Welcome to the Week 4 grades of the NFL season, where rookie quarterbacks made significant headlines and a few unexpected teams emerged victoriously.
Rookie Quarterbacks Shine
This week saw rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Bo Nix leading their respective teams to hard-fought victories. Caleb Williams, the first overall pick, continued to impress by becoming the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. After securing a Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Williams led the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 win against the Los Angeles Rams, showcasing his poise and talent under pressure.
Bo Nix, on the other hand, faced a challenging game against the New York Jets. Despite a rough start with negative yardage in the first half, Nix turned things around in the third quarter, throwing for 60 yards and eventually leading the Denver Broncos to the game's only touchdown. The Broncos clinched a narrow 10-9 victory, demonstrating Nix's resilience and ability to lead a comeback.
Jayden Daniels also made a significant impact, as he led the Washington Commanders to a dominating 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels completed an astounding 86.7% of his passes, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at least 85% of his passes in two consecutive games. His remarkable performance has helped the Commanders secure an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011.
This week marks only the third time in NFL history that three rookie quarterbacks have won in the same week during the first four weeks of the season. This rare occurrence was previously seen only in 2012 and 2016.
Veteran Performances and Team Triumphs
While the rookies garnered much of the spotlight, veteran quarterbacks also made their presence felt. Jared Goff had a perfect game, completing 100% of his passes against the Seattle Seahawks. This remarkable feat helped lead the Detroit Lions to a 42-29 victory.
The Tennessee Titans showcased their dominance with a 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, while the Atlanta Falcons narrowly edged out the New Orleans Saints with a 26-24 victory.
The Minnesota Vikings triumphed over the Green Bay Packers in a close 31-29 game, and the Indianapolis Colts secured a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a final score of 27-24. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16, thanks to a strong all-around performance from both their offense and defense.
Other notable victories include the Cincinnati Bengals' 34-24 win over the Carolina Panthers and the Houston Texans' 24-20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Las Vegas Raiders overcame the Cleveland Browns 20-16, while the San Francisco 49ers delivered a convincing 30-13 win against the New England Patriots.
The Kansas City Chiefs continued their impressive run with a 17-10 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Baltimore Ravens handily defeated the Buffalo Bills 35-10, showcasing their prowess on both sides of the ball. The week was capped off by the Dallas Cowboys' 20-15 win over the New York Giants, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in the league.
A Week to Remember
Overall, Week 4 of the NFL season provided fans with thrilling games, breakout performances from rookie quarterbacks, and impressive victories for several teams. As the season progresses, the continued development of these young talents and the consistent excellence of veteran players promise to deliver even more excitement and memorable moments.
This week will be remembered for showcasing the potential and resilience of rookie quarterbacks, the impeccable play of seasoned veterans, and the unrelenting competition that defines the NFL. As teams continue to battle it out on the gridiron, fans can look forward to more electrifying action in the weeks to come.