EAST LANSING- The first month of the NFL season is officially in the books as there have been no shortage of surprises across the first four weeks. The legitimate contenders and pretenders are beginning to take center stage on prime time, with a captivating return to bedlam. Teams such as the 4-0 Vikings and the 1-3 Bengals have shocked fans on the heels of their early-season standing, but there is still ample opportunity for struggling rosters to turn the tides. On tap are three of the most fascinating storylines of the first four weeks of the 2024 season and what to watch for as the season progresses. 

Unbeaten Vikings Standing Strong

Prior to the start of the season, the Minnesota Vikings were penciled in by many to finish last in a star-studded NFC North. After disastrous stints with both the Jets and Panthers, 2018 No. 3 pick Sam Darnold was mostly written off as a certified bust at the NFL level.

Darnold signed with the Vikings in an attempt to revitalize his dormant career and stepped into the starting role following JJ McCarthy’s season-ending meniscus tear. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, and Aaron Jones to throw to, the USC product was set up for the most successful stint of his NFL career, but the odds were still against Minnesota.

In the Twin Cities, the Vikings kicked off the season with a sizzling 4-0 start including victories over the 49ers, Texans, and Packers as the 27-year-old journeyman cemented himself as an early MVP candidate. 

Through four weeks, Darnold leads all signal-callers with 11 passing touchdowns and a 118.9 passer rating in the fruitful system of head coach Kevin O’Connell.

With Darnold at the helm, the Vikings offense was firing on all cylinders. Jones is ninth in the league in rushing yards and Jefferson is fifth in receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL. 

The biggest catalyst to the undefeated season in Minnesota was the defense that took a mammoth step forward. In 2022, the Vikings’ defense was historically bad, and in 2023 was a middle-of-the-road defense that allowed 21.3 points per game. Through four games in 2024,  the Vikings have only allowed 14.8 points per game, a mark that is fourth in the NFL.

The Vikings’ stout defensive front has been the most constant contributor to their sustained success. Despite losing Danielle Hunter in free agency, Minnesota still leads the league in sacks due to the pash rush duo of Pat Jones II and Jonathan Greenard, who have nine combined sacks this season. 

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit is also the second-best in football against the run, only trailing the Baltimore Ravens.

In an NFC North that could see three (or even four) teams reach the postseason, the Vikings are continuing to prove that they are not to be taken lightly.

Darnold will legitimately push McCarthy for the starting job upon his return next season and the weapons and defense have gelled this core together to forge genuine playoff aspirations.

The Race is On

The 2024 NFL Draft commenced with 14 straight offensive players being selected before the first defensive name was called. Touted as one of the best drafts in terms of offensive talent in NFL history, the blossoming  Offensive Rookie of the Year race has quickly grown controversial. 

In our nation’s capital, former Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels was selected No. 2 overall by the Commanders to put an end to their long-standing quarterback woes. The LSU product was lauded by scouts for his abilities as a dual-threat signal-caller, thriving in a pro-style offense.

In order to maximize Daniels’ potential, the Commanders hired former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury to be their offensive coordinator. Kingsbury coached both Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray into stars and has generated shockwaves around the NFL due to his work with Daniels.

The Eagles and Cowboys were the squads expected to run away with the NFC East this season, but a month in, it is the Commanders sitting at 3-1 atop the division standings. 

Daniels leads all passers with a staggering 81.8% completion rate as the connections with Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz have blossomed over the weeks. His three passing touchdowns may not jump off the page, but witnessing the level of poise and command Daniels has shown while helming an NFL offense has been incredible, especially this early into his NFL tenure. 

Staying in the NFC East, the Big Apple is home to another standout rookie. Throughout Daniel Jones’ career, he has typically been throwing to lackluster weapons and has not lived up to the expectations following his lucrative contract extension. 

However, the Giants’ offense has finally found the explosive weapon in the pass game it has been desperately craving since Odell Beckham Jr was traded in 2019 by virtue of another product of the bayou; LSU’s Malik Nabers. 

The 21-year-old is second only to Nico Collins in receiving yards through the first month of his stint at the professional level and leads the NFL in targets and catches as the most dynamic player in a weak offense for Big Blue. 

Giants general manager Joe Schoen made a controversial selection when opting to draft Nabers over JJ McCarthy at No. 6, given the Giants’ need at quarterback, but Nabers is a stud in the making regardless of who is under center for head coach Brian Daboll. 

Another wide receiver has been quickly turning heads to open up his NFL career. On the heels of a one-catch, four-yard performance in his NFL debut, No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr found his footing in Arizona. Harrison Jr, the son of NFL hall-of-famer Marvin Harrison, was touted as “generational” coming out of Ohio State and burst onto the scene over the last three weeks.

Harrison Jr found the end zone twice in a four-catch, 130-yard performance in the Cardinals’ Week 2 blowout win over the Rams and has scored in three straight games. Standing at 6-foot-4, Harrison Jr has blossomed into a red zone constant for Kyler Murray due to his blend of size and athleticism. 

The connection between Murray and “Maserati Marv” has only strengthened over the course of the season even with the Cardinals sitting at 1-3. The 22-year-old has tallied more receiving yards in his rookie campaign than Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, Garrett Wilson, and Davante Adams in 2024.

Between these three top ten prospects, the talent is palpable, so the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year is wide open between the trio as the season continues to unfold.

Quick Hits:

• After signing a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens this offseason, Derrick Henry leads all rushers with 480 rushing yards in his inaugural season in Baltimore. Between Henry and Lamar Jackson, the Ravens average over 220 rushing yards per game as the most potent ground attack in the league resides in Baltimore. Saquon Barkley has also been the beating heart of the Eagles offense in his first season in Philadelphia with 435 rushing yards through four weeks. 
• The Jacksonville Jaguars are sitting at 0-4 and Trevor Lawrence has struggled mightily early on in the wake of signing a lucrative extension. It seems like a matter of when, not if, head coach Doug Pederson will be fired as Duval County is home to one of the least dynamic offenses in football thus far.
• Star wide receiver Davante Adams has requested a trade from Las Vegas, and all signs point to Adams joining his former teammate Aaron Rodgers in New York. The Jets are 2-2, but red flags are flying about Nate Hackett’s offense at MetLife Stadium. Would the acquisition of another explosive playmaker help the Jets offense take that leap?
• Sam Darnold is not the only quarterback in the midst of a career resurgence. 2021 No. 11 pick Justin Fields has benefited from the scenery change to Pittsburgh as the Ohio State product has added another element to a strong run game in the Steel City. Fields has even shown potential as a passer, with more passing yards through four weeks than Josh Allen and Kyler Murray.
• The Kansas City Chiefs are unbeaten, sitting at 4-0 but just placed rising star wideout Rashee Rice on injured reserve with an undisclosed knee injury suffered in Week 4. Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster are certain to see a larger workload alongside Travis Kelce with both Rice and Isaiah Pacheco nursing injuries.
• The Miami Dolphins offense has sputtered in recent weeks, as in two games without Tua Tagovailoa, Miami is 0-2 and scored a combined 15 points across that span. With Tagovailoa out until Week 8 at least, the Fins are in trouble.
• Aidan Hutchinson has progressed into one of the league’s best pass-rushers, as the Michigan man leads the NFL with 6.5 sacks in his age-24 season