Are the Commanders Super Bowl contenders with star rookie QB? Will injuries catch up with the Chiefs? NFL Week 4 takeaways
Jayden Daniels (No. 5) has enjoyed a historic start to life in the NFL with the Washington Commanders. Christian Petersen/Getty Images CNN —
Week 4 was the final slate of NFL matches when all teams were in action until Week 15, and the full schedule led to thrills, spills and everything in between across the 16 games.
Between pivotal victories, decisive defeats and nail-biting finishes, Week 4 had everything to offer fans.
Here are the main takeaways from the past week in the National Football League:
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes in the first half of the team’s 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 29. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith celebrates as a field goal attempt by New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein misses in the fourth quarter in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 29. The Broncos won 10-9. Seth Wenig/AP
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders fights off the tackle attempt by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29. The Bengals beat the Panthers 34-24. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Houston Texans safety Eric Murray celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the Texans’ 24-20 victory in Houston on September 29. Eric Gay/AP
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle catches a touchdown pass in the end zone in Santa Clara, California, on September 29. The 49ers beat the New England Patriots 30-13. Jed Jacobsohn/AP
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton bobbles the ball as he runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks during the Giants’ 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 26. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023. Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers’ 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on September 22. Brandon Sloter/Getty Images
Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22. John Amis/AP
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22. Stacy Bengs/AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team’s 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team’s 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16. Matt Slocum/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs’ 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17. Abbie Parr/AP
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints’ 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game. Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8. Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown during the Cowboys’ 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on September 8. Hours before the game, Prescott agreed to a record four-year, $240 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10. Danny Karnik/AP
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears. David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10. Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings’ 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8. Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28. Matt Slocum/AP
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6. It was the first NFL game in South America. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5. Reed Hoffmann/AP
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20. Ed Zurga/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5. Charlie Riedel/AP The best photos from the 2024 NFL season Prev Next Are the Commanders Super Bowl contenders with their star rookie QB?
Life in the NFL couldn’t have started much better for Jayden Daniels.
The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft has taken to professional football like a duck to water through four weeks, breaking records and leading the Washington Commanders to the top of the NFC East with a 3-1 record.
Daniels’ accuracy in Washington’s impressive Sunday road win against the Arizona Cardinals continued his historic start to the season, with his pass attempt completion percentage setting the record for best of any player through a four-week span since 1950.
The combination of Daniels’ skillset – his quick release and running ability – and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, a previously maligned figure after being fired as head coach of the Cardinals, seems to be working wonders for the Commanders.
They have scored the third-most points so far this season, just six behind the league-leading New Orleans Saints. Daniels’ first-quarter interception in Arizona – his first of the season – ended a streak of 16 consecutive scoring drives excluding kneel-downs at the end of halves.
For a franchise which has had very little to celebrate in terms of success on the field or general positivity, the arrival of Daniels has been a godsend and a signal of better times ahead.
Daniels has thrown just one interception in his four starts with the Commanders. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Not since the rookie campaign of Robert Griffin III in 2012 has there been such a sense of excitement surrounding Washington. But after the team’s third win in a row on Sunday, Daniels wasn’t getting ahead of himself.
“I think that’s for people to determine,” the 23-year-old said when asked if the Commanders have made an early-season statement by sitting atop the NFC East.
“For us, it is: ‘How can we get better each and every game?’ It’s early in the season, so we’ll have to finish the year. I can’t put anything on it, but I know teams look at us and say, ‘Hey, those guys play hard.’”
Daniels’ rookie campaign will likely see more ups and downs so a Super Bowl challenge might be a tall ask, but with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants all showing signs of weakness, a run to the playoffs is very much on the cards.
Will injuries begin to catch up with the Chiefs?
Just looking at the results, it’s been a near perfect start for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The reigning Super Bowl champions are undefeated through four games, beating four playoff hopefuls along the way in the form of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers.
However, Kansas City’s journey to what would be a historic three-peat of Vince Lombardi Trophies has been made a whole lot tougher with the cacophony of injuries to the team’s offense.
Before Week 1 kicked off, wide receiver Marquise Brown was ruled out for the regular season after suffering a shoulder injury in the preseason. Brown had been signed in the offseason in the hopes that his speed could add an extra element to the Chiefs’ offense.
Then in Week 2, running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in the clash with the Bengals. He was placed on injured reserve and was projected to miss around eight weeks.
And most recently, the team’s No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice was carted off the field in Kansas City’s Week 4 game against the Chargers after colliding with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Rice is feared to have torn his ACL and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
Rice was carted off during the Chiefs’ Week 4 game against the Chargers. Ashley Landis/AP
Although Mahomes and Co. were able to grind out a win on Sunday, the Chiefs’ offense is now missing its top running back and two top receivers to injuries. And in a season where tight end Travis Kelce is not as productive as usual, more weight is now resting on Mahomes’ shoulders to produce magic.
And while he is able to do so at the moment, the question remains: will these increasing injuries hinder any Super Bowl push the Chiefs hope to mount?
Despite the ailments, Mahomes said after Sunday’s victory that they still possess the talent to continue winning.
“I think more than anything it’s just trying to get everybody kind of settled back down, including myself,” he told reporters. “I thought guys stepped up and filled as good as they can, the role that (Rice) has in our offense, which is a big one.
“All we can do now is kind of go back to the basics and try to get guys in opportunities to succeed. I thought Travis (Kelce) did a great job of stepping up and making plays like he always does, but at the end of the day, we got the win and that’s what’s important.”
More is being asked of Mahomes (No. 15) with all the injuries suffered by Chiefs players. Ashley Landis/AP
The Chiefs face tough tests in their next two games as they host the New Orleans Saints in Week 5 before traveling to take on the team they beat in last year’s Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers, in Week 7 after their bye week.
Is it time to panic in Philly?
It has not been an easy four weeks for the Philadelphia Eagles and head coach Nick Sirianni.
The Eagles sit 2-2 after the first month of the season, but it hasn’t been pretty on the field.
They narrowly beat the Packers in Brazil; they were stunned at home by a last-minute game-winning drive from the Falcons; they just about beat the Saints in a slog; and then lost convincingly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
While there have been positives, like running back Saquon Barkley, and mitigating factors – the team has been without star receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith for weeks now – there are things to worry about in the City of Brotherly Love.
The defense under coordinator Vic Fangio has struggled to slow opponents, despite featuring a star-studded group of players, and the performances of quarterback Jalen Hurts haven’t been consistent so far.
In fact, the only thing consistent about Hurts’ play has been his turnovers as he now has seven giveaways through four games.
“I think, overall, I just have to play better, have to play better. Had a ton of opportunities to lead the offense and really play complementary ball and it starts with me on that side of the ball,” Hurts said after the defeat against the Bucs.
Hurts has thrown four interceptions and lost three fumbles in four games this season. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The Eagles head into a bye week in Week 5, but after an underwhelming end to last season and the negativity it brought to the franchise, there could be mounting pressure on Sirianni’s job should the losing continue after the break.
“Everything will be on the table. All that matters is that these guys continue to get better and that we as coaches get better, and that’s all that matters,” Sirianni said. “We’re sitting at 2-2 going into our bye week and all we can do is improve and that’s all we’re going to try to do this upcoming week.”
Full Week 4 scores
Away @ home (winners in bold)
Thursday
Dallas Cowboys 20-15 New York Giants
Sunday
New Orleans Saints 24-26 Atlanta Falcons
Cincinnati Bengals 34-24 Carolina Panthers
Los Angeles Rams 18-24 Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings 31-29 Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars 20-24 Houston Texans
Pittsburgh Steelers 24-27 Indianapolis Colts
Denver Broncos 10-9 New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles 16-33 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders 42-14 Arizona Cardinals
New England Patriots 13-30 San Francisco 49ers
Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 Los Angeles Chargers
Cleveland Browns 16-20 Las Vegas Raiders
Buffalo Bills 10-35 Baltimore Ravens
Monday
Tennessee Titans 31-12 Miami Dolphins
Seattle Seahawks 29-42 Detroit Lions