QB Report Cards for 2025 NFL Week 4

Week 4 of the NFL season spanned from Dublin to Los Angeles as the league's international series began. Fans in the Republic of Ireland didn't get to see an outrageous quarterback play, but that proved to be par for the course from the latest slate of contests.

However, the performance of a rookie quarterback in his first start just may have revived a franchise that started 0-3 and desperately needed some kind of spark. A couple of other organizations should possibly consider the same approach.

As the NFL pushes past the season's first quarter of play, the haves and have nots are becoming apparent.

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Score: 23-20 loss vs. Seattle Seahawks

Stat Line: 27 of 41 for 200 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions; five carries for 41 yards

Kyler Murray hasn't played lights out, but he needs someone other than tight end Trey McBride to step up and make plays when necessary. Both of Murray's interceptions Thursday originated from Marvin Harrison Jr. mistakes.

The Arizona Cardinals did an excellent job coming back down 14 points in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks. But one quarter of promising performance simply isn't good enough.

"We've got to show up and be ready to go," Murray told reporters after the Seahawks responded with a game-winning field goal during the game's final drive. "It's just taking too long. Obviously, the resilience of the team, you love to see it. You feel like you give yourself a chance to win the game at the end.

"But it's just too late."

Grade: C

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Score: 34-27 win vs. Washington Commanders

Stat Line: 20 of 26 for 313 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

Michael Penix Jr. bounced back after the worst performance of his young career and may have provided his best to date against the Commanders.

The second-year signal-caller provided his second-career 300 passing game and was nearly perfect. Though he did throw an interception that was undercut by Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil, which again showed Penix needs improvement in layering his throws instead of throwing fastballs all day long.

Otherwise, Penix took advantage of the big three in the Atlanta Falcons offense, with Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts combining for 286 receiving yards and two touchdown grabs.

"We know we're a very good offense," Robinson said, "but you have to do the little things right, as we did today."

Grade: B+

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Ed Zurga

Score: 37-20 loss vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Stat Line: 14 of 20 for 147 yards, a touchdown, an interception and fumble lost; six carries for 48 yards

Lamar Jackson spent two quarters completely overwhelmed by Steve Spagnuolo's defense. But the biggest issue coming out of Sunday's meeting with the Chiefs is an injury to the quarterback.

Cooper Rush entered the contest to run the Ravens' offense with eight minutes left to play in the third frame because Jackson tweaked his hamstring.

"It felt like a grab," a source told Pro Football Focus' Mike Florio.

Jackson's growth as an efficient passer is well-documented. However, the loss of his mobility or potential limitations will cap Baltimore's offensive scheme and make him far less dangerous. The severity of this injury has yet to be determined and could have a massive impact on the Ravens' season if Jackson is forced to miss multiple weeks.

Grade: D

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Score: 31-18 win vs. New Orleans Saints

Stat Line: 16 of 22 for 209 yards, two two touchdowns and an interception; seven carries for 45 yards and a touchdown

Last week, this space pointed out that Josh Allen didn't need to be Superman or make the type of plays everyone has grown accustomed to seeing from the NFL's reigning MVP, and the Bills still won.

During Sunday's meeting with the Saints, Allen took over when a lesser opponent was a little bit too close late in the contest, with a 27-yard rough-and-tumble scramble on a 3rd-and-5 situation followed by a 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid.

"As soon as we get in predicaments like that, I think the defense all goes, 'Here comes the MVP moment,'" Bills defensive lineman Jordan Phillips said. "And sure enough, he shows up every time."

Grade: B+

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Score: 42-13 loss vs. New England Patriots

Stat Line: 18 of 30 for 150 yards and a touchdown

If the starting quarterback is on the bench late in a game and the backup is playing, either the offense has performed extremely well or the team is being blown out. In the case of Bryce Young, the latter was true against the Patriots and Andy Dalton played the final eight minutes.

As a result, the question about whether Young will continue to start was broached after New England's blowout victory.

"Counting on him to keep pushing us forward," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. "Counting on him to keep us on track. There were some near-misses across the board, some penalties that put us in weird situations, a couple of protection issues and one of 'em where he slipped and kinda put us in a bad situation.

"But I still feel that he's being confident out there, he's leading the group, he's getting us out there with good energy and focus. So he'll continue to play."

Grade: D

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

AP Photo

Score: 25-24 win vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Stat Line: 22 of 37 for 212 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Set all of the numbers aside, quarterback play is about rising to the occasion when the moment matters the most. Caleb Williams did so Sunday against Raiders.

With the Chicago Bears trailing by five points with just over five minutes to play, last year's No. 1 overall draft pick led an 11-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. During that series, Williams completed four of five passes and scrambled twice for 18 yards.

"Ben [Johnson] came over to me right before and he goes, 'These are the times you're made for,'" Williams told reporters after the contest. "So it provided a belief and confidence he has in me. From there, I went to the huddle and looked in everybody's eyes, and this is the moment. This is where we go win the game."

After a lost season where the rookie quarterback had no one teaching how to be a professional, Williams is growing before everyone's eyes and starting to realize his immense potential.

Grade: B+

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Score: 34-10 loss vs. Detroit Lions

State Line: 16 of 34 for 184 yards, two interceptions and a fumble lost

Once again, the Cleveland Browns should be asking themselves what playing Joe Flacco actually does for the team at this point in his career.

Over the last two games, he contributed a 52.9 completion percentage. His six interceptions through the first four games are the most by a Browns' quarterback in the last six seasons, per ESPN Research (h/t Daniel Oyefusi). Sunday's performance included a baffling interception where the Browns didn't have a single receiver in the area, yet Flacco uncorked a deep pass.

"Yeah, I thought he was going," Flacco said. "I was in the wrong, not him."

At 40 years old, Flacco brings exactly zero upside if he's not making smart decisions, particularly when the Browns have two rookies on the bench who could provide a spark.

Grade: F

Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Score: 28-3 loss vs. Denver Broncos

Stat Line: 14 of 25 for 125 yards

The Cincinnati Bengals offense is broken with Jake Browning behind center.

A drop-off from Joe Burrow was expected, but Browning had experience in the system and played well enough in the past to keep hope alive even without a definitive timeline for the franchise quarterback's return.

Instead, the Bengals mustered only 159 yards of total offense Monday compared to the Broncos' 512 on the same amount of offensive series (10). Denver also held a 15-minute time-of-possession advantage. Cincinnati moved the ball inside of the Broncos' 40-yard line only once, which came during the opening drive.

Cincinnati managed fewer than 175 yards for two straight contests. When Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are available, those numbers are inexcusable. Yes, the Bengals are breaking in a pair of rookie guards and protection has been poor. But the offense is doing nothing as a unit to generate any type of explosive plays and Browning is a big reason why.

Grade: F

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter

Score: 40-40 tie vs. Green Bay Packers

Stat Line: 31 of 40 for 319 yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing score

The best version of Dak Prescott showed up on Sunday Night Football against the Packers.

When operating at a high level, Prescott can be as dangerous as any other passer. But a somewhat different and better version appeared against a quality Packers defense.

Over the last few years, Prescott could get locked onto throwing in CeeDee Lamb's direction. Lamb wasn't in the lineup, though, because of an ankle injury. Thus, the Dallas Cowboys' passing attack was far more balanced, with Prescott spreading the ball to George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert, KeVontae Turpin and tight end Jake Ferguson.

The quarterback also thrived against the Packers' shell coverage, while only being sacked once by a ferocious defensive front. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Prescott generated his fourth-most EPA (+22.5) and second-most win probability added (+122.8 percent) in any game throughout his career.

The only negative for Prescott is that Dallas didn't find a way to win the game.

Grade: A+

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

AP Photo

Score: 28-3 win vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Stat Line: 29 of 42 for 326 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a rushing score

The Bengals attempted to get the Denver Broncos' Bo Nix off his game. The approach didn't work. According to Pro Football Focus, Nix completed 12 of 16 passes for 153 passing yards and 11 first downs when blitzed.

Clearly, Nix's comfort level is growing in Sean Payton's offense. He wasn't perfect during Monday's matchup, though. The quarterback will regret throwing a red-zone interception, as he did in the second quarter before the game got out of hand.

The sophomore signal-caller redeemed himself with a 20-yard scoring strike to Courtland Sutton with no timeouts and eight seconds remaining.

"The play has to go to the end zone," head coach Sean Payton said. "That was certainly a big play at the end of the half. A huge play"

The quick turnaround showing improvement in situational awareness by a young quarterback is as important as anything the Broncos will take away from this one-sided victory against the Bengals.

Grade: B+

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

AP Photo

Score: 34-10 win vs. Cleveland Browns

Stat Line: 16 of 27 for 168, two touchdowns and an interception

Jared Goff stared down the NFL's top-ranked defense and emerged victorious alongside the rest of the Detroit Lions.

Goff wasn't his normal efficient self, which is understandable considering Cleveland's aggressive and opportunistic defense. However, the quarterback moved the ball well enough for Detroit to handily capture another win.

The 30-year-old veteran did have some throws he'd like to have back, particularly his interception, which was a woefully underthrown deep pass toward Jameson Williams.

"I made a really poor decision that had nothing to do with getting him the ball," Goff said after the contest. "I saw it poorly and got pretty reckless there."

A mistake was made. The Lions overcame. Goff will play better against lesser defenses.

Grade: C

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo

Score: 40-40 tie vs. Dallas Cowboys

Stat Line: 31 of 43 for 337 yards, three touchdowns and a fumble lost

During the Sunday Night Football shootout that ultimately led to a tie, the Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love must have looked toward the European team from this year's Ryder Cup as inspiration because his short game was on point.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Love completed a staggering 28 of 28 passes under 10 air yards, which is six more than any other quarterback without an incompletion since the start of the 2016 campaign. He spread the ball everywhere, with 10 different targets managing at least one catch.

Aside from a blindside strip-sack, Love did everything he could to lift his team when the Packers defense didn't have the same stingy streak previously seen through the first three weeks.

"As an offense, we've got to keep battling, keep answering, staying in the game," Love said.

Grade: A

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Score: 26-0 win vs. Tennessee Titans

Stat Line: 22 of 28 for 233 and two touchdowns

The Houston Texans offense is still impaired by its offense line, but the unit took care of business Sunday against the rival Titans.

"It's fun to win in the league to have an opportunity to come out here and right some wrongs and just get in a rhythm offensively," Stroud said after the contest.

He added, "A lot of teams are playing us in shell [coverage] and not giving us big plays. It's up to me to be smart with the ball, check the ball down and run the ball really well. The big plays will come."

A 37-yard connection with wide receiver Nico Collins showed signs of life for the Texans offense. Stroud and Co. will need to do so against better competition, but Sunday's effort is a sound starting point.

Grade: B

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Score: 27-20 loss vs. Los Angeles Rams

Stat Line: 24 of 33 for 262 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions

The clock finally struck midnight for the Indianapolis Colts, with the team suffering its first loss of the season and quarterback Daniel Jones no longer looking like the belle of the ball.

Jones threw a pair of interceptions. Though one of them was a late-game desperation heave. Still, he didn't lead the Colts with the same effectiveness as seen during the previous three contests. Maybe those expectations were far too great considering Indianapolis' impressive start. But the Colts needed Jones to play well when Matthew Stafford was his counterpart on Sunday.

To be fair, this conversation could be drastically different if Indianapolis wide receiver Adonai Mitchell didn't single-handedly wipe two touchdowns off the board, with an inexcusable fumble just before a sure touchdown and a holding to negate a 53-yard Jonathan Taylor score.

Grade: C-

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Score: 26-21 win vs. San Francisco 49ers

Stat Line: 21 of 31 for 174 yards and a touchdown

Trevor Lawrence played his best football Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The numbers aren't impressive, but he provided mistake-free play against a tough opponent.

Lawrence threw at least one interception in three straight contests to open the season. This past weekend, he took care of the football and completed his highest completion percentage of the campaign, which provided an edge.

"It was a complete game for us," Lawrence said. "Offensively obviously there's a lot more out there that we can do. That's the great thing about it. We're finding a ways to win and we still feel like we can grow a lot as an offense."

Eventually, the Jacksonville Jaguars will want to see Lawrence play like a superstar quarterback. Right now, efficient football, while winning, is a massive step in the right direction for the entire franchise.

Grade: B

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo

Score: 37-20 win vs. Baltimore Ravens

Stat Line: 25 of 37 for 270 yards and four touchdowns

Peak Patrick Mahomes is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He helped revolutionize how everyone else looks at and evaluates the position thanks to his creativity and play-making ability. What's often overlooked is his constant evolution.

When the Kansas City Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, Mahomes' game had to change. He became more efficient within the offense and spread the ball to multiple lesser targets.

Against the Baltimore Ravens, Mahomes showed how good he can be working in rhythm and getting the ball out quickly against a suspect secondary.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the two-time league MVP completed 17 of 22 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns under 2.5 seconds. His average time per throw currently ranks second in the NFL.

Grade: A

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo

Score: 25-24 loss vs. Chicago Bears

Stat Line: 14 of 21 for 117 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions

Earlier, the conversation centered on how Geno Smith's counterpart, Caleb Williams, rose to the occasion during Sunday's contest. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback suffered the opposite fate.

As the Raiders entered the second half with the lead, the 34-year-old veteran immediately threw an interception, which set up the Bears for a touchdown. He had already thrown two during the the first two quarters. By not taking care of the ball, Smith allowed the Bears to stay in and ultimately win the contest. He currently leads the NFL with seven interceptions thrown.

"No. 1, take care of the ball, not throwing interceptions," Smith told the media after the loss.

"... I felt like I was feeling good about what I was seeing. The game plan was great. Guys fought their tails off. We deserve to get this win and I let those guys down. So, there's a lot of things I'm going to have to fix within myself. That's the reality."

Grade: F

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo

Score: 21-18 loss vs. New York Giants

Stat Line: 23 of 41 for 203, one touchdown and two interceptions

Life is going to be far more difficult for the Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert in the coming weeks. The Chargers will be down to their third left tackle since Rashawn Slater is out for the year with a torn patellar tendon and Joe Alt suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's contest against the Giants.

Herbert played at an extremely high level through the first weeks. However, he did not handle the Giants' talented front very well. According to Pro Football Focus (h/t Dan Pizzuta), New York pressured Herbert on 45.5 percent of his drop-backs. He completed five of 18 passes and was sacked twice during those instances.

If the Chargers' offensive line can't hold up after being reworked, even a quarterback as talented as Herbert can be negated.

Grade: D

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Score: 27-20 win vs. Indianapolis Colts

Stat Line: 29 for 41 for 375 yards and three touchdowns

Matthew Stafford is a straight killer, in a strictly sports sense.

The Colts defense couldn't confuse the 37-year-old veteran with their coverage looks, while Indianapolis' front didn't consistently apply pressure. As a result, Stafford shredded his opponent when he needed to do so.

With 2:07 remaining in the first half, Stafford led the Rams defense on a 96-yard drive to score a touchdown. The Colts tied the game at 20 in the fourth quarter. Stafford threw a 88-yard dagger to Tutu Atwell on the first play of the ensuing drive to put the Rams in the lead for good. He was nine of 10 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns during the final frame.

Stafford will end his opponent when the opportunity arises.

Grade: A+

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Score: 27-21 win vs. New York Jets

Stat Line: 17 of 25 for 177 yards and two touchdowns

The Miami Dolphins may have lost wide receiver Tyreek Hill Monday to a gruesome leg injury, but the offense is now on the upswing even with him expected to miss significant time, if not the rest of the season.

Head coach/offensive play-caller Mike McDaniel was in his bag, which hasn't been the case through the first three weeks of play. Tua Tagovailoa looked far more loose and confident. The quarterback thrived with an emphasis on pocket movement, while also getting the tight ends involved.

Darren Waller is a newfound weapon, scoring a pair of touchdowns in his first game with the Dolphins. Julian Hill has a chance to be a bigger part of the scheme as well if Miami starts to lean heavily on 12 personnel.

With Tagovailoa's obvious comfort in the system as devised Monday, as well as the injury situation, the Dolphins will likely get back to the basics and experience better execution as a result.

Grade: B

Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo

Score: 24-21 loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stat Line: 30 of 46 for 350 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions

Carson Wentz handled the Minnesota Vikings offense well in his first start with the franchise, but some of the bad habits and poor decisions seen at previous stops became apparent during his second.

Considering Wentz's extensive starting experience, it's surprising to see him make significant mental mistakes. Though injuries have played a part, particularly along the offensive line, with center Ryan Kelly and right tackle Brian O'Neill leaving Sunday's contest with a concussion and knee injury, respectively.

The growing concern up front only places more pressure on Wentz, and it's clear he can't carry the offense, even with Minnesota's fourth-quarter surge against the Steelers.

"We just didn't do enough things to overcome either our own execution or the injuries or whatever," head coach Kevin O'Connell said.

Grade: C-

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Score: 21-18 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Stat Line: 13 of 20 for 111 yards and a touchdown; 10 carries for 54 yards and a score

The New York Giants decided to make a change at quarterback this past week, and it turned out to be the correct one.

Questions are always raised about whether it's too soon to start a rookie at any point during his first season. Reality is a little different, though, because first-round investments and losing often force an organization's hand, whether a young signal-caller is ready or not.

Jaxson Dart did not look out of place during his first start, and he helped his team win for the first time this season. Obviously, five sacks are troublesome and the coaching staff will want more production in the passing game, even after Malik Nabers' season-ending injury. But Dart's command and poise portends good things.

"There's nothing about him that's typical of a rookie," tight end Theo Johnson said. "There's poise. Everyone just rallied behind him—he's got great energy and everyone's got a ton of respect for him."

Grade: B+

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Score: 42-13 win vs. Carolina Panthers

Stat Line: 14 of 17 for 203 yards two passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown

Drake Maye has played relatively well this season, but he has an opportunity to level up as the campaign continues.

The Patriots spent a chunk of this offseason building around their talented signal-caller. Veteran Stefon Diggs was one of the most important pieces added, because he's a proven target still capable of being a legitimate WR1. However, Maye and Diggs weren't entirely on the same page through the first three weeks. They were during Sunday's contest against the Carolina Panthers.

Maybe connected with Diggs six time for 101 yards.

"He had a hell of a day," Diggs said of Maye. "He's a good quarterback. He's starting to come along, as you can see. He looks sharp out there. I'm just excited for the future."

Grade: A

Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Score: 31-19 loss vs. Buffalo Bills

Stat Line: 18 of 27 for 126 yards and a touchdown

Each week, the same sentiment bubbles to surface after another New Orleans Saints loss, "Spencer Rattler isn't the problem."

Well, he's not the solution, either. It's OK to root for a good story and a plucky QB playing as hard as he does. Even so, the Saints are 0-10 since he took over as the franchise's starting quarterback.

"I thought we played much better than last week," Rattler said after Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. "Obviously, that's a really good team. ...There's a few moments in that game where we could have taken it over, but it didn't always go our way."

The quarterback's comments are seemingly the same after each game. Rattler is competitive and showed a different side Sunday with his contributions in the run game. But he simply hasn't been good enough to help his team win.

Grade: C

Justin Fields, New York Jets

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Score: 27-21 loss vs. Miami Dolphins

Stat Line: 20 of 27 for 226 yards, a touchdown and fumble lost; seven carries for 81 yards and a score

When Monday's first contest came ended, the New York Jets and Justin Fields looked to have put up respective efforts. In truth, the team and its quarterback are severely limited.

Fields felt like a non-factor as a passer throughout most of the game. However, he continued to dazzle as a runner, with a stunning 43-yard scramble for a score.

Clearly, the Jets offense is built around a ground-and-pound approach. It has to be. Beyond Garrett Wilson, threats in the passing game are limited and further exacerbated by a quarterback whose best quality remains what he can do as a runner. Too often, Fields is checking down without any real ability to create chunk plays with his arm.

At 0-4 with the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos' tough defense next on the docket, the Jets don't have enough offensive firepower for a realistic chance to get the team's first win until possibly late October.

Grade: D

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Score: 31-25 win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stat Line: 15 of 24 for 130 yards and two touchdowns; nine carries for 62 yards

The idea of a quarterback not completing a pass during the second half of play yet his team still winning seems unfathomable in today's NFL. But that's exactly what happened Sunday for Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Hurts attempted eight passes during the final two quarters of play and didn't connect on a single one. To Hurts' credit, he can affect a game in more ways than one. In fact, the Eagles quarterback led his team in rushing with nine carries for 62 yards.

"In the first half, I looked at the stat sheet, he was—what?—15 of 16," Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said of Hurts. "That's pretty darn good. And then the second half, again, we didn't coach well enough, we didn't play well enough in the second half. We were able to hang on for the win because the defense was able to get us some turnovers."

Grade: C

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo

Score: 24-21 win vs. Minnesota Vikings

Stat Line: 18 of 22 for 222 yards and a touchdown

If a defense allows a quarterback of Aaron Rodgers' experience to get the ball out quickly and stay ahead of the chains, it's in for a long day.

Rodgers honestly didn't need to do a whole lot against the Vikings. He knew where to go with the ball and did so rapidly. Even during the quarterback's long touchdown pass, he targeted DK Metcalf at about 12 yards of depth downfield, and the wide receiver scampered 80 yards in total for the score.

"He definitely was getting the ball out fast," Minnesota cornerback Byron Murphy said. "Obviously our goal was to force the checkdown … but we knew he was going to do that. We had to go out there and make more plays."

Grade: B

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Score: 26-21 loss vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stat Line: 22 of 38 for 309 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble lost

Brock Purdy returned to the San Francisco 49ers' lineup after missing the previous two weeks with a toe injury and didn't perform well.

Yes, he still threw for over 300 yards, as well as a pair of touchdowns. However, his three turnovers were far more critical during Sunday's meeting with the Jaguars. In fact, Jacksonville scored 10 total points after Purdy's pair of interceptions, and his fourth-quarter fumble all but ended the contest.

The Niners do need to clean up their pass protection and Brandon Aiyuk's eventual return will help to some degree. Still, Purdy can't be as careless as he's been, with at least two interceptions in three straight appearances dating back to Week 17 of last season.

Grade: D

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Score: 23-20 win vs. Arizona Cardinals

Stat Line: 18 of 26 for 242 yards and a touchdown

Now four games into the 2025 campaign, an argument can be made that last season's standout performance wasn't an aberration for Sam Darnold.

"Sam's playing out of his mind right now," Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said after the Thursday's last-second victory over the rival Cardinals.. "You see him, and he's such a cool customer."

To Macdonald's final point, Darnold delivered when Arizona came roaring back in the fourth quarter. With 28 seconds left to play, the Seahawks quarterback connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 22 yards on a beautiful route and pass, where Darnold dropped the ball into the bucket and placed Seattle in field-goal position.

Going into Sunday's action, Darnold was the game's highest-graded quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus.

Grade: A

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Score: 31-25 loss vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stat Line: 22 of 40 for 289 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

The Baker Mayfield magic finally faded. The quarterback couldn't help pull out a last-minute victory for the fourth straight week. Though he gave it his best shot once again.

Mayfield and Co. really didn't get moving until late in the third quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles defense is a quality unit with playmakers at every level and an unwillingness to back down from anyone.

Still, Mayfield had the ball in his hands late in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie the game. He didn't make it happen this time.

"This group is too damn good to start slow, and until we take accountability, it should piss us off," Tampa Bay's quarterback said after the game. "Even though it's Week 4, this should piss us off. We've talked about starting fast … we did not do that today."

Grade: C

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Score: 26-0 loss vs. Houston Texans

Stat Line: 10 of 26 for 108 yards

The Tennessee Titans are the NFL's worst team through a quarter of play, and this year's No. 1 overall pick knows it.

"If we keep it a buck right now, we a**," Cam Ward said after the Titans' 0-4 start.

Compared to a team like the New Orleans Saints, who many considered the NFL's worst squad entering the campaign, the Titans aren't overly competitive and their quarterback isn't keeping them in games.

Ward doesn't have the answers when he drops back to pass. As a result, Tennessee has the league's lowest scoring offense and its largest negative point differential.

"I've had a lot of frustrating times in the past whether it was high school or college," Ward continued. "But I just want to win. When is the last time Tennessee won?"

Grade: F

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Score: 34-27 loss vs. Atlanta Falcons

Stat Line: 16 of 27 for 156 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

Marcus Mariota accomplished what a backup should do when he's placed into the starting lineup: He helped steady the ship.

The Commanders did fall to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but Washington's defense fell apart in the contest. Meanwhile, the went 1-1 with Mariota behind center and Jayden Daniels expected to return in Week 5. Plus, Mariota helped set an example during his time at the helm.

"I think I've learned about leading from him," head coach Dan Quinn said. "When to lean in, when to watch, when to give support. He's very thoughtful.

Quinn added, "I think the work ethic, the perseverance is what I've learned about him. He's dealt with injuries, with setbacks. His attitude, he is so consistent in what he does, the approach, it just doesn't waver."

Grade: C