Welcome to the Week 4 grades! It was a week filled with historic achievements and nail-biting finishes in the NFL, particularly for several rookie quarterbacks who showcased their talents and led their teams to victory in impressive fashion.
Rookie Triumphs
Caleb Williams, taken as the first overall pick in this year's draft, has already made his mark. In Week 4, Williams led the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 win against the Los Angeles Rams. This victory followed his Week 1 success over the Tennessee Titans, making Williams the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. His performance and early success have certainly lived up to his draft status, adding to the excitement in Chicago.
Joining Williams in the spotlight was Bo Nix, who had a roller-coaster performance but ultimately led the Denver Broncos to a narrow 10-9 victory over the New York Jets. After a rough first half where he registered negative yardage, Nix bounced back in the third quarter, throwing for 60 yards and orchestrating the game's only touchdown. This comeback effort was crucial for the Broncos' win and highlighted Nix's resilience and potential.
Jayden Daniels also etched his name into the history books, leading the Washington Commanders to a dominant 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels completed an astonishing 86.7% of his passes, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at least 85% of his passes in two consecutive games. Under his leadership, the Commanders have an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011, reflecting a promising start to the season.
This week's performances 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 feat previously seen only in 2012 and 2016.
Veteran Prowess
Meanwhile, experienced hands like Jared Goff showed their class. Goff completed a perfect 100% of his passes against the Seattle Seahawks, leading the Detroit Lions to a 42-29 victory. His flawless performance was a testament to his precision and control, critical in the Lions' high-scoring win.
Other Noteworthy Games
The Tennessee Titans showcased their strength with a commanding 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins, while the Atlanta Falcons edged past the New Orleans Saints in a thrilling 26-24 victory. The Minnesota Vikings triumphed over the Green Bay Packers in a closely contested 31-29 game.
Elsewhere, the Indianapolis Colts emerged victorious over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a scoreline of 27-24, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers overpowered the Philadelphia Eagles, winning 33-16.
The Cincinnati Bengals secured a 34-24 win against the Carolina Panthers, the Houston Texans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20, and the Las Vegas Raiders conquered the Cleveland Browns 20-16. The San Francisco 49ers put on a strong display to defeat the New England Patriots 30-13.
In other matchups, the Kansas City Chiefs managed a 17-10 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Baltimore Ravens routed the Buffalo Bills 35-10. The Dallas Cowboys rounded off the week with a 20-15 win over the New York Giants.
These results reflect the high level of competition in the NFL, with rookies stepping up and veterans delivering masterful performances. It has been a week of memorable moments and significant milestones, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting continuation of the season.