Matt Verderame’s Notes: Trevor Lawrence’s Ascension Among the Best Storylines in NFL Week 4

Key Points:

• Trevor Lawrence and Brock Purdy are emerging as standout quarterbacks, with Lawrence leading the AFC South–leading Jaguars to a strong start and Purdy guiding the 49ers to an undefeated 3–0 record and dominant performances.
• The Jets, despite a 1–2 record, show promise with young talent like Armand Membou, Olu Fashanu, Kenyon Sadiq, Breece Hall, and Garrett Wilson forming a solid foundation for future success.
• The Rams, though 1–2, have a highly productive offense ranked among the league's best in yards and efficiency, and coach Sean McVay's in-game management is praised as a key factor in their potential turnaround.
• NFL teams are increasingly using three-tight end sets and versatile, blocking-focused tight ends to confuse defenses, reflecting a strategic shift as offenses adapt to evolving defensive schemes and blitzing trends.
• Historically, teams starting 3–0 have an 85.7% chance of making the playoffs, while 0–3 teams have only a 3.5% chance; currently, five teams remain unbeaten, and the Buccaneers may still contend despite a slow start and key injuries.