By Tiffany Williams –
Week 4 of the NFL season delivered statement performances, game-saving plays and a taste of history, with stars from both conferences grabbing Player of the Week honors.
The NFC’s Offensive crown went to Rams wideout Puka Nacua, who shredded the Colts for 13 catches, 170 yards and a touchdown in a 27-20 win — the most receiving yards in a game by anyone this season. With 42 grabs through four weeks, Nacua tied legends Cooper Kupp and Michael Thomas for the best start in league history. It’s his second Player of the Week nod, putting him in rare Rams company with Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce.
On defense, Eagles rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell locked down Tampa Bay, breaking up five passes and allowing just six yards on nine targets. His 39.6 passer rating allowed was the stingiest by any defender this season with that many chances. It’s Mitchell’s first career honor and the first time a Toledo product has ever snagged Defensive Player of the Week.
Special teams glory went to Chicago’s Josh Blackwell, who saved the Bears in Vegas by blocking a potential game-winning 54-yard field goal with under a minute left. It’s his second career special teams award, putting him alongside Duke alum Jamison Crowder as a multi-time winner.
In the AFC, Patrick Mahomes reminded everyone why he’s the NFL’s standard. The Chiefs quarterback threw four touchdowns with zero picks in a 37-20 win over Baltimore — the only four-touchdown performance of the week. It was his 11th Player of the Week award, the most in Chiefs history, tying him with Russell Wilson for fourth-most among active quarterbacks.
Jacksonville’s Devin Lloyd stole the defensive spotlight with eight tackles and two interceptions in a win over San Francisco, the only AFC player to post multiple picks in Week 4. He joins a short list of Utah linebackers to earn the award.
On special teams, Patriots corner Marcus Jones lit up Carolina with 167 punt-return yards — a franchise record — including an 87-yard house call. It was his second career award, putting him alongside Julian Edelman and Ellis Hobbs among New England’s elite returners.
The league is buzzing with milestones and chaos. Through four weeks, there have already been 18 games with last-minute or overtime winners, the most in over four decades. Special teams are exploding too — 11 return touchdowns already, plus a record 3,624 kickoff return yards in a single week.
International football is about to take over the next three Sundays in London, starting with the Vikings and Browns at Tottenham. The Eagles and Bills remain the league’s only undefeated squads, with Jalen Hurts rewriting record books and Josh Allen matching Cam Newton for dual-threat dominance.
And when the Jets and Broncos land in London on Oct. 12, rap legend Giggs will deliver a halftime show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Hamilton cast members Jay Perry and Roxanne Couch handle the anthems.
From blocked kicks to record-breaking returns, the NFL’s first month has been nothing short of chaos. Week 5 promises even more fireworks — in London, under the lights, and everywhere in between.