NFL Week 4 schedule, predictions and more
After three weeks of the NFL season, things are starting to take shape. But there’s still a lot of games to be played.
Video above: The Patriots did not come ready to play against Jacksonville
There are five teams still unbeaten: Bills, Vikings, Chiefs, Raiders and 49ers; and five teams still searching for their first win: Titans, Texans, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Chargers.
Something has to give this week with the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders squaring off in a meeting of the unbeatens.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead this week, with predictions by Matthew Peaslee of the Hearst National Team. Peaslee went 8-8 in his Week 3 predictions and sits at 29-19 on the year.
All game times are in Eastern Standard Time.
Thursday, Oct. 1
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-1), 8:15 p.m.
The rivalry is being renewed, and it couldn’t come at a better time for the home-standing Browns. The Browns have won two straight games in the past two weeks and three of the last five meetings against the Steelers. The overall series is led by Pittsburgh, 83-65-1. The teams come into this matchup with identical records and similar offenses that have yet to impress so far. Pittsburgh likely pulls out a low-scoring win.
Prediction: Steelers 13, Browns 10
Sunday, Oct. 4
Indianapolis Colts (1-2) vs. Washington Commanders (1-2), 9:30 a.m.
Jeff Roberson
Indianapolis Colts& Laquon Treadwell (13) celebrates with teammates after the Colts beat the Houston Texans in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis.
It’ll be an early wake-up call Sunday as this one kicks off in London, England. Whoever can score first has the easiest path to victory, as both defenses have struggled in the first three weeks. Marcus Mariota has a chance to expand his game on the international stage after throwing for three touchdowns last week. Look for him to replicate that performance against the Colts.
Prediction: Commanders 38, Colts 33
Tennessee Titans (0-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (2-1), 1 p.m.
Robert Saleh won a Super Bowl as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. He hasn’t done much winning as the head coach of NFL football teams. He’s 0-3 in his first three weeks with Tennessee and he never had a winning record when leading the New York Jets in four seasons. It’s probably too early to pull the plug, but another loss is on the horizon and things look bleak the rest of the season.
Prediction: Ravens 40, Titans 13
New England Patriots (1-2) vs. Buffalo Bills (3-0), 1 p.m.
Two of the most dominant teams in the AFC East meet up to see who has the fast track to a division crown. In a quarterback duel between Drake Maye and Josh Allen, the Bills’ signal caller has the upper hand. But the Patriots can unleash a strong running attack to take some pressure off Maye, who hasn’t performed as well as he did last year. This game comes down to the defenses and Greg Rousseau is Buffalo’s standout defensive end who is an early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year. Forcing a turnover will turn the tide in a close game.
Prediction: Bills 28, Patriots 24
New York Jets (1-2) vs. Chicago Bears (2-1), 1 p.m.
Case Keenum, 38, stole the headlines across the league last week with an epic performance and locker room speech. Keenum and Tyson Bagent both have played this year with Caleb Williams out and they both have proven to be capable replacements. The Bears defense has improved from week to week, making this one of the NFC’s most balanced teams.
Prediction: Bears 24, Jets 10
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1), 1 p.m.
The Jaguars dominated the Patriots last week and the Bengals just couldn’t pull it out in Pittsburgh. Joe Burrow won’t have that at home and despite Trevor Lawrence’s best efforts, it won’t be enough to knock off the Bengals. Ja’Marr Chase has too much firepower, despite Jacksonville having one of the AFC’s best defenses.
Prediction: Bengals 38, Jaguars 33
Dallas Cowboys (1-2) vs. Houston Texans (0-3), 1 p.m.
Deep in the heart of Texas, two teams are looking to avoid the basement. The Texans have lost all three games and they were even the favorites in two of them. This isn’t the start that was expected in Houston, but there’s plenty of time to turn things around — starting this week. Dak Prescott has been performing well enough for the Cowboys to be better than 1-2, it’s the defense that has dropped the games thus far. C.J. Stroud is due for a better game than he’s had so far and if Nico Collins makes his first appearance this week, that should be enough for a Houston win.
Prediction: Texans 22, Cowboys 17
Arizona Cardinals (1-2) vs. New York Giants (2-1), 1 p.m.
The Giants made the biggest move of the week, acquiring former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. Jameis Winston is still the starter, though, but bringing in McCarthy gives New York more options and shows the Giants aren’t giving up on this season. While the Cardinals may be better than their record indicated with Jacoby Brissett playing well at quarterback, the Giants can do something special and start 3-0 at home.
Prediction: Giants 28, Cardinals 24
Los Angeles Rams (1-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1), 1 p.m.
The Rams and Eagles are both looking to bounce back from primetime losses when they meet up on Sunday afternoon. The Los Angeles defense blew a huge second-half lead to the Broncos, and the Eagles were dominated by the Bears. If the Rams are true Super Bowl contenders, like they were predicted to be in the offseason, they need to pull off this road win. Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams are keeping things going on offense to make up for the defense’s disappointing start.
Prediction: Rams 36, Eagles 28
Green Bay Packers (1-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3), 1 p.m.
Abbie Parr
Atlanta Falcons’ Cameron Thomas stops Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love on a run during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Baker Mayfield is out and Jalon Daniels is in at quarterback for the Buccaneers. The Packers also have a sizable list of injured players, and Josh Jacobs is still out on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Green Bay has enough left in the tank to prove it can still hang atop the NFC North, and it’ll help get things back on track with a road win here in Week 4. Jordan Love needs to throw the ball better, but he will still be the best offensive player on the field in Tampa.
Prediction: Packers 30, Buccaneers 24
Miami Dolphins (0-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (3-0), 4:05 p.m.
Video below: Antonio Brown’s plea deal hearing delayed
Kyler Murray is sparking the Vikings’ offense, and Jordan Addison is helping his cause. The Vikings are equally strong on defense, leading the NFL with 14 sacks. It’ll be a long day for Miami quarterback Malik Willis — and a long season for the Dolphins, who could be the first 0-17 team in history (the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2016 Cleveland Browns both went 0-16).
Prediction: Vikings 44, Dolphins 13
Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (3-0), 4:25 p.m.
This should be the most anticipated matchup of the weekend. The Chiefs are the Chiefs, as per usual and the Raiders can prove they are for real with a statement-making victory. A fourth win would surpass the Las Vegas win total of 2025. Brock Bowers has burst onto the scene and is turning into a top tight end and one of Kirk Cousins’ favorite targets. But is he the next Travis Kelce? He and his Raiders can prove the doubters wrong this week. The Raiders lead the NFL with nine takeaways, giving the up-and-coming offense more chances.
Prediction: Raiders 27, Chiefs 24
Los Angeles Chargers (0-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-1), 4:25 p.m.
Don’t worry, Dolphins, the Chargers will soon join you on the losing streak. The Seahawks are heavily favored, just like the Vikings are, against their winless opponent. Seattle can’t face an upset like they did last week against Washington. The offense for the Chargers just hasn’t clicked with Justin Herbert at quarterback and Mike McDaniel at offensive coordinator. Drew Lock has shown he is the right man for the job at quarterback for the Seahawks and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is always helping his case.
Prediction: Seahawks 38, Chargers 17
Denver Broncos (2-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-0), 4:25 p.m.
Kelley L. Cox
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy walks on the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
The 49ers have the league’s best offense, but they have yet to play a team as talented as the Broncos. However, their defense is suspect and the offense rallied last week. Denver had arguably the best win last week and will be riding that high into Northern California. Key injuries to Nick Bosa and Mike Evans may slow down the 49ers, while the Broncos’ Jaylen Waddle is proving himself to be a star.
Prediction: Broncos 30, 49ers 28
Detroit Lions (2-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (1-2), 8:20 p.m.
Detroit has a great offense and a suspect defense. Carolina has a string of injuries that may slow it down in front of a big night crowd. The Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs is the favorite to win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, and he should keep that up this week while the Panthers’ offense has cooled down from its hot start in Week 1.
Prediction: Lions 27, Panthers 21
Monday, Oct. 5
Atlanta Falcons (1-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (1-2), 8:15 p.m.
If the Saints didn’t turn the ball over, they could be 3-0. Their offense is further hampered this week with injuries to lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. and running back Travis Etienne Jr. The Falcons need Michael Penix Jr. to play better, and he will this week. Bijan Robinson can also carry the load and start to turn things around before the season slips away.
Prediction: Falcons 24, Saints 14
