SAO PAULO — Earlier than the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs may get in rhythm on offense — even earlier than they may achieve a primary down — a serious a part of their sport plan was faraway from the sector.
Lower than two minutes into their 27-21 season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, the Chiefs skilled their first important harm when Xavier Worthy, their quickest receiver, suffered a proper shoulder harm on the third snap of the season.
Worthy ran a crossing route to achieve separation towards the Chargers' man-to-man protection. As an alternative of ending his route, Worthy collided together with his teammate, tight finish Travis Kelce, who was additionally working a crossing route however in the wrong way. The play ended with quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwing an incompletion as a result of Worthy, a second-year participant, fell to the turf in ache.
A couple of minutes later, after the Chiefs punted, Worthy walked again to the locker room with a towel over his head. Earlier than halftime, the Chiefs dominated Worthy out for the rest of the sport.
“That is somebody that is an enormous a part of our sport plan,” Mahomes stated of Worthy. “He is somebody that we're relying on to go make performs towards a few of the man coverages that they performed. I believed guys did job stepping up in these roles, however you might inform it took us just a little bit to get going.”
Coach Andy Reid stated the Chiefs' coaching and medical employees would know extra about Worthy's standing Saturday night as soon as the group returned to Kansas Metropolis and after an MRI on the coaching facility. The Chiefs will face the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.
With out Worthy, the Chiefs ended their first three possessions with punts Friday night time, simply the third time that has occurred since Mahomes grew to become the beginning quarterback in 2018. Within the first quarter, Mahomes accomplished simply one among his six passes for six yards when focusing on a receiver.
“While you play a group quite a bit, they know what you are good at, and I believed they did job of taking away a few of our fast throws,” Mahomes stated. “We adjusted nicely within the second half, but when I can hit a few of these throws early, it type of loosens up the protection. … If I could make a few of these throws early within the sport, I feel it might've been a special outcome.”
The Chiefs fell behind by 10 factors early within the second quarter, which pressured Mahomes to complete Friday's sport with 39 passing makes an attempt. A lot of Mahomes' 14 cross makes an attempt within the second quarter confirmed how a lot the Chiefs' offense modified with out Worthy. Mahomes accomplished 10 of these passes, however his common depth of goal was simply 4.1 yards, a transparent distinction to his averaging 15 air yards per cross try within the first quarter.
Along with Worthy's harm, Reid stated he was pissed off that his gamers did not carry out with the right vitality, enthusiasm and focus within the first half.
“We had been just a little flat that first half, and that value us,” Reid stated. “I've bought to verify we come out with higher emotion. It is a good, massive stage for us towards group. They made a pair performs early, bought going and we weren't ready to try this.
“I anticipate the gamers to fly round and do the issues that I've seen us do. That is my duty to get them in that way of thinking, whether or not you could have an harm, a turnover or no matter it's. You battle by means of that and also you make your self higher, no matter scenario you are in.”
The Chiefs performed Friday with out their No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice, who started serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's private conduct coverage. Mahomes nonetheless focused receivers on 27 passing makes an attempt, greater than he had in any sport up to now two seasons.
Within the second half, Mahomes was as soon as once more requested to hold his offense and gave the Chiefs a chance within the fourth quarter. He scrambled for 5 first downs, which tied for his most in a sport in his profession (Week 5 of the 2021 season towards the Buffalo Payments). Mahomes' efficiency within the second half, when he totaled 160 passing yards and one other 42 yards on the bottom, ignited the Chiefs' offense after a lackluster begin.
When Mahomes ran within the third quarter, he trucked cornerback Donte Jackson earlier than going out of bounds, a call he stated was intentional as a result of he, too, may discover that his teammates wanted to be impressed by his aggression.
“Greater than something, generally you have to do one thing to jump-start the group,” Mahomes stated. “I used to be not within the temper to be working out of bounds. I wished to attempt to do one thing to get us going. We type of bought happening offense within the second half, but it surely takes all people, and we have got to start out quicker.”
