Welcome to the Week 4 NFL roundup, where rookie quarterbacks made notable strides, leading their respective teams to important victories and setting historic milestones.
Rookie Quarterbacks Shine
In Week 4, Caleb Williams and Bo Nix stood out with impressive performances. Caleb Williams, the first overall pick, became the first quarterback in the common-draft era to win his first two home starts within the same year. Williams had secured a Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans and continued his winning streak by leading the Chicago Bears to a 24-18 win against the Los Angeles Rams. This victory marks a significant achievement in his budding NFL career.
Bo Nix also made headlines in his game against the New York Jets. Despite a rough start with negative yardage in the first half, Nix bounced back to throw for 60 yards in the third quarter. His perseverance paid off as he led the Denver Broncos to the game's only touchdown, securing a narrow 10-9 victory over the Jets.
Jayden Daniels Sets Historical Record
Jayden Daniels showcased his exceptional passing skills by leading the Washington Commanders to a dominant 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. Thanks to his outstanding performance, the Commanders maintain an over .500 record through four weeks for the first time since 2011.
In fact, the week was historic for rookie quarterbacks as it marked only the third time in NFL history that three rookie quarterbacks have won in the same week during the first four weeks of the season. This rare occurrence was previously seen only in 2012 and 2016.
Veteran Quarterbacks and Team Victories
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff showcased a perfect game, completing 100% of his passes in the Detroit Lions' 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. This flawless performance was a highlight of the week, demonstrating Goff's exceptional accuracy and the Lions' offensive prowess.
Other notable games of the week included the Tennessee Titans' 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins, the Atlanta Falcons narrowly defeating the New Orleans Saints 26-24, and the Minnesota Vikings edging out the Green Bay Packers 31-29. Each game delivered intense action and memorable moments for fans across the league.
Close Contests and Dominant Wins
The Indianapolis Colts pulled off a close win against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a final score of 27-24. Similarly, the Houston Texans held off the Jacksonville Jaguars, winning 24-20, and the Las Vegas Raiders secured a 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
On the dominant side of things, the San Francisco 49ers outperformed the New England Patriots with a decisive 30-13 victory. The Kansas City Chiefs managed a solid 17-10 win against the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Baltimore Ravens showcased their strength with a commanding 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys triumphed over the New York Giants, winning 20-15, a game marked by defensive grit and strategic play-calling.
Week 4 of the NFL season brought remarkable performances, unexpected upsets, and memorable moments that will surely be talked about for weeks to come. With rookie quarterbacks stepping up and veterans maintaining their high standards of play, the 2023 season is shaping up to be one for the history books.