Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy had extra motivation Sunday, turned in best game of rookie season

The worst fears of some Bills fans came true Sunday night in the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory in the AFC Championship Game.

Nine months earlier, the Chiefs swung a draft-day trade with Buffalo, moving up four spots to take wide receiver Xavier Worthy. At that time, fans fretted that Worthy would help the Chiefs at the Bills’ expense.

That’s what happened Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Worthy had his best day as a pro, with game highs in catches (six) and receiving yards (85), along with a touchdown grab. He also rushed for 16 yards.

Pro Football Focus gave Worthy the highest marks on the Chiefs in its preliminary grades (88.9). Fellow receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was second at 75.8.

Worthy also had the catch of the night on this contested ball, ripping it from Buffalo’s Cole Bishop. The Bills challenged, but the catch was upheld.

“I knew I was going up to get the ball. I wasn’t thinking anything else,” Worthy said. “I definitely had the ball. He didn’t have it.”

Worthy was thrilled his breakout game came against the Bills.

Buffalo moved down in the draft order last April after making the trade with the Chiefs. The Bills selected a receiver with their first pick in the draft, Keon Coleman.

“I feel like it was a disrespect. They wouldn’t grab me,” Worthy said of the Bills. “They went and grabbed a receiver right after they traded their pick. ... So I took it as they didn’t want me. So that’s why I’m sticking with a chip on my shoulder.”

The player the Bills selected, Coleman, had a quiet night. The Chiefs’ defense limited him to one reception for 12 yards.

While Worthy used the draft-day snub as motivation, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach downplayed any such talk.

“That’s one of the best football teams in the NFL and a lot of people make it out like the Bills didn’t want him. Listen they know what to do,” Veach said. “They’re a really good football team. They beat us earlier in the season, one of the best football teams out there. But look, we stick to our (draft) board, and we have a plan, and we believe it. We don’t really second-guess ourselves, and take those guys that we really love and we’re passionate about. We were fortunate to go up there to get him.

“Like I said, the Bills had their own (plan). ... I’m happy for Xavier. I know personally those guys, they know where they could have went, and I know he’s happy to be here and excited to be here, but he’s a great player. He’s only gonna get better.”

Worthy had a season-high in receiving yards and scored a touchdown for the third time in four games.

Like his general manager, Worthy feels like the best is yet to come. And that could be good news for Chiefs fans as Super Bowl LIX is up next.

“Man,” Worthy said, “I feel like there’s more in the tank.”