The fourth week of the NFL season brought significant milestones and surprising outcomes, particularly for rookie quarterbacks who began to etch their names into the annals of football history.
Rookie Achievements Light Up Week 4
Caleb Williams, who was taken with the first overall pick, set a remarkable precedent. Williams became the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts within the same season of being drafted. This achievement has undoubtedly set a high bar for future rookies.
Bo Nix faced some challenges but ultimately led his team to victory. Despite throwing for negative yardage in the first half against the Jets, Nix rebounded impressively. He managed 60 passing yards in the third quarter and drove the Denver Broncos to their only touchdown in a closely contested 10-9 victory.
Jayden Daniels continued to showcase his precision on the field. Completing an astounding 86.7% of his passes, Daniels became the first quarterback to complete at least 85% of his passes in two consecutive games. His performance highlights not only his consistency but also his potential to shape the future of the league.
Team Performances and Milestones
Beyond individual accolades, several teams celebrated noteworthy achievements. The Washington Commanders surpassed a .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011, a testament to the team's revitalized strategy and execution on the field.
Rookie quarterbacks Williams, Nix, and Daniels each secured wins in Week 4, marking just the third instance in NFL history where three rookie quarterbacks have clinched victories in the same week during the season's first four weeks. This rare feat was previously observed in the 2012 and 2016 seasons.
Game Results
The week's matchups saw several close contests and decisive victories:
- The Chicago Bears triumphed over the Los Angeles Rams.
- The Atlanta Falcons edged out the New Orleans Saints with a 26-24 win.
- The Minnesota Vikings narrowly defeated the Green Bay Packers, 31-29.
- The Indianapolis Colts secured a 27-24 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- The Cincinnati Bengals overwhelmed the Carolina Panthers with a 34-24 score.
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers handedly beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-16.
- The Washington Commanders dominated the Arizona Cardinals, 42-14.
- The Las Vegas Raiders won against the Cleveland Browns, 20-16.
- The San Francisco 49ers claimed a 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots.
- The Kansas City Chiefs held off the Los Angeles Chargers, winning 17-10.
- The Baltimore Ravens secured a convincing 35-10 win against the Buffalo Bills.
- The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants, 20-15, on Thursday night.
As of now, 14 games have been decided, with Week 4 concluding with a highly anticipated Monday night doubleheader.
This week's outcomes have reaffirmed the ever-evolving dynamics of the NFL, where rookies are making immediate impacts, and teams are setting new benchmarks. The anticipation for what lies ahead continues to build as the season progresses.