QB Report Cards for 2026 NFL Week 4

Take a look around the league and some major surprises jump to the forefront. Those situations are mainly due to each team's quarterback play or how they're protecting the position.

In Carolina, the Panthers' Bryce Young has grown into the league's top passer. The Cleveland Browns own a 3-1 record because their quarterback position is no longer a black hole pulling the rest of the team into its vortex. The Las Vegas Raiders may have come up short this past weekend, but Kirk Cousins has been everything the team hoped he could be until Fernando Mendoza eventually takes the reins.

Conversely, the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears aren't allowing the quarterback position to be a hindrance toward a successful start.

Each week, Bleacher Report grades every quarterback performance to provide context for individual play and how it affects their respective squads.

ARI | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS

Arizona Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Score: 36-24 loss vs. New York Giants

Stat Line: 21 of 35 for 166 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions

At 1-3, the idea of the Arizona Cardinals moving on from starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett has become a talking point. Though head coach Mike LaFleur immediately shot down the possibility of a change at this point.

Even so, the questions will continue if Brissett doesn't play well enough and the Cardinals fail.

"[The offense] just kind got in our own way again," Brissett told reporters. "It was tough, because our defense was playing so well. We were trying to capitalize on the stop they were getting. I mean, two turnovers, you can't do that."

Eventually, something needs to change. The Cardinals face the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams (twice), Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs before Thanksgiving. It's a brutal schedule. Brissett has proved he can only do so much. A look at another quarterback will be necessary sooner rather than later.

Grade: D

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson & Tyler Huntley

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Score: 28-14 win vs. Tennessee Titans

Stat Line: Jackson, 15 of 20 for 222 yards and two touchdowns; Huntley, eight of nine for 63 yards

The Baltimore Ravens did all of the work they needed to do Sunday before Lamar Jackson left the contest with a high-ankle sprain.

Jackson and Co. scored 24 first-half points. By the time Huntley entered the lineup at the start of the third quarter, the Ravens simply needed to hold on and milk the clock.

With Huntley leading the way, Baltimore punted on four of its five drives (not including late-game knee-downs). Fortunately, Jackson is believed to be day-to-day, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"We obviously played maybe a little more bit more conservative in the second half with the weather and the lead," Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters. "Proud of 'Snoop' [Huntley] coming in there when his number's called."

Grade: Jackson, A; Huntley, C

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Score: 29-26 loss vs. New England Patriots

Stat Line: 23 of 33 for 253 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a rushing score

Josh Allen can do anything on a football field, which is both a positive and a negative. Usually, Allen makes the necessary plays to give the Buffalo Bills an advantage. He also take unnecessary risks that can lead to significant mistakes.

Case in point, Allen threw an interception Sunday with under two minutes to go while the Bills trailed by three points. The quarterback initially avoided a free-rusher by spinning out of the pressure then heaved the ball into double-coverage, which safety Craig Woodson snagged.

"Essentially, I mean, live bullets," Allen said when he asked if he threw that specific pass blindly. "It's happening quick, make a guy miss and you feel like you have a one-on-one ball, and the safety made a good play."

More times than not, the former NFL MVP delivers. There's a certain confidence in what's capable of doing. Some might argue its overconfidence, because he's also prone to attempt throws that he shouldn't.

Grade: C-

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Score: 32-26 win vs. Detroit Lions

Stat Line: 29 of 41 for 319 yards and two touchdowns

Bryce Young leads the NFL with 1,268 passing yards through four weeks of play, and the Carolina Panthers feature the league's top-ranked aerial attack.

Think about those facts for a few seconds. Let them marinate. Now, understand Young is two years removed from being benched by head coach Dave Canales despite being the No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 class. He only got the job back in 2024 because Andy Dalton suffered an injury from a car wreck.

Now, Young is cooking and looks every bit the part of a franchise quarterback. He shredded the Detroit Lions' porous secondary during Sunday Night Football despite wide receivers Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette being on injured reserve.

"Nothing that Bryce did shocked me today," Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters. "Bryce is a hell of a quarterback, man. He just is. He's dangerous, he's got a quick release. He can process it, he can see it, he's mobile, he can move around in the pocket. He was tough, tough today."

Grade: A

Chicago Bears: Tyson Bagent

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Score: 23-12 win vs. New York Jets

Stat Line: 25 of 34 for 268 yards and an interception

Despite an outstanding outside by veteran Case Keenum during Monday Night Football six days earlier, the Chicago Bears turned to Tyson Bagent to start against the New York Jets.

"Tyson has earned the right to be our No. 2 quarterback," head coach Ben Johnson told reporters. "I have a lot of confidence in him. I thought he played really well today, efficient with the football. ... I thought he had a great job with the operation."

Keenum only started during the previous contest, because Bagent was cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol early enough to prepare properly for that contest. He resumed his role as the team's QB2—which is the Bears' de facto starter while Caleb Williams deals with a hamstring injury.

Bagent was efficient for most of the contest, but he benefited greatly from a ground-and-pound attack that generated 232 rushing yards and allowed the Bears told hold the ball for nearly 43 minutes.

Grade: C+

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow

AP Photo/Tanner Pearson

Score: 22-17 loss vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stat Line: 39 of 54 for 428 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions and a rushing score

Once again, the Cincinnati Bengals are asking to much of their quarterback, Joe Burrow.

The team got off to a 2-0 start, because it was playing complementary football. During Sunday's contest, Burrow threw the ball 54 times. He did so, because the Jacksonville Jaguars shut down the run game. Furthermore, Burrow had to drop back a season-high 54 times—the third-most in his career—without the help of star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, both of whom left Sunday's contest due to injuries.

Burrow is capable of handling that much responsibility and continue dealing. He wants the ball in his hands even if the offense becomes one-dimensional and he's forced into a couple of turnovers.

"My response to that would be, 'Let me throw it more,'" Burrow told reporters. "Because I know we are great at it. Because I know that's what I do best and we're really pass-protecting well right now. Obviously, we'd like to get more out of the run game, but you know I know we'll make it work."

Grade: C

Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Score: 27-24 win vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stat Line: 24 of 33 for 268 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumble lost

In what many would deem as an unbelievable turn of events, the Cleveland Browns are 3-1 and Deshaun Watson is playing well enough to quiet any conversation about Shedeur Sanders getting in the lineup.

"While team sources indicated that Watson's performance through three games hasn't convinced the Browns to consider Watson the long-term answer, Cleveland's surprising start has shifted the conversation inside the building to whether the 31-year-old passer and the Browns can build short-term momentum," ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reported last week.

Then, the Browns won another game. This time, they did so against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Watson had stretches of excellent play. Though he missed some throws, particularly late in the contest.

Cleveland still has plenty to figure out in the coming months, but a winning record and the quarterback position not holding the entire team back definitely change the conversation.

Grade: B-

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

Score: 34-30 win vs. Houston Texans

Stat Line: 32 of 45 for 335 yards and a touchdown

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb share a special connection. The two have never been better working together than they were Sunday against the Houston Texans.

Lamb caught 17 passes for 189 yards and the game-winning touchdown. In doing so, he became the first player in Cowboys history with at least 15 receptions, 150 yards and a touchdown grab, according to NFL Researcher. But he doesn't reach any of those achievements without Prescott continually delivering the ball accurately and on time.

During the game-winning drive, Prescott completed eight of 11 passes, including the 22-yard scoring strike to Lamb on a skinny post.

"That's just credit to who he is, the way he's shown up each and every day, been a professional and just grown," Prescott told reporters. "And the communication, just the open communication we're able to have. I think that's the difference in where we are right now than where we have been in the past."

Grade: A

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix

AP Photo

Score: 24-14 loss vs. San Francisco 49ers

Stat Line: 25 of 42 for 214 yards and a touchdown

The Denver Broncos continue to sleep through the first half of games. The team managed a lone field goal Sunday before the break. Something needs to change, because Denver has scored only 13 first-half points through four games.

"We've got to figure it out fast," head coach Sean Payton told reporters. "We're going into Week 5."

Due to the circumstances, Davis Webb's standing as offensive-play-caller has come under fire.

"I think when you look at the overall landscape, we've played four of the tops teams in the league. [It's] not easy for a first-time OC as young as he is to go against some of the, quite frankly, best teams in the league," Bo Nix told reporters. " ... I think it's just overall something that we have to continue to help him and execute. As players, we have to put him in a better spot."

Nix isn't helping the situation, though. He's not pushing the ball down the field to stretch opposing defenses. The third-year quarterback completed one pass over 12 yards Sunday and none at a depth of 20 or more.

Grade: C

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff

AP Photo/Scott Kinser

Score: 32-26 loss vs. Carolina Panthers

Stat Line: 32 of 52 for 412 yards and a touchdown

What more can the Detroit Lions ask of their quarterback? Jared Goff threw for over 400 yards Sunday and didn't commit any turnovers. He tried to carry his team to victory, but Detroit's defense wouldn't let him.

After the Carolina Panthers punted on their first offensive possession, Bryce Young and Co. scored points during their next six drives. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan torched Detroit's underwhelming secondary for a career-high 14 receptions and 192 yards.

The Lions are currently ranked dead last in total defense. Conversely, Goff has orchestrated a top-three passing offense. Detroit is top six in total offense. The quarterback has yet to produce a turnover through four games. Somehow, it's not enough, which has to be frustrating.

"But yeah, whole season ahead of us and a whole lot of ball ahead of us and a lot of things to get right," Goff told reporters. "And I know one thing: We're going to stick together and stay insulated in our bubble and lean on each other and make it right."

Grade: A-

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Score: 17-14 win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stat Line: 22 of 30 for 197 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

Last week, Jordan Love said the following, "That's an area that we've got to improve on, is in pass pro, just making sure we're going to the right people and sustaining blocks for as long as we can, giving me some time to be able to pick the defense apart."

During Sunday's contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Love wasn't sacked and hit only twice. The quarterback responded with his highest completion percentage (73.3) and quarterback rating (98.9) so far this season.

"[The offensive line] did a great job," Love told reporters, "and you could feel the difference back there, for sure."

Love's numbers could have been even better if not for a few key drops. But the quarterback and his team will be happen getting the win going into this weekend's rivalry contest with the Chicago Bears.

Grade: B+

Houston Texans: CJ Stroud

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Score: 34-30 loss vs. Dallas Cowboys

Stat Line: 21 of 31 for 347 yards and two touchdowns

CJ Stroud made his 50th start for the Houston Texans Sunday and he's no longer viewed as the problem. Instead, the Texans defense is the unit that's currently struggling.

Stroud led a nine-play, 87-yard drive to take a lead with just over two minutes remaining. Houston's defense failed to stop CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys' offense during the ensuing drive. From there, the Texans didn't have enough time to answer.

The quarterback still took the blame after the game, even though his unit generated nearly 400 yards of offense and averaged 7.6 yards per play.

At 0-4, Houston's season is essentially over. Only one team in NFL history has come back from such a poor start and still made the postseason. Though Stroud can continue to build on what he's done so far and ensure he's Houston's long-term answer at the game's most important position.

Grade: A

Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones

AP Photo/Adam Bettcher

Score: 30-13 win vs. Washington Commanders

Stat Line: 19 of 34 for 143 yards, an interception, a fumble lost and a rushing score

The Indianapolis Colts are winning in spite of Daniel Jones. The team's QB1 has turned the ball over five times during the last two contests. The Colts won both games despite a turnover deficiency.

"They're all different," Jones told reporters when asked about his turnovers. "I think you gotta understand when to take a chance, when not to, when to protect the ball … I definitely gotta do a better job taking care of the ball."

Jones has suffered from a near-disastrous combination of poor decision-making and unacceptable ball-handling. He has seven turnovers through four weeks of play. A season ago, Jones didn't commit his seventh turnover until Week 9.

Fortunately, his feet allowed him to score a touchdown Sunday in London, while also leaning heavily on the Colts' ground game.

Grade: D

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

Score: 22-17 win vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Stat Line: 18 of 23 for 227 yards and a touchdown

The Jacksonville Jaguars went from being one of the league's most efficient squads to playing their sloppiest game of the season. Trevor Lawrence and Co. still overcame the Cincinnati Bengals.

Officials called the Jaguars for 13 penalties. Jacksonville converted less than 50 percent of its third-down attempts. Also, Lawrence was a sacked a season-high four times.

Lawrence provided a steadying presence. Jacksonville's quarterback was particularly good working the middle of the field, where he completed 11 of 13 passes for 151 yards and his only touchdown, per Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed. He's been this way all season.

As The Athletic's Mike Sando noted, "Lawrence has posted career bests through four games—by a wide margin—in completion rate (69.2 percent), yards per attempt (8.1), passer rating (111.2) and EPA per pass play (0.20). Lawrence also has zero fumbles."

Grade: B

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Score: 30-27 win vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Stat Line: 15 of 30 for two touchdowns

Patrick Mahomes certainly didn't provide an proficient outing against the Las Vegas Raiders. He did provide a winning effort, though.

Mahomes completed only 50 percent of his passes. The number tied his lowest completion percentage ever in a Chiefs victory.

In the end the Chiefs' desperately needed a play and Mahomes delivered. On 3rd-and-5 and trailing by two points with less than four minutes to play, he connected with Tyquan Thornton for a 55-yard pass, which led to the game-winning touchdown a play later.

Mahomes' ability to stare down the blitz and still make a fantastic throw was the difference in this particular game. It's something he's done time and time again, which is why the Chiefs have been so successful for such a long period. Now, they're 4-0 for the fifth time since Mahomes became the team's starting quarterback.

Grade: B

Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Score: 30-27 loss vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Stat Line: 31 of 52 for 365 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

No one actually expected the Las Vegas Raiders to remain perfect, did they? A 3-1 record is still an excellent start and surpasses preseason expectations for this squad.

Kirk Cousins has been a bright spot despite being a bridge quarterback. He's showed he still has plenty left in the tank and going punch-for-punch with Patrick Mahomes only proves that point.

Unfortunately, Cousins' worst play came when his team needed him the most. During the Raiders' final offensive possession trailing by three points with over a minute left to play, the Raiders quarterback completed four of 11 passes and threw an interception after trying to escape pressure—which is not a strength within his game.

To be fair, the Raiders could have been in a much better position to win had the coaching staff not been as aggressive with its decisions earlier in the contest. But the team played to win and it backfired.

"You play through the smoke," Cousins told reporters. "You give yourself a chance at the end of the game. That's what happened today, and we just weren't able to capitalize."

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert

AP Photo/Kevin Ng

Score: 30-23 loss vs. Seattle Seahawks

Stat Line: 19 of 31 for 189 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble lost; six carries for 40 yards

Justin Herbert went from playing at an elite level in 2025 to being one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks less than a year later.

The same tools are still present. The Los Angeles Chargers were supposed to have a better supporting cast around him this season. Yet Herbert has been particularly terrible when trying to drive the ball down the field. According to NFL Researcher, the Chargers QB has the league's lowest passer rating when attempting downfield passes combined with the most interceptions. He also has the league's worst QBR among quarterbacks with four starts.

The Seattle Seahawks did heat Herbert up Sunday, with four sacks and 10 quarterback hits. Seattle pressured the quarterback on 46 percent of his dropbacks, per ESPN's Brady Henderson.

Something has to give. Herbert isn't anywhere near this bad. The Chargers certainly have enough talent where the team shouldn't be winless through four weeks of play. Right now, they are.

Grade: F

Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Score: 24-20 win vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stat Line: 32 of 51 for 317 yards and two interceptions

Matthew Stafford has suffered significant regression after last season's MVP performance. His turnover rate through the first four weeks of play is alarming.

The 38-yard-old veteran already threw six interceptions, including two Sunday, through four weeks of play. He has nine all of last season, which counts postseason contests.

During Stafford's latest outing, he airmailed two passes that led to turnovers. To his credit, he performed at a high level during the second half when the Los Angeles Rams required a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback to secure the victory. The Rams quarterback completed 12 of 15 passes through the team's final two offensive possessions (not including a kneel-down).

"We didn't play our best today," Stafford told reporters, "but we found a way to win the football game. That's what it's all about. We'd love to come out and score every time we touch the ball. That's just not the case in the NFL. ... It wasn't all pretty in the fourth quarter, either. We had opportunities we let slip through in all three phases."

Grade: C+

Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis

AP Photo

Score: 15-10 loss vs. Minnesota Vikings

Stat Line: nine of 17 for 85 yards and a fumble lost; two carries for 11 yards

The Minnesota Vikings defense is a test for any NFL quarterback. The Miami Dolphins' Malik Willis failed the test.

Each week the same statement can be made about how the Dolphins don't have enough surrounding talent for Willis to succeed. While true, the quarterback also needs to hold up his end of the bargain. Willis has the capabilities as an outstanding athlete to make some plays along the way.

To be fair, Willis created one big play after avoiding pressure, rolling to his right and finding wide receiver Chris Bell along the sideline. The play should have been a 68-yard touchdown. Instead, the rookie accidentally stepped out of bounds prior to the pass which led to an illegal touching penalty.

Otherwise, the Dolphins mustered little offense. The unit finished with under 200 yards. Running back Ollie Gordon II generated 100 by himself. Meanwhile, the passing game was basically non-existent.

Grade: D-

Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Murray

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Score: 15-10 win vs. Miami Dolphins

Stat Line: 27 of 37 for 247 yards

Kyler Murray's counterpart Sunday, Malik Willis, has built-in excuses why the Miami Dolphins performed so poorly. Murray doesn't.

Justin Jefferson may not have been in the lineup due to an injury, but the Minnesota Vikings still had running back Aaron Jones Sr., wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson on the field. The left side of Minnesota's offensive line sustained injuries, which became problematic. Even so, the Vikings still featured a superior roster.

Yet Murray and Co. failed to finish drives. Will Reichard was Minnesota's most effective performer by converting all five of his field-goal attempts. The Vikings' offense didn't score during its three red-zone trips. The unit finished eight of 18 during third-down attempts. More should be expected from Murray.

Maybe everyone saw a glimpse of what Murray can become after a strong fourth-quarter effort, where he completed 13 of 14 passes. It's a potential stepping stone for offensive improvement as a whole.

Grade: C

New England Patriots: Drake Maye

AP Photo

Score: 29-26 win vs. Buffalo Bills

Stat Line: 22 of 37 for 269 yards, three touchdowns, an interception and a fumble lost; eight carries for 54 yards

Drake Maye continues to make mistakes. But he finally delivered Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

This season has been rough on the second-year signal-caller. Maye has been far too generous when it comes to turnovers. He still gave the ball away twice during his latest outing. The New England Patriots quarterback also threw the game-winning touchdown with under two minutes to play and knocked off a previously undefeated rival. Maye even led his team with 54 rushing yards.

"I got full trust in myself, and I think (the way) my teammates came and pumped me up this week was cool," Maye told reporters. "That's what made this game so special."

Plenty of room for improvement still exists, but the Sunday's performance allows Maye to regather and move past his poor start to campaign.

Grade: B

New York Giants: Jameis Winston

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Score: 36-24 win vs. Arizona Cardinals

Stat Line: 18 of 29 for 250 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions

Jameis Winston isn't like other backup quarterbacks. He's a former No. 1 overall pick, with extensive starting experience. His performances can be a wild ride, but he has the ability to make all of the throws and move an offense.

He's also the type of quarterback, who loves to live on the edge and attempt throws that will hurt his team as often as they help.

The full "Jameis Winston experience" occurred Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. In the end, the Giants found a way to win and improve to 3-1. Meanwhile, Winston's confidence is building.

"I'm heating up. And I'm starting to get better, better and better," Winston told reporters. "Last week, I was questioning if I can even throw. This week, I got people talking about the Jameis Winston experience again"

Grade: C+

New York Jets: Geno Smith

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Score: 23-12 loss vs. Chicago Bears

Stat Line: eight of 15 for 119 yards and a touchdown

Geno Smith had been a pleasant surprise to start this season. However, the Chicago Bears didn't allow Smith or the New York Jets offense to do much of anything Sunday.

In fact, the Bears manufacture more first downs than the Jets had offensive plays. New York managed one offensive possession with more than six plays. The Jets' only touchdown came trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter when Smith connected with Isaiah Williams on a 58-yard score.

Ultimately, Smith didn't do nearly enough Sunday. As a result, his team now owns a 1-3 record.

"You've got to get back to work and you've got to demand it from yourself," Smith said after the game. "It starts with the man in the mirror."

Grade: D

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Score: 24-20 loss vs. Los Angeles Rams

Stat Line: 12 of 27 for 93 yards and two touchdowns

The more things change; the more they stay the same.

A season ago, the Philadelphia Eagles experienced long stretch of stagnant offensive play. The growing divide between quarterback Jalen Hurts and top wide receiver AJ Brown was believed to be the primary issue. Brown was traded this offseason. However, the Eagles offense continues to have the same problems.

"It's about finding a flow as an offense," Hurts told reporters after Sunday's loss. " … We have not done that."

Hurts added, "I've got to figure it out. However it looks, whatever it means. Find a way to win the game."

An 0-12 effort on third down became the worst outing in Eagles franchise history. Of course, all of the unit's issues don't fall on the quarterback. But everyone has seen too many poor stretches of play from Hurts and Co. not to at least place some of the blame on the quarterback.

Grade: D

Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Score: 27-24 loss vs. Cleveland Browns

Stat Line: 22 of 40 for 399 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a crossroads.

Aaron Rodgers is trying to ride off into the sunset of a championship season. He can still get the job done, but he's an aging gunslinger who's not as quick or deadly as he once was. At the same time, his posse isn't helping matters. The Steelers' wide receiver struggle mightily to create separation and provide Rodgers with available targets.

As a result, the Steelers are failing to build any consistency within their offense.

"I wouldn't say it was our cleanest game all the way around," Rodgers said after Thursday's loss to the Cleveland Browns. "They were getting after us on some of the long yardage stuff that we weren't winning a bunch. I missed some throws I usually hit."

Grade: C+

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy

AP Photo

Score: 24-14 win vs. Denver Broncos

Stat Line: 19 of 30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns; 10 carries for 29 yards

Brock Purdy wasn't as efficient as he had been through the first three weeks of play, but he gave the Denver Broncos a taste of their own medicine by picking them apart during the second half.

San Francisco took control of the game by scoring touchdowns during its final three offensive possessions (not including kneel-downs). Purdy completed 10 of 11 passes along the way.

The Niners quarterback does benefit from the league's best pass protection. In fact, he's yet to be sacked through four games. But he's also executing at a high level. Purdy took advantage of the Broncos being down their starting cornerbacks, which is exactly what he should do.

"We finished drives and capitalized on opportunities," Purdy said during a postgame game interview with Matt Lively of CBS Sports Bay Area. "... At the end when we needed it, we had to step up and do our thing."

Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold

AP Photo/Kevin Ng

Score: 30-23 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Stat Line: 13 of 22 for 168 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

Sam Darnold hasn't looked comfortable leading the Seattle Seahawks offense since coming back from an injury in Week 3.

Darnold threw a poor interception during the Seahawks' first offensive play Sunday, which came directly after Justin Herbert threw an interception to give Seattle excellent field position. Darnold's two touchdowns passes came courtesy of a screen pass to running back Emmanuel Wilson and two-yard slant pattern to Tory Horton for a six-yard score. Without those two quick hitters, Darnold threw for 139 yards.

Furthermore, Seattle converted only three of 12 third-down attempts. As a team, the Seahawks endured 150 penalty yards and still won the contest. Everyone in Seattle's locker room understands this type of effort isn't good enough, even if it ended in a victory.

"We're really grateful for where we're at right now and excited to move forward," head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters. "But we also understand that we have definitely a lot of room for improvement with our operation, how we take care of the football and obviously the penalties are something we need to address."

Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Daniels

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Score: 17-14 loss vs. Green Bay Packers

Stat Line: 19 of 27 for 148 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions; eight carries for 55 yards

The possibility of a rookie quarterback starting early in the season can be exciting. Usually, that scenario involves a recent high-round draft pick. In the case of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a dislocated thumb on Baker Mayfield's throwing hand thrust undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels into the lineup.

Expectedly, the Buccaneers came up short Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. But Daniels had the ball in his hands with Tampa Bay trailing by three points and under two minutes to play. The first-time starter didn't deliver, but he also didn't wilt under the pressure.

"Obviously, I'm not happy with the result," Daniels told reporters. "At this position, you want to do everything you can to win a football game. We ended up coming up short. ... We'll look at what's on film. Own that, then get ready to play Thursday Night Football."

Grade: C

Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Score: 24-18 loss vs. Baltimore Ravens

Stat Line: 20 of 31 for 222 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Cam Ward is clearly frustrated with his situation. The 2025 first overall draft pick has not played particularly well and he's been questioned at every turn. Despite everything, he has showed some improvement.

As ESPN's Turron Davenport noted, courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats, "Ward completed 10 of his 13 quick attempts for 65 yards and 10 of his 18 attempts longer than 2.5 seconds for a season-high 157 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Ward faced pressure on 34.3 percent of dropbacks, the second-lowest mark of the season, completing five of nine attempts for a season-high 40 yards, his touchdown and an interception. Without pressure, Ward went 15 of 22 for 182 yards, another season-high mark."

Ward has been consistently pressured this season, which has made life difficult. Like any other quarterback, he performs better from a clean pocket. At the same time, these little improvement must turn into tangible results. Otherwise, they won't be enough to save the quarterback if the team continues to lose and he's not making the caliber of plays worthy of his draft status.

Grade: C

Washington Commanders: Athan Kaliakmanis

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Score: 30-13 loss vs. Indianapolis Colts

Stat Line: 15 of 33 for 186 yards, one touchdown and an interception

Marcus Mariota got off to a quick start before suffering a knee injury Sunday. Seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis took the reins and gave the Washington Commanders a chance against the Indianapolis Colts.

Specifically, Kaliakmanis wasn't afraid to challenge the Colts' secondary at the third level. He completed two throws of over 40 yards to Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown. The Commanders also had a 87-yard connection between Kaliakmanis and fellow rookie Antonio Williams called back because of an illegal shift. In fact, he attempted six passes of over 30 yards, according to RotoWire's Ian Hartitz.

Obviously, Kaliakmanis didn't get first-team reps throughout the week and wasn't expected to play. So, he attacked where he could even if the game-plan wasn't specifically built for him. As such, the rookie deserves credit for making some plays and not letting the Colts defense completely overwhelm him.

However, Jayden Daniels is expected to play in Week 5 after missing the last two games.

Grade: C+