Welcome to the Week 4 grades! This week showcased a remarkable series of performances by rookie quarterbacks and seasoned veterans alike, leading to some thrilling outcomes on the field.
Rookie Quarterbacks Shine in Week 4
In Week 4, rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Bo Nix demonstrated their potential, securing wins in their respective games. Caleb Williams, chosen as the first overall pick, has already etched his name into NFL history by becoming the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. After a Week 1 triumph over the Tennessee Titans, Williams led the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 victory against the Los Angeles Rams this week.
Bo Nix, on the other hand, faced a challenging start against the New York Jets, finishing the first half with negative yardage. However, he 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 secured a narrow 10-9 win, adding to the success of rookie quarterbacks this week.
Another standout performance came from Jayden Daniels, who led the Washington Commanders to a decisive 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels completed an impressive 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 performance has helped the Commanders achieve an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011.
This week's events marked just the third time in NFL history that three rookie quarterbacks have won in the same week during the first four weeks of the season, a rare occurrence previously seen only in 2012 and 2016.
Veterans Continue to Impress
Week 4 wasn't just about the rookies; veteran quarterbacks also made headlines. Jared Goff had a perfect game, completing 100% of his passes against the Seattle Seahawks. Goff's flawless performance propelled the Detroit Lions to a 42-29 victory, showcasing his precision and control.
In other matchups, the Tennessee Titans defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-12, while the Atlanta Falcons edged out the New Orleans Saints 26-24. The Minnesota Vikings emerged victorious in a close game against the Green Bay Packers, winning 31-29.
The Indianapolis Colts secured a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16. The Cincinnati Bengals triumphed over the Carolina Panthers with a 34-24 victory, and the Houston Texans claimed a 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Las Vegas Raiders overcame the Cleveland Browns 20-16, and the San Francisco 49ers delivered a convincing 30-13 win against the New England Patriots. The Kansas City Chiefs managed a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Buffalo Bills in a 35-10 win. Rounding out the week, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Giants 20-15.
Looking Ahead
As Week 4 concludes, the season continues to unfold with surprising victories and historic performances. The rise of rookie quarterbacks combined with the steadfast play of NFL veterans promises an exciting road ahead for fans and teams alike. Stay tuned as the drama continues to build week by week, game by game.