Welcome to the Week 4 edition of the NFL season, where rookie quarterbacks have turned heads with their performances, and teams are starting to show their true potential. The spotlight this week was firmly on the new talents who stepped up to lead their teams to victory.
Rookie Quarterbacks Shine
Caleb Williams, the first overall pick, made history by becoming the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. Williams showcased his skills in Week 1 with a victory over the Tennessee Titans and continued to impress in Week 4, leading the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 win against the Los Angeles Rams. His ability to perform under pressure demonstrates why he was taken as the top pick.
Bo Nix, another rookie quarterback, faced a challenging first half against the New York Jets, accruing negative yardage. However, Nix turned things around in the third quarter, throwing for 60 yards and leading the Denver Broncos to the game's only touchdown. The Broncos secured a narrow 10-9 victory, highlighting Nix's resilience and ability to bounce back from early setbacks.
Jayden Daniels also made headlines, leading the Washington Commanders to a commanding 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels completed an astonishing 86.7% of his passes, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at least 85% of his passes in two consecutive games. This performance has been crucial for the Commanders, who now boast an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011.
This week marked only the third time in NFL history that three rookie quarterbacks have secured wins in the same week during the first four weeks of the season, a feat previously achieved in 2012 and 2016.
Veteran Performances and Team Triumphs
In other standout performances, veteran quarterback Jared Goff turned in a perfect game, completing 100% of his passes against the Seattle Seahawks. His flawless performance led the Detroit Lions to a 42-29 triumph, underscoring the team’s offensive efficiency.
The Tennessee Titans showcased their dominance with a convincing 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Atlanta Falcons edged past the New Orleans Saints, winning 26-24 in a closely contested match.
The Minnesota Vikings triumphed over the Green Bay Packers in a thrilling 31-29 showdown, while the Indianapolis Colts narrowly defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers delivered a robust 33-16 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Cincinnati Bengals overpowered the Carolina Panthers 34-24.
In another tight contest, the Houston Texans emerged victorious against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 24-20 win. The Las Vegas Raiders managed to secure a 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns, demonstrating their defensive strength.
The San Francisco 49ers had a standout performance, defeating the New England Patriots 30-13. The Kansas City Chiefs also added a win to their tally, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 17-10.
The Baltimore Ravens proved their mettle with an overwhelming 35-10 victory against the Buffalo Bills, and the Dallas Cowboys closed the week by defeating the New York Giants 20-15 in a gritty battle.
As the season progresses, the early success of these rookie quarterbacks and the solid performances from veteran players have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting NFL season. Fans can look forward to more thrilling games and standout performances in the weeks to come.