Welcome to the Week 4 grades! This week in the NFL provided us with riveting performances, especially from a trio of rookie quarterbacks who have begun to make a significant impact just four weeks into their professional careers.
Rookie Quarterbacks Shine
The most notable storyline from Week 4 has to be the impressive performances of rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, and Jayden Daniels. These young guns have started their NFL journeys with remarkable poise and effectiveness, setting the stage for what could be memorable careers.
Caleb Williams, taken as the first overall pick, has already broken into the record books. He became the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts in the same year. Following a victorious Week 1 performance against the Tennessee Titans, Williams led the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4.
Bo Nix faced a tougher challenge against the New York Jets. Despite a rough start that included negative yardage in the first half, Nix turned it around in the third quarter, throwing for 60 yards and leading the Denver Broncos to the game's only touchdown. The Broncos narrowly edged out the Jets with a 10-9 victory.
Historic Achievements for Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels continued to break new ground with the Washington Commanders. He directed a comprehensive 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, completing 86.7% of his passes. Remarkably, Daniels now holds the distinction of being the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at least 85% of his passes in two consecutive games. His exceptional accuracy has propelled the Commanders to an over .500 record through four weeks, a feat the team hasn’t achieved since 2011.
Other Notable Performances
While the rookies stole much of the spotlight, other teams and players also had noteworthy performances. Jared Goff was nothing short of perfect while leading the Lions to a 42-29 win against the Seattle Seahawks, completing 100% of his passes. This exceptional display of precision was vital in securing the victory.
The Tennessee Titans dominated the Miami Dolphins with a convincing 31-12 win, while the Atlanta Falcons narrowly defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-24. The Minnesota Vikings emerged victorious against the Green Bay Packers with a 31-29 scoreline, and the Indianapolis Colts edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24.
In other matchups, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sailed past the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16, and the Cincinnati Bengals toughed out a 34-24 win against the Carolina Panthers. The Houston Texans secured a 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Las Vegas Raiders bested the Cleveland Browns 20-16.
The San Francisco 49ers displayed their strength with a 30-13 win over the New England Patriots, while the Kansas City Chiefs outplayed the Los Angeles Chargers to win 17-10. The Baltimore Ravens soared to a 35-10 victory against the Buffalo Bills, and the Dallas Cowboys rounded off the week with a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants.
A Week to Remember
This week 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, an occurrence previously seen only in 2012 and 2016. The exploits of Williams, Nix, and Daniels have contributed to this historic achievement, adding an exciting layer to the unfolding NFL season.
As we digest the results and look forward to the coming weeks, one thing is clear: the 2023 NFL rookie class, especially the quarterbacks, are quickly making their mark. Their performances this week provided a thrilling reminder of the excitement and unpredictability that only the NFL can deliver.