It was a good weekend for Fred WarnerKyle Van Noy and their respective teams.
On Tuesday, Pro Football Focus shared which NFL defenders scored the highest in their metric through Week 4 of the season, and Warner and Van Noy top the list.
Warner earned a 96.6 grade for his efforts in the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the New England Patriots, the best among all NFL defensive players last week.
Right behind him, in second place, was Van Noy, who had a 93.9 rating in the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Buffalo Bills.
What did Fred Warner do in the 49ers’ win over the Patriots?
Despite missing half the game with an ankle injury – playing just 44 percent of the team’s defensive snaps – Warner made his presence known on Sunday.
He finished with seven tackles, including four solo stops, a pass deflection and an interception return scoring for a touchdown – the second pick six of his career.
In the second quarter of the 49ers’ 30-13 victory, Warner jumped to grab an interception off a pass from Jacoby Brissett. He fell to the ground, then got back up and made his way down the sideline for the touchdown that put San Francisco ahead 13-0.
In four games, Warner received a 90+ rating from Pro Football Focus in three competitions this season.
There’s also some good news on the injury front: Warner is considered day-to-day with his ankle injury, according to ESPN.
What did Kyle Van Noy do in the Ravens’ win over the Bills?
Van Noy, at 33, is having one of his best seasons as a pro just a month into 2024.
On Sunday, he constantly harassed Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, finishing the day with two tackles, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
His highlight of the day came in the third quarter, when Van Noy blew up a Bills trap play. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel took the direct snap while lined up at quarterback, and from the right side of the line, Van Noy quickly entered the Buffalo backfield.
Samuel returned the ball to Allen, who had lined up at wide receiver, but again, Van Noy was too quick and found Allen near the sideline. He knocked the ball out of Allen’s hand as he attempted to pass, and fellow defender Kyle Hamilton recovered the loose ball.
Including the 35-10 win over the Bills, Van Noy has now had two sacks in three straight games this season.
