Buffalo Rumblings
Or will the Bills’ passing on Worthy be their downfall in the AFC Championship Game?
In April 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs traded with the Buffalo Bills to move up in the NFL Draft. Using that pick – number 28 overall – Kansas City selected wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Now, the Bills will have to find a way to stop Worthy, who has been on a bit of a hot streak lately with at least four catches in each of the Chiefs’ last eight games. Worthy started the season with two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut and Bills’ fans immediately started talking about how once again One Bills Drive infused Kansas City with yet another weapon to use in keeping Buffalo out of the ‘big game.’
As the season progressed, Worthy stayed consistent in catches, although his per-week production never reached the 100-yard mark in a single game — and his scoring production was sporadic. In Week 11 of the regular season, the Chiefs and Bills squared off in Orchard Park, NY where Buffalo put an end to Kansas City’s bid for a perfect season by handing them their first loss since Christmas 2023.
However, Worthy had four catches and a touchdown in his first game against the team that traded away the chance to choose him seven months prior. That game started an impressive eight-game production streak for Worthy, and he’s no doubt looking to continue it on Sunday.
Since that point and not including Week 18 (in which Worthy sat on the sideline with the rest of the Chiefs’ starters), Worthy’s catch count has steadily climbed. His production in that span? Two weeks, including Week 11, with four catches, two with five grabs, and then one game each with six, seven, and then eight catches to end his rookie regular season.
Despite the number of catches since Week 11, Worthy amassed just 392 yards receiving, with only two catches being of the 20-plus-yard variety. Furthermore, he had only three touchdowns — making it appear that Worthy’s serving as an outlet receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes rather than a long-ball player.
Bills’ fans are very familiar with players serving that role as they’ve watched wide receiver Khalil Shakir become Josh Allen’s go-to-guy all season long.
Worthy has played in just one playoff game as the Chiefs were the AFC’s one seed and had a bye during Super Wild Card Weekend. In Kansas City’s 23-14 win over the Houston Texans, Worthy’s five catches were good for 45 yards — but, again, no score. For those keeping score, Shakir has six catches in each of the Bills playoff games this season, with 60 or more yards in both games.
The question for first-year defensive coordinator Bobby Babich is going to be whether or not his defense can stop KC’s version of Khalil Shakir. Or will the Bills allow Worthy to be a drive-saving, game changer and add fuel to the fire that burns in Buffalo....
