Welcome to the Week 4 grades! This past week in the NFL was one for the record books, with several standout performances and notable wins. Let's dive into the highlights.
Quarterbacks Shine in Week 4
This week, rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Bo Nix made headlines with their performances. Caleb Williams, selected as the first overall pick, showcased why he was chosen in such a coveted position. Williams led the Chicago Bears to a hard-fought 24-18 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. This win holds special significance as it makes Williams the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. Adding to his accolades, Williams had already secured a Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Bo Nix, on the other hand, had a tougher start but found his rhythm in the second half of his game against the New York Jets. Despite recording negative yardage in the first half, Nix bounced back to throw for 60 yards in the third quarter. His perseverance paid off as he led the Denver Broncos to the game's only touchdown, securing a narrow 10-9 win over the Jets.
Record-Breaking Performance by Jayden Daniels
Another rookie quarterback making waves is Jayden Daniels, who led the Washington Commanders to a resounding 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels delivered an exceptional performance, completing 86.7% of his passes. This feat marked his second consecutive game with at least an 85% completion rate, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to achieve this milestone in back-to-back games. Thanks to Daniels' stellar play, the Commanders boast an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011.
Historic Week for Rookies
This week also stood out as it marked just the third time in NFL history that three rookie quarterbacks triumphed in the same week during the first four weeks of the season, a phenomenon previously seen only in 2012 and 2016. The successes of Williams, Nix, and Daniels highlight the impactful presence of fresh talent in the league this year.
Additional Noteworthy Performances
While the rookies garnered much of the attention, other players also delivered notable performances. Jared Goff completed all his passes in a flawless display, leading the Detroit Lions to a 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. This kind of precision from a quarterback is rare and speaks volumes about Goff's current form and the efficiency of the Lions' offensive scheme.
Team Victories and Close Contests
Several teams secured crucial wins in Week 4. The Tennessee Titans defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-12, showcasing their dominance on both sides of the ball. The Atlanta Falcons edged out the New Orleans Saints 26-24 in a nail-biter, while the Minnesota Vikings narrowly overcame the Green Bay Packers with a 31-29 win.
The Indianapolis Colts pulled off a 27-24 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers handily defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16. In another high-scoring affair, the Cincinnati Bengals triumphed over the Carolina Panthers 34-24, demonstrating their offensive prowess.
The Houston Texans managed a close 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Las Vegas Raiders edged past the Cleveland Browns 20-16. The San Francisco 49ers delivered a convincing 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots, solidifying their status as a formidable team this season.
The Kansas City Chiefs also continued their winning ways, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 17-10. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens easily handled the Buffalo Bills, securing a 35-10 win. Lastly, the Dallas Cowboys held off the New York Giants in a 20-15 contest, showcasing their defensive tenacity in the final minutes.
Week 4 provided a thrilling array of performances and set the stage for what promises to be an exciting season ahead. As the rookies continue to impress and teams battle for positioning, football fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.