in Kansas City this coming season.
