Welcome to the Week 4 grades! This week brought some remarkable performances and intriguing storylines, particularly among rookie quarterbacks making their mark on the NFL.
Rookie Quarterbacks Shine
Caleb Williams, the first overall pick, continues to impress with another significant milestone. In Week 4, he led the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, after previously securing a win in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. This makes Williams the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. His early success is setting a high bar for what’s expected from him moving forward.
Elsewhere, Bo Nix had a challenging start against the New York Jets, recording negative yardage in the first half. However, he rallied in the third quarter, throwing for 60 yards and ultimately led the Denver Broncos to the only touchdown of the game. The Broncos edged out a 10-9 win over the Jets, showcasing Nix’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
Not to be outdone, Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders delivered a standout performance in their 42-14 rout of the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels completed 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 accuracy and leadership have driven the Commanders to an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011.
This week marked a rare occurrence in NFL history, with three rookie quarterbacks—Williams, Nix, and Daniels—each securing wins. This feat has only been accomplished twice before, in 2012 and 2016, emphasizing the unique talent and readiness of this year's quarterback class.
Veterans Deliver Aces
Veteran quarterbacks also had their moments of glory. Jared Goff had a flawless performance, completing 100% of his passes in the Detroit Lions’ 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The Lions’ efficient offense and Goff’s precision were too much for the Seahawks to handle.
Other notable games included the Tennessee Titans overpowering the Miami Dolphins with a 31-12 win, and the Atlanta Falcons narrowly defeating the New Orleans Saints 26-24. The Minnesota Vikings held on for a 31-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers in a thrilling encounter.
Close Calls and Big Wins
The Indianapolis Colts secured a close 27-24 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16. The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a 34-24 win over the Carolina Panthers, and the Houston Texans managed a tight 24-20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Las Vegas Raiders came out on top with a 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns, and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the New England Patriots convincingly, 30-13. The Kansas City Chiefs recorded a 17-10 win against the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Buffalo Bills in a one-sided 35-10 game.
Lastly, the Dallas Cowboys managed to get past the New York Giants with a 20-15 victory, rounding off an exciting week of football action.
Week 4 has certainly delivered on drama and excitement, showcasing the potential of rookie talent while reminding us of the prowess of seasoned veterans.