NFL Week 4 Sunday Preview: A Full Breakdown of Every Game

Week 4 of the NFL season arrives with a Sunday slate that could begin separating contenders from pretenders.

Five teams enter Sunday undefeated, several preseason contenders are already facing uncomfortable questions, and injuries have dramatically altered some of the weekend’s biggest matchups. Kansas City and Las Vegas will put matching 3-0 records on the line in the AFC West. San Francisco will try to remain perfect against a dangerous Denver team. Buffalo looks to take another step toward control of the AFC East, while the Eagles and Rams meet in Philadelphia with both teams trying to rebound.

Then there are the desperate teams.

Miami, Houston, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and the Chargers all enter Sunday searching for their first victory. For teams sitting at 0-3, this is already approaching must-win territory.

The injury report has changed the complexion of several games as well. Washington will play without Jayden Daniels, Chicago is without Caleb Williams, Tampa Bay will turn away from injured Baker Mayfield, Minnesota will not have Justin Jefferson and the Jets will be without Breece Hall. (NFL Fantasy)

From London in the morning through Sunday Night Football in Carolina, here is the complete CrossTalk Media breakdown of the Week 4 Sunday slate.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-2) vs. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-2)

9:30 a.m. ET — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

The NFL Sunday begins overseas with two teams that desperately needed their Week 3 victories.

Washington’s biggest story is at quarterback. Jayden Daniels has been ruled out with a left elbow injury, leaving Marcus Mariota to make another start after directing Washington to a 33-31 upset victory over Seattle. Terry McLaurin is also inactive, leaving the Commanders without two of the central pieces of their offense. Indianapolis, meanwhile, will be without Keenan Allen. (NFL)

That puts even more attention on the Indianapolis running game.

Jonathan Taylor faces a Washington defense that entered the week ranked among the league’s better units against the run. If Washington can keep Taylor from controlling the game, Indianapolis will have to consistently produce through the air.

For Washington, Mariota does not need to replicate Daniels’ explosiveness. He needs to protect the football, use his mobility when necessary and keep the Commanders out of obvious passing situations.

Key to the game

Washington’s defense has to win first down. If Indianapolis consistently creates second-and-short situations, Taylor can control the pace and keep Mariota standing on the sideline.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Jonathan Taylor

This feels like the type of game where Indianapolis should put the offense on Taylor’s shoulders.

CrossTalk Prediction

Colts 27, Commanders 20

With Daniels and McLaurin unavailable, Washington is simply missing too much offensive firepower.

1:00 P.M. WINDOW

TENNESSEE TITANS (0-3) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-1)

The storyline almost writes itself.

Derrick Henry faces Tennessee.

Henry will see his former franchise while Baltimore attempts to build off an impressive victory over Dallas in Brazil. Tennessee has actually defended the run relatively well, allowing only 3.6 yards per carry through its first three games, so this might not be the automatic Henry takeover many expect. (NFL)

The bigger problem for Tennessee has been its offense.

Cam Ward has shown flashes, but the Titans have repeatedly struggled to establish offensive rhythm early in games. Falling behind Baltimore is especially dangerous because it allows the Ravens to dictate everything: run Henry, use Lamar Jackson’s legs, work play action and unleash the pass rush against an offense forced to throw.

Baltimore does have injury concerns of its own. Trey Hendrickson is out, while Zay Flowers entered the weekend questionable. (NFL Fantasy)

Key to the game

Tennessee has to make this ugly. Shorten the game, control possession and prevent Baltimore from building an early two-score lead.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Derrick Henry

There may not technically be bad blood here, but Henry will undoubtedly enjoy getting an opportunity against the franchise where he became a superstar.

CrossTalk Prediction

Ravens 30, Titans 16

Baltimore has too many ways to manufacture offense. Tennessee still doesn’t.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-2) at BUFFALO BILLS (3-0)

The records tell only part of the story here.

Buffalo hasn’t just started 3-0. The Bills have been one of the NFL’s most productive offenses, scoring 101 points on their first 32 offensive possessions of the season entering Week 4.

New England entered the week with only 29 points over 30 offensive possessions. (NFL)

That is an enormous gap.

Drake Maye has endured an unexpectedly difficult start after his breakthrough season, and New England is also without Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore this afternoon. (NFL Fantasy)

Buffalo can put teams into uncomfortable situations because Josh Allen forces defenses to account for every inch of the field. He can attack vertically, move the pocket, create outside structure and become the Bills’ short-yardage answer himself.

New England can’t simply play conservatively and hope to survive.

The Patriots need Maye to rediscover the decisiveness and playmaking ability that made him one of football’s rising stars.

Key to the game

New England needs touchdowns, not field goals. Holding Buffalo below 25 points is possible. Expecting to win while scoring 16 or 17 probably isn’t.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Drake Maye

If New England is going to make this a fourth-quarter game, Maye will have to look much more like the quarterback we saw last season.

CrossTalk Prediction

Bills 30, Patriots 20

Buffalo is simply operating at a different level offensively right now.

NEW YORK JETS (1-2) at CHICAGO BEARS (2-1)

This game has been completely reshaped by injuries.

The Jets are without Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell, Mason Taylor and Dylan Parham, while Chicago will be without Caleb Williams because of a hamstring injury. (NFL Fantasy)

Chicago must decide how aggressively it wants to play offensively without Williams, but the Bears have one significant advantage: their running game.

Chicago entered the week with the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack, while its defense has held each of its past two opponents below 10 points. (NFL)

For the Jets, losing Hall changes everything. He is their home-run hitter, their safety valve and the player most capable of turning a simple play into six points.

New York’s defense might keep the Jets around for a while, but eventually the offense has to create something.

Key to the game

Can the Jets stay out of third-and-long without Hall? If not, Chicago’s defense can attack all afternoon.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Chicago’s offensive line

With Williams unavailable, establishing the running game becomes essential.

CrossTalk Prediction

Bears 23, Jets 17

The Jets hang around defensively, but Chicago’s ground game eventually wears them down.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-1) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-1)

This could be one of the most entertaining games of the afternoon.

Jacksonville has quietly started 2-1, while Cincinnati enters with the same record but some legitimate defensive questions after its unit was exposed by Pittsburgh.

The Bengals allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw for more than 290 yards and three touchdowns while Jaylen Warren accumulated 176 yards from scrimmage in their previous game. (NFL)

Jacksonville should attack that defense aggressively.

Cincinnati still possesses the offensive talent to turn nearly any game into a shootout, and playing at home gives the Bengals an advantage. But Jacksonville has enough explosiveness to force Cincinnati into four quarters of offense.

This game could come down to which quarterback owns the final possession.

Key to the game

Jacksonville cannot settle for field goals in the red zone. Cincinnati’s offense is too dangerous to continuously trade seven points for three.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Jacksonville’s pass rush

Pressure without blitzing would allow the Jaguars to keep additional bodies in coverage against Cincinnati’s weapons.

CrossTalk Prediction

Jaguars 27, Bengals 24

CrossTalk upset pick. Jacksonville finds enough explosive plays and steals one on the road.

DALLAS COWBOYS (1-2) at HOUSTON TEXANS (0-3)

Welcome to the desperation bowl in Texas.

Dallas is 1-2.

Houston is 0-3.

Neither envisioned entering October in this position.

The Texans are actually favored despite their record, which tells you how difficult Dallas has been to evaluate. Houston’s defense remains capable of creating pressure and disrupting an offense, but the Texans haven’t consistently converted enough of those opportunities into wins.

Dallas desperately needs Dak Prescott and the offense to establish some consistency.

Defensively, the Cowboys will be without DeMarvion Overshown, while Houston is missing Azeez Al-Shaair. (NFL Fantasy)

This could become a game about offensive-line play. Whichever quarterback receives the cleaner pocket probably wins.

Key to the game

Dallas cannot allow Houston’s pass rush to turn this into a chaotic, low-possession game.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Dak Prescott

There are weeks when quarterbacks are asked to manage games.

This isn’t one of them.

Dallas needs Dak to win it.

CrossTalk Prediction

Cowboys 24, Texans 21

Dallas survives, but nothing about this matchup suggests it will be comfortable.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-2) at NEW YORK GIANTS (2-1)

Here’s one of the afternoon’s more fascinating games.

The Giants are 2-1 despite an offense that has struggled to consistently finish drives. Arizona is only 1-2, but oddsmakers installed the Cardinals as road favorites entering the weekend. (NFL)

Jameis Winston’s ability to attack vertically gives the Giants upside, but it also creates turnover risk.

Arizona can counter with the steadier Jacoby Brissett, who doesn’t necessarily have to produce spectacular numbers. The Cardinals need him to manage the game, take what the defense gives him and avoid feeding New York’s pass rush with obvious passing downs.

The Giants do have one significant advantage entering Sunday: they reported no game-status injury designations on the final injury report. (NFL Fantasy)

At MetLife, that matters.

Key to the game

Can the Giants turn pressure into takeaways? Arizona is comfortable playing methodically. New York needs to disrupt that rhythm.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Jameis Winston

This is the Winston experience in a nutshell. He could make three throws that win the game and two that almost lose it.

CrossTalk Prediction

Giants 23, Cardinals 20

New York’s defense creates one late turnover and Big Blue moves to 3-1.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-2) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-1)

One of Sunday’s premier matchups features two teams coming off ugly losses.

Los Angeles blew a 16-0 halftime lead in Denver.

Philadelphia was beaten decisively in Chicago.

Now one of these teams will leave Week 4 feeling substantially better, while the other will face a week filled with uncomfortable questions. (NFL)

Philadelphia enters the matchup significantly shorthanded. DeVonta Smith, Marquise Brown, Dallas Goedert and Zack Baun are all out. Los Angeles will also be without Aaron Donald and Jaylen Watson. (NFL Fantasy)

The encouraging news for Los Angeles is the expected return of Puka Nacua.

That could dramatically change the Rams’ offense.

Sean McVay wants to create matchup problems through motion and personnel variation. Having Nacua available gives him his most flexible weapon back.

Philadelphia must counter by making this game physical.

Run the football. Control possession. Prevent Los Angeles from turning the afternoon into a quarterback duel.

Key to the game

Philadelphia’s depleted receiving corps puts even more responsibility on its running game and Jalen Hurts’ legs.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Puka Nacua

His return could immediately reopen the middle of the field for Los Angeles.

CrossTalk Prediction

Rams 27, Eagles 23

Philadelphia’s injuries are difficult to overlook. Los Angeles bounces back.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-2) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-3)

Two struggling teams arrive in Tampa with very different types of pressure.

Green Bay was supposed to contend.

Tampa Bay simply needs a win.

The biggest development is at quarterback for the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield is out with a right thumb injury, meaning rookie Jalon Daniels gets an enormous opportunity. (NFL Fantasy)

Green Bay’s problem hasn’t just been quarterback play. The offensive line has struggled badly, and the Packers entered the week with the NFL’s least productive rushing attack at only 146 yards through three games. (NFL)

That is not sustainable.

The Packers cannot place the entire offense on Jordan Love every Sunday, particularly behind a line that isn’t consistently protecting him.

Tampa’s path is simple: make Daniels comfortable early, create manageable third downs and give him easy completions.

Key to the game

Green Bay has to run the football.

If the Packers remain one-dimensional against an aggressive Tampa front, this could become much more difficult than their favorite status suggests.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Jalon Daniels

Nobody expects the rookie to carry Tampa.

That might be precisely why he’s dangerous.

CrossTalk Prediction

Packers 20, Buccaneers 17

Green Bay escapes, but the Packers still leave Florida with questions.

LATE WINDOW

MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-3) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-0)

Few teams entered Sunday moving in more opposite directions.

Minnesota is undefeated.

Miami hasn’t won.

The Dolphins have yet to score more than 13 points in a game, and their offense suffered an enormous blow when De’Von Achane went down with a season-ending ACL injury. (NFL)

Minnesota has its own major absence: Justin Jefferson is out with an ankle injury. (NFL Fantasy)

But the Vikings’ defense has been outstanding enough that Jefferson’s absence may not become decisive.

Miami has struggled to protect the football, sustain drives and generate enough explosive plays. Minnesota can pressure the Dolphins into playing from behind and then unleash its pass rush.

Interestingly, the Vikings’ offense hasn’t been statistically dominant despite the 3-0 record. This is a chance for Minnesota to put together a more complete performance.

Key to the game

Miami must prevent negative plays. A sack followed by second-and-17 against this Minnesota defense is almost a drive killer.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Minnesota’s defense

The matchup overwhelmingly favors the Vikings on this side of the ball.

CrossTalk Prediction

Vikings 24, Dolphins 10

Minnesota reaches 4-0.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-0) at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (3-0)

Game of the Day

Who expected this?

Kansas City: 3-0.

Las Vegas: 3-0.

First place in the AFC West could effectively be on the line in early October.

Patrick Mahomes has once again found his rhythm, but the biggest development for Kansas City has been the transformation of its running game. Kenneth Walker III entered the weekend leading the NFL in rushing, giving the Chiefs an element they haven’t always consistently possessed during the Mahomes era. (NFL)

That’s scary.

If defenses cannot devote everything toward Mahomes because Kansas City can legitimately punish light boxes, the Chiefs become exponentially more difficult to defend.

Las Vegas has been one of the NFL’s biggest early-season surprises and now gets its opportunity to prove the start is legitimate.

This game will tell us significantly more about the Raiders than their first three did.

Key to the game

Las Vegas cannot allow Mahomes to extend plays.

The initial coverage can be perfect. If Mahomes gets six seconds, eventually somebody gets open.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Kenneth Walker III

The Chiefs’ passing game gets the headlines.

Walker may determine whether Las Vegas has any chance of slowing it down.

CrossTalk Prediction

Chiefs 27, Raiders 23

The Raiders prove they’re legitimate.

Mahomes proves Kansas City is still Kansas City.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (0-3) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-1)

The Chargers may be the most surprising winless team in football.

Los Angeles has struggled badly to score, producing only 16 points even in a game when Buffalo turned the football over five times. The Chargers entered Sunday ranked 20th in points allowed as well, a notable drop for a defense that finished first in that category in 2024 and ninth last season. (NFL)

And the injury report isn’t helping.

Ladd McConkey and Derwin James entered the weekend questionable, while several other Chargers are already ruled out. (NFL Fantasy)

Seattle is coming off a painful 33-31 loss to Washington and should be playing angry at home.

Lumen Field isn’t where a struggling offense usually rediscovers itself.

Key to the game

The Chargers cannot give Seattle short fields. A turnover-fueled Seahawks surge could end this game quickly.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Seattle’s home-field advantage

When Lumen Field gets loud and an opposing offense is already struggling with communication and confidence, problems can multiply.

CrossTalk Prediction

Seahawks 27, Chargers 17

Los Angeles falls to a stunning 0-4.

DENVER BRONCOS (2-1) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-0)

This may be Sunday’s best pure football matchup.

Denver has shown legitimate contender qualities.

San Francisco has looked like one of the league’s best teams.

The major concern for Denver has been its starts. The Broncos were outscored 40-10 in the first halves of their first three games, repeatedly forcing themselves into comeback mode. (NFL)

That can’t happen in Santa Clara.

San Francisco can turn a 10-point lead into a completely different game because Kyle Shanahan can use motion, the running game and play action to control possessions.

Brock Purdy has played at an elite level early in the season despite San Francisco’s continuing injury problems.

Those injuries are significant this week: Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are both out, while Mike Evans entered the weekend questionable. (NFL Fantasy)

That gives Denver a legitimate opening.

Key to the game

Denver needs to start fast.

You don’t want to spend another second half attempting to erase a double-digit deficit against this team.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Denver’s defense

Without Bosa on the opposite sideline, Denver’s defense might actually be the unit most capable of taking over this game.

CrossTalk Prediction

49ers 24, Broncos 20

Denver pushes San Francisco for four quarters, but Purdy engineers the decisive fourth-quarter drive.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

DETROIT LIONS (2-1) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-2)

8:20 p.m. ET — NBC

Sunday finishes with a matchup that has shootout potential.

Detroit has scored exactly 31 points in each of its first three games, continuing to operate as one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses. (NFL)

The problem?

Detroit’s defense has also struggled.

That gives Carolina a chance to make this interesting.

The Panthers have shown flashes offensively, but their defense presents a particularly troubling matchup. Carolina entered Week 4 last in the NFL against the run, allowing 5.7 yards per carry. (NFL)

Against Detroit?

That’s dangerous.

The Lions can pound the football inside, use play action behind it and then create explosive opportunities downfield once Carolina begins committing additional defenders to the box.

Carolina will also be without Xavier Legette and starting guard Damien Lewis. (NFL Fantasy)

The Panthers’ best hope is turning this into a scoring race.

Key to the game

Carolina cannot allow Detroit to dictate the game on the ground. If the Lions regularly create second-and-4, the entire playbook becomes available.

CrossTalk X-Factor: Detroit’s rushing attack

This matchup is begging the Lions to establish the run.

CrossTalk Prediction

Lions 34, Panthers 27

Carolina keeps Sunday Night Football entertaining, but Detroit’s offensive balance becomes too much over four quarters.

CROSSTALK WEEK 4 SUNDAY PICKS

Matchup

CrossTalk Pick

Colts vs. Commanders

Colts 27-20

Titans at Ravens

Ravens 30-16

Patriots at Bills

Bills 30-20

Jets at Bears

Bears 23-17

Jaguars at Bengals

Jaguars 27-24

Cowboys at Texans

Cowboys 24-21

Cardinals at Giants

Giants 23-20

Rams at Eagles

Rams 27-23

Packers at Buccaneers

Packers 20-17

Dolphins at Vikings

Vikings 24-10

Chiefs at Raiders

Chiefs 27-23

Chargers at Seahawks

Seahawks 27-17

Broncos at 49ers

49ers 24-20

Lions at Panthers

Lions 34-27

The Games You Can’t Miss

If you’re picking three games to build Sunday’s viewing schedule around, start with Chiefs-Raiders. Two undefeated AFC West rivals meeting in Las Vegas gives us our first major divisional measuring stick of the season.

Next comes Broncos-49ers. Denver has shown it belongs in the contender conversation, but defeating San Francisco on the road would move the Broncos into an entirely different tier.

And don’t overlook Rams-Eagles. Neither team wants to fall to 1-3 or 2-2 after entering the season with championship expectations, and Philadelphia’s lengthy injury list could make that matchup one of Sunday’s most unpredictable.

Week 4 might be early on the calendar, but the NFL doesn’t wait long to create urgency.

By Sunday night, somebody will be 4-0.

Somebody will be 0-4.

And several teams may wake up Monday morning realizing that what once looked like a slow start has officially become a problem.

Welcome to NFL Sunday.