NFL Week 4 Recap: Derrick Henry Dominates as Bills Suffer First Loss; Jayden Daniels Continues Historic Rookie Run

NFL Week 4 Recap: Derrick Henry Dominates as Bills Suffer First Loss; Jayden Daniels Continues Historic Rookie Run

Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season delivered excitement and drama, with standout individual performances and thrilling finishes across 13 games. Here are the major highlights from Sunday’s action:

Derrick Henry Powers Ravens Past Bills in a Dominant Display

In a marquee AFC showdown, the Baltimore Ravens handed the Buffalo Bills their first loss of the season, powered by an explosive performance from Derrick Henry. On Baltimore’s very first play from scrimmage, Henry broke free for an 87-yard touchdown, the longest in Ravens history. He finished the day with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, guiding the Ravens to a convincing 35-10 victory.

Henry’s performance marks his second consecutive game with over 150 yards rushing, as Baltimore improved to 2-2 on the season. The Ravens’ offense, led by Lamar Jackson’s three touchdowns, finally seems to be finding its groove after a slow start to the year.

For the Bills, quarterback Josh Allen provided some flashes of brilliance, including a 52-yard pass to Khalil Shakir, but Buffalo struggled on both sides of the ball. Head coach Sean McDermott credited the Ravens for outplaying and outcoaching his team, emphasizing the need to address the issues quickly.

Jayden Daniels’ Remarkable Rookie Season Continues

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continued to impress with another stellar performance, leading his team to a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, completed nearly 87% of his passes, finishing with 233 passing yards, one touchdown, and an interception. He also added 47 rushing yards and a score.

Daniels’ accuracy has been historic, with his 82.1% completion rate over the first four weeks breaking Peyton Manning’s 2008 record. His exceptional play has propelled the Commanders to a 3-1 record, positioning them at the top of the NFC East.

This week’s victory was a particularly sweet one for Washington’s offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who returned to Arizona for the first time since his departure as head coach in 2022.

Late-Game Heroics Define Sunday’s Action

Week 4 also featured a string of dramatic finishes, with five games decided by four points or fewer. In Atlanta, Younghoe Koo nailed a 58-yard field goal with two seconds left, giving the Falcons a thrilling 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints. In New Jersey, the Denver Broncos edged out the New York Jets 10-9 in a rain-soaked game that saw missed field goals from both teams in the final minutes.

Elsewhere, CJ Stroud led a late touchdown drive to secure a 24-20 win for the Houston Texans over the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-half comeback fell just short in a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

As Week 4 comes to a close, teams are beginning to separate themselves, with breakout performances and tight finishes becoming the hallmark of this NFL season. Stay tuned for more updates as the season continues to heat up.