The NFL season is picking up momentum as we head into Week 4, and several teams and individual players have already made significant impacts. The Seattle Seahawks have pulled ahead in the NFC West with a two-game lead, establishing themselves as early favorites. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers have mirrored this feat in the AFC North, also securing a two-game lead over their division rivals.
Among the early undefeated teams, the Minnesota Vikings have emerged as a standout with a 3-0 record. The spotlight shines brightly on their new quarterback, Sam Darnold, who has quickly made history with his exceptional performances. Darnold leads the NFL with eight passing touchdowns and boasts impressive stats, including a second-place passer rating of 117.3 and ranking fourth in yards per attempt at 8.4.
Sam Darnold's Remarkable Start
Darnold's journey with the Vikings has been nothing short of extraordinary. He is now the fifth quarterback in the past 25 years to start a season 3-0 while throwing eight or more passing touchdowns in his first three games with a new team. He has also set a new record in Vikings history by winning his first three games of the season and throwing multiple touchdowns in each matchup.
Another fresh face making waves for the Vikings is rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. In Week 3, Nabers caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 23 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns. His 37.8% target share ranks as the fourth-highest for any player through the first three games over the last decade. Additionally, his 271 yards are the second-most for a rookie in franchise history over the first three games.
Strong Performances Across the League
Marvin Harrison Jr. has also been delivering solid performances, with 10 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns across three games. However, it’s Saquon Barkley who currently leads the league in rushing, accumulating 351 yards and four touchdowns. In Week 3, Barkley was on fire, carrying the ball 17 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns, scoring both of the Eagles' touchdowns in their victory over the Saints. Remarkably, Barkley has totaled 100-plus yards from scrimmage in every game so far this season.
In contrast, the New Orleans Saints struggled offensively in Week 3. Despite entering the week averaging 45.5 points and 6.9 yards per play, they only managed to score 12 points against the Philadelphia Eagles. Their average has now dropped to 34.3 points and 6.0 yards per play over three games. This led C.J. Gardner-Johnson to comment, "The Saints were 'pretenders' after scoring 12 points and gaining 4.0 yards per play."
Malik Willis and Andy Dalton's Contributions
Meanwhile, Malik Willis has been a revelation for the Green Bay Packers. He has a completion rate of 73.5%, averages 9.5 yards per attempt, has thrown two touchdowns, and maintains a passer rating of 122.6. Willis has also contributed 114 rushing yards and a touchdown, showcasing his dual-threat capability. In his two starts, Willis has completed 75.8% of his passes with a 126.3 passer rating, making him the fourth different Packers player to accumulate over 200 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown in a game.
On the other hand, the Carolina Panthers celebrated their first win of the season in Week 3, thanks in large part to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Panthers to a resounding 36-point performance after they had scored a combined total of just 13 points in the first two weeks.
Cowboys' Struggles Continue
The Dallas Cowboys have faced significant difficulties, being outscored 56-22 in their last two home games. However, they showed resilience by scoring 22 straight points in the second half against the Ravens, hinting at their potential for a turnaround as the season progresses.
As Week 4 approaches, fans and analysts alike will be keenly observing whether these trends continue or if new storylines emerge in this already thrilling NFL season.