NEW YORK, United States, October 5, 2026: NFL Week 4 Sunday did considerably more than produce 14 winners and losers. It began separating teams that already know how they want to win from teams running out of time to discover an answer.
Kansas City, Minnesota and San Francisco reached 4-0 through three completely different routes. The Chiefs needed Kenneth Walker III to take over a fourth quarter in Las Vegas. Minnesota scored no touchdowns and still beat Miami because Will Reichard went 5-for-5 on field goals and the defense did the rest. San Francisco stayed unbeaten by playing cleaner football than Denver and finding George Kittle when the Broncos threatened a comeback.
At the other end, Houston, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Miami and the Los Angeles Chargers all fell to 0-4. Their records look identical. Their problems do not.
CeeDee Lamb produced one of the finest receiving games of the season. Tetairoa McMillan made Carolina’s upset of Detroit feel sustainable rather than accidental. Drake Maye led New England past previously unbeaten Buffalo. Deonte Banks turned a fourth-and-goal into a 98-yard touchdown. Jonathan Taylor rewrote the NFL’s international record book. T.J. Hockenson chose the clock over his own touchdown opportunity in one of Sunday’s smartest plays.
Story at a glance
What Did NFL Week 4 Sunday Actually Change?
The cleanest way to understand Sunday is through the teams at the edges.
How Did CeeDee Lamb Rescue Dallas Against Houston?
Houston had every reason to believe its first victory was coming.
Why Was Carolina’s Win Over Detroit More Than an Upset?
Detroit gained 452 yards. Jared Goff threw for 412. The Lions committed no turnovers.
How Did Kenneth Walker Change Chiefs-Raiders?
The Chiefs trailed Las Vegas 19-17 midway through the fourth quarter.
How Did New England Hand Buffalo Its First Loss?
Buffalo took a 26-21 lead when Josh Allen found Keon Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown with 4:33 remaining.
There were also consequences that will carry well beyond Sunday. Lamar Jackson left Baltimore’s win with an ankle injury. Ja’Marr Chase suffered a concussion. Saquon Barkley exited Philadelphia’s defeat with a hamstring problem. Green Bay won but may have lost Edgerrin Cooper for the season.
The complete results were checked against the official NFL Week 4 schedule. Week 4 itself is not finished, with Atlanta and New Orleans still scheduled for Monday Night Football.
The developments fit a season that has already refused to follow a simple hierarchy. TSE’s NFL 2026 season curtain-raiser anticipated a championship race disrupted by quarterback changes, injuries and major roster movement. The Week 1 consolidated analysis and Week 2 report then showed how quickly those offseason theories were being tested.
NFL Week 4 Sunday Results at a Glance
| Game | Final Score | Defining Story |
|---|---|---|
| Colts at Commanders | Indianapolis 30, Washington 13 | Jonathan Taylor scores twice and makes international-game history |
| Titans at Ravens | Baltimore 24, Tennessee 18 | Ravens survive after Lamar Jackson exits with an ankle injury |
| Patriots at Bills | New England 29, Buffalo 26 | Drake Maye engineers a late comeback to hand Buffalo its first loss |
| Jets at Bears | Chicago 23, New York 12 | Kyle Monangai rushes for 146 yards as Chicago wins with a third starting QB |
| Jaguars at Bengals | Jacksonville 22, Cincinnati 17 | Two Joe Burrow interceptions and a fourth-down stop lift Jacksonville |
| Cowboys at Texans | Dallas 34, Houston 30 | CeeDee Lamb’s 17th catch becomes the game-winning touchdown |
| Cardinals at Giants | New York 36, Arizona 24 | Deonte Banks seals the game with a 98-yard interception return |
| Rams at Eagles | Los Angeles 24, Philadelphia 20 | Kyren Williams scores twice in the fourth quarter as the Rams erase a 10-point deficit |
| Packers at Buccaneers | Green Bay 17, Tampa Bay 14 | Green Bay survives rookie Jalon Daniels but loses Edgerrin Cooper to injury |
| Dolphins at Vikings | Minnesota 15, Miami 10 | Will Reichard supplies every Minnesota point with five field goals |
| Chiefs at Raiders | Kansas City 30, Las Vegas 27 | Kenneth Walker III explodes for a career-high 177 rushing yards |
| Chargers at Seahawks | Seattle 30, Los Angeles 23 | Seattle’s defense creates four takeaways and seals the game with a strip-sack |
| Broncos at 49ers | San Francisco 24, Denver 14 | George Kittle’s 56-yard touchdown closes the door on Denver |
| Lions at Panthers | Carolina 32, Detroit 26 | Tetairoa McMillan catches 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns |
What Did NFL Week 4 Sunday Actually Change?
The cleanest way to understand Sunday is through the teams at the edges.
Kansas City, Minnesota and San Francisco are 4-0. Houston, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Miami and the Chargers are 0-4.
That does not mean the three undefeated teams are equally convincing or the five winless teams are equally broken.
Kansas City’s offense has developed a running game capable of changing what opponents can ask Patrick Mahomes to beat. Minnesota has demonstrated that its defense and special teams can carry a day when the offense never reaches the end zone. San Francisco has shown an ability to control games without asking Brock Purdy to manufacture every decisive play.
The winless group is far less stable. Houston’s offense can generate explosive passing numbers but has failed to turn them into wins. Tennessee continues to fall behind too early. Tampa Bay is now leaning on an undrafted rookie quarterback. Miami has failed to generate enough sustained offense. The Chargers keep giving opponents extra possessions.
Week 4 therefore produced something more useful than a power ranking. It exposed which early-season identities survive uncomfortable games.
Who Were the Best NFL Players on Sunday?
| Player | Team | Performance | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|---|
| CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | 17 receptions, 189 yards, 1 TD | His career-high 17th catch was the winning touchdown with 43 seconds left |
| Tetairoa McMillan | Carolina Panthers | 14 receptions, 192 yards, 2 TD | Produced a career game against a Detroit team that generated 452 yards itself |
| Kenneth Walker III | Kansas City Chiefs | 22 carries, 177 yards, 2 TD | Career-high rushing total powered Kansas City’s fourth-quarter takeover |
| Drake Maye | New England Patriots | 269 passing yards, 3 TD; 54 rushing yards | Led the late drive that turned Buffalo’s 26-21 lead into a Patriots victory |
| Kyle Monangai | Chicago Bears | 30 carries, 146 yards, 2 TD | Gave Chicago control while Tyson Bagent became the Bears’ third winning starting QB |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | 95 rushing yards, 2 TD | Became the NFL’s international-game leader in rushing yards and touchdowns |
| T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota Vikings | 13 receptions, 119 yards | Tied his career high in catches and made the smartest clock-management play of the day |
| Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers | 122 rushing yards, 2 TD | Forced Detroit to respect the run while McMillan attacked through the air |
| Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams | 80 rushing yards, 2 TD; 10 receptions | Scored both Rams touchdowns in a 14-0 fourth quarter |
| Zay Flowers | Baltimore Ravens | 8 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD | Helped Baltimore build enough cushion to survive Jackson’s second-half absence |
How Did CeeDee Lamb Rescue Dallas Against Houston?
Houston had every reason to believe its first victory was coming.
C.J. Stroud threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Nico Collins caught seven passes for 118 yards and both scoring throws. Woody Marks’ six-yard touchdown run put Houston ahead 30-27 with 2:26 remaining.
Dallas needed a touchdown.
Dak Prescott drove the Cowboys downfield and found Lamb from 12 yards with 43 seconds left.
It was Lamb’s 17th reception of the game, completing a career-high 17-catch, 189-yard performance. Prescott finished with 335 passing yards, while Javonte Williams scored three rushing touchdowns.
The result matters in two directions. Dallas returned to 2-2 after the dramatic defeat to Baltimore that helped produce the record audience examined in TSE’s Ravens-Cowboys Rio analysis. Houston dropped to 0-4 despite producing 397 yards and averaging 7.6 yards per play.
The Texans’ 13 penalties for 90 yards tell part of the story. Houston has enough offensive talent to compete. It has not played enough complete football to win.
Why Was Carolina’s Win Over Detroit More Than an Upset?
Detroit gained 452 yards. Jared Goff threw for 412. The Lions committed no turnovers.
They still lost.
That is what makes Carolina’s 32-26 win one of Sunday’s most revealing results.
Bryce Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Both went to Tetairoa McMillan, whose 14 catches and 192 receiving yards represented career highs. Hubbard added 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Carolina therefore made Detroit defend the entire field.
McMillan’s late sideline reception while keeping his feet in bounds was the type of play that turns a strong statistical performance into a winning one. Detroit had enough time to make another run, but Carolina’s defense produced the final stop.
The Panthers are only 2-2, yet they enter their Week 5 bye with a far more convincing offensive identity than their record might suggest.
Detroit also sits at 2-2. The concern is obvious. An offense capable of generating more than 450 yards should not need near-perfection every week because the defense cannot consistently get off the field.
How Did Kenneth Walker Change Chiefs-Raiders?
The Chiefs trailed Las Vegas 19-17 midway through the fourth quarter.
Then Walker changed the game.
He scored from two yards to put Kansas City ahead, then broke a 22-yard touchdown run minutes later. Earlier, he had ripped off a 76-yard gain.
Walker finished with a career-high 177 rushing yards on 22 attempts and two touchdowns.
His development has become one of the defining stories of Kansas City’s 4-0 start. In Week 1, he rushed for 173 yards as TSE explained in our analysis of his Chiefs debut against Denver.
Four weeks later, the larger consequence is becoming clear. Mahomes does not have to create every answer himself.
Las Vegas nearly stole the game back. Kirk Cousins threw a late touchdown to Brock Bowers and converted the two-point attempt, then drove the Raiders toward a possible tying score before rookie Xavier Nwankpa recorded his first career interception with 10 seconds remaining.
Kansas City gets a Week 5 bye at 4-0. Las Vegas falls to 3-1 and heads to New England for a game that now carries more weight in the AFC picture.
How Did New England Hand Buffalo Its First Loss?
Buffalo took a 26-21 lead when Josh Allen found Keon Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown with 4:33 remaining.
Drake Maye answered.
His 23-yard touchdown pass to Efton Chism with 1:55 left restored New England’s lead, and a successful two-point pass to Rhamondre Stevenson made it 29-26.
Buffalo still had time. The Patriots’ defense did not allow the final drive to become another Allen rescue act.
Maye finished with three touchdown passes and 54 rushing yards. Romeo Doubs caught two of those scores. Coleman was excellent for Buffalo with six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.
The Bills fall to 3-1 after beginning the season with the explosive offense highlighted in TSE’s report on Josh Allen’s five-touchdown performance against Detroit.
New England’s 2-2 record now looks more competitive than it did after opening the season with a loss to Seattle.
How Did the Rams Turn Philadelphia’s 20-10 Lead Into a Win?
Philadelphia entered the fourth quarter ahead 20-10.
Los Angeles left with a 24-20 victory.
Kyren Williams scored from one yard with 4:02 remaining and then from seven yards with 1:17 left. The Rams defense closed the door when Philadelphia tried to answer.
Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions, so this was hardly a clean offensive performance. Puka Nacua still generated 125 receiving yards and scored on the ground, while Williams added 10 receptions to his two rushing touchdowns.
Philadelphia’s bigger concern is how little offense it produced. Jalen Hurts threw for only 93 yards. The Eagles finished with 172 total yards.
Saquon Barkley’s hamstring injury deepens the uncertainty ahead of the London game against Jacksonville.
What Did Baltimore Learn After Lamar Jackson Went Down?
Baltimore was leading Tennessee 24-7 when Jackson’s day ended because of an ankle injury.
That cushion became crucial.
Jackson had completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Zay Flowers caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Derrick Henry scored the opening touchdown.
Tyler Huntley took over in the second half, and Baltimore did not score again.
Tennessee closed to 24-18 late, but the Ravens recovered the onside kick and escaped at 3-1.
The most spectacular individual moment came from kicker Tyler Loop, whose 64-yard field goal was the longest of his career. Baltimore now heads toward Sunday Night Football in Atlanta with Jackson’s ankle as the dominant issue.
That is particularly significant because the Ravens have already played several high-leverage games, including the dramatic Dallas victory explored in TSE’s recent Rio viewership analysis.
Why Are the Bears 3-1 Despite Their Quarterback Disruption?
Chicago has already won games started by three different quarterbacks.
Caleb Williams did it in Week 1. Case Keenum did it in Week 3. Tyson Bagent joined them Sunday.
The reason Chicago could survive another change was Kyle Monangai.
He carried 30 times for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-12 win over the Jets. Chicago outgained New York 492-157, produced 34 first downs to seven and possessed the football for 42:45.
The Jets did finally end one extraordinary drought. Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Bagent, New York’s first interception in 20 games and its first since the end of the 2024 season.
It was a milestone wrapped inside another frustrating defeat.
Chicago’s next game, at Green Bay, offers the strongest test yet of whether this quarterback-proof structure is sustainable.
Why Does Jacksonville’s 3-1 Start Look Increasingly Legitimate?
The Jaguars did not beat Cincinnati through Trevor Lawrence fireworks.
They won through timely defense.
Jacksonville intercepted Joe Burrow twice. Foyesade Oluokun’s fourth-quarter interception inside the Jaguars’ own red zone preserved a six-point lead. On Cincinnati’s final possession, Burrow completed a fourth-and-10 pass to Chase Brown, but Rayuan Lane stopped Brown one yard short of the first-down marker.
Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Burrow threw for 428 yards, but the two turnovers mattered more than the volume.
Jacksonville is now 3-1 and has won two consecutive games against strong AFC opposition. Philadelphia awaits in London.
Cincinnati drops to 2-2 and may have to prepare for Miami without Ja’Marr Chase after the receiver left Sunday’s game with a concussion.
How Did Deonte Banks Turn Arizona’s Final Chance Into a Giants Touchdown?
Arizona reached fourth-and-goal with a chance to tie the game late.
Banks turned that opportunity into one of the most dramatic plays of Week 4.
He intercepted Jacoby Brissett near the Giants’ goal line and ran 98 yards for a touchdown as time expired, producing the final 36-24 score.
Jameis Winston had already supplied the full range of his quarterback experience, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns alongside two interceptions. Malik Nabers caught six passes for 112 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
The Giants are 3-1 and, after Sunday’s games, sit atop the NFC East.
They travel to Washington in Week 5 against a Commanders team now dealing with uncertainty at quarterback.
What Made Jonathan Taylor’s London Performance Historic?
Indianapolis did not begin well against Washington.
Daniel Jones committed two turnovers, and the Colts initially struggled to settle into the game.
Taylor changed the rhythm.
He rushed for 95 yards and scored twice in the 30-13 victory. Those touchdowns took him to six in international games, while his career international rushing total reached 408 yards.
Both are NFL records.
The performance gives Indianapolis a 2-2 record and another reason to keep the offense centered around Taylor while the passing game searches for greater consistency.
Washington’s problems are more immediate. Marcus Mariota, already starting for the injured Jayden Daniels, suffered a knee injury and was replaced by rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.
How Did Minnesota Reach 4-0 Without Scoring a Touchdown?
Will Reichard scored every Minnesota point.
Five field goals. Five makes. Fifteen points.
That was enough for a 15-10 victory over Miami.
The more interesting play came from Hockenson. After catching his 13th pass and reaching Miami’s two-yard line late in the game, he slid instead of trying to score. Miami was out of timeouts, so the decision allowed Minnesota to run out the clock.
Hockenson finished with 119 yards and tied his career high for receptions.
It was a simple example of situational football winning over individual statistics.
Minnesota is 4-0 despite playing Sunday without Justin Jefferson. Miami is 0-4 and now has to face Cincinnati with its margin for error already close to disappearing.
What Did Seattle’s Defense Do When the Chargers Threatened a Comeback?
Seattle allowed a 21-point advantage to become a one-score game.
Then the pass rush ended the argument.
Uchenna Nwosu sacked Justin Herbert and forced a fumble that Derick Hall recovered, allowing Seattle to close out a 30-23 victory.
The Seahawks finished with four takeaways, including two interceptions of Herbert.
Seattle’s defense was not clean. The Seahawks accumulated 14 penalties for 150 yards. That will become far more dangerous against San Francisco next week.
At 3-1, however, Seattle has again demonstrated the situational resilience that TSE identified early in the season.
The Chargers fall to 0-4 and host Denver next. Herbert’s talent remains obvious. Protecting the football and protecting the quarterback have become much harder to ignore.
How Did San Francisco Stay Perfect Against Denver?
Denver briefly cut the deficit to three points in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco immediately found the knockout play.
Brock Purdy hit Kittle for a 56-yard touchdown with 2:25 remaining, restoring a 10-point advantage and finishing a 24-14 victory.
Purdy completed 19 of 30 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Christian McCaffrey scored on the ground. San Francisco committed only one penalty for five yards.
That discipline is part of why the 49ers are 4-0.
Their Week 5 trip to Seattle is one of the most important games on the upcoming schedule. The Seahawks are 3-1, and the winner will gain an early advantage in an NFC West race TSE identified as important before the season began.
Can Green Bay Feel Good About Beating Tampa Bay?
Only to a point.
The Packers won 17-14. Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes. The defense made the late plays necessary to stop Tampa Bay’s final possession.
The larger story may be what Green Bay lost.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper suffered an Achilles injury, and coach Matt LaFleur said afterward that he feared Cooper would miss the remainder of the season.
Tampa Bay also discovered something useful in defeat. Jalon Daniels became the first undrafted rookie quarterback ever to start a game for the Buccaneers. He threw for 148 yards and a touchdown, added 55 rushing yards and showed enough composure that Tampa Bay immediately confirmed he will start again Thursday in Dallas while Baker Mayfield remains unavailable.
The Buccaneers are 0-4 for the first time since 2013.
Green Bay moves to 2-2 after its difficult Week 3 loss to Atlanta, which TSE examined in our Falcons-Packers analysis.
Continue the NFL Story
Which Teams and Players Produced Sunday’s Biggest Milestones?
| Player or Team | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Taylor | Became the NFL’s all-time international-game leader in rushing yards and touchdowns |
| CeeDee Lamb | Set a career high with 17 receptions |
| Tetairoa McMillan | Set career highs with 192 receiving yards and two touchdowns |
| Kenneth Walker III | Set a career high with 177 rushing yards |
| T.J. Hockenson | Tied his career high with 13 receptions |
| Deonte Banks | Produced a 98-yard game-sealing pick-six |
| Jalon Daniels | Became the first undrafted rookie quarterback to start for Tampa Bay |
| New York Jets | Recorded their first interception in 20 games |
| Chicago Bears | Won with a third different starting quarterback in the opening four weeks |
| Chiefs, Vikings and 49ers | All improved to 4-0 |
What Were the Most Inspirational Plays of NFL Sunday?
T.J. Hockenson Chose Victory Formation Over a Touchdown
Hockenson could have tried to reach the end zone after his 13th reception. He slid at the Miami two-yard line because the game situation mattered more than the personal statistic. With Miami out of timeouts, Minnesota could kneel out the remaining time.
Efton Chism Answered Buffalo’s Go-Ahead Touchdown
Buffalo had taken the lead with fewer than five minutes remaining. Chism’s 23-yard touchdown catch with 1:55 left gave New England the response it needed in one of Sunday’s highest-pressure moments.
Deonte Banks Turned Defense Into the Final Score
The Cardinals were threatening to tie the Giants. Banks did not simply prevent the touchdown. He traveled the length of the field in the opposite direction and ended the game himself.
Jonathan Taylor Carried Indianapolis Out of an Ugly Start
The Colts were not playing well early in London. Taylor gave the offense a dependable route back into the game and left with two NFL international records.
Who Were the Biggest Disappointments of NFL Week 4 Sunday?
Houston Texans: 0-4 Despite Another Productive Passing Day
Stroud threw for 347 yards. Collins exceeded 100 receiving yards. Houston led with 2:26 remaining.
The Texans still lost.
Thirteen penalties, defensive breakdowns on the decisive drive and another game without a winning finish leave Houston facing Tennessee in Week 5 with both teams desperate for their first victory.
Philadelphia Eagles Offense: 172 Yards Was Not Enough
Philadelphia held a 10-point fourth-quarter lead while producing very little sustainable offense.
Hurts finished with 93 passing yards, and Barkley’s hamstring injury now adds another variable before the Eagles travel to London.
Los Angeles Chargers: Four Games, Four Losses
The Chargers had an opportunity to complete the comeback in Seattle. Herbert’s late strip-sack ended it.
Los Angeles is 0-4 and now faces Denver in a divisional game where another defeat would deepen an already severe hole.
Miami Dolphins: No Offensive Answer for Minnesota’s Defense
Minnesota never scored a touchdown.
That should have created an opening for Miami.
Instead, the Dolphins fell to 0-4 because they could not generate enough possessions or points to punish the Vikings for settling for five field goals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Encouragement at Quarterback, Crisis in the Standings
Daniels gave Tampa Bay reasons for optimism.
The standings do not.
The Buccaneers are 0-4 and face a four-day turnaround before playing Dallas.
What Injuries Could Change the Week 5 Picture?
Jackson’s ankle is the most important quarterback situation to monitor. Baltimore is 3-1 and travels to Atlanta for Sunday Night Football, but its offensive ceiling changes significantly if Huntley has to start.
Cincinnati must monitor Chase’s concussion before facing Miami. Philadelphia has Barkley’s hamstring issue before its London game. Green Bay appears likely to be without Cooper for a prolonged period after his Achilles injury.
Washington’s quarterback depth has been hit again after Mariota injured his knee while replacing Daniels.
The Chiefs also left Las Vegas with concerns around their receiving group after Tyquan Thornton was injured during a game in which he caught five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
The NFL’s official Week 4 Sunday analysis provides additional game-by-game context.
What Should Every Winner and Loser Watch in Week 5?
The official NFL Week 5 schedule immediately creates several tests for the stories Sunday produced.
| Week 5 Matchup | What It Means After Sunday |
|---|---|
| Buccaneers at Cowboys | Dallas can build momentum; 0-4 Tampa gets almost no recovery time before Jalon Daniels starts again |
| Eagles at Jaguars, London | Jacksonville can turn 3-1 into genuine AFC contender status; Philadelphia must repair an offense that produced 172 yards |
| Bengals at Dolphins | Cincinnati needs to respond from consecutive losses; Miami is trying to avoid 0-5 |
| Raiders at Patriots | Las Vegas must respond after its first loss; New England can move above .500 |
| Vikings at Saints | Minnesota takes its 4-0 record on the road after winning without an offensive touchdown |
| Browns at Jets | The Jets need more than the end of their interception drought to turn 1-3 into a recovery |
| Colts at Steelers | Indianapolis needs its passing game to complement Taylor against a tougher defensive test |
| Texans at Titans | Two 0-4 teams meet, creating the week’s clearest desperation game |
| Giants at Commanders | New York can strengthen its NFC East position while Washington waits on its quarterback situation |
| Broncos at Chargers | Denver needs more offensive consistency; the Chargers cannot afford another turnover-heavy defeat |
| Lions at Cardinals | Detroit must prevent another strong offensive output from being wasted by defensive problems |
| Bears at Packers | Chicago’s 3-1 start receives its biggest divisional test; Green Bay must compensate for Cooper’s expected absence |
| 49ers at Seahawks | A 4-0 team visits a 3-1 division rival in one of Week 5’s most revealing games |
| Ravens at Falcons | Jackson’s ankle could reshape Sunday Night Football |
| Bills at Rams | Buffalo must answer its first loss while the Rams try to build on a fourth-quarter comeback |
Kansas City and Carolina are on bye.
What Does NFL Week 4 Tell Us About the 2026 Season?
Four weeks are enough to identify tendencies without confusing them for final verdicts.
Kansas City has built a running game around Walker that changes how defenses can approach Mahomes. Minnesota can win through defense and special teams when its offense stalls. San Francisco has been consistently efficient and disciplined. Seattle and Jacksonville have defenses capable of creating decisive possessions. Chicago has demonstrated unusual resilience at quarterback. The Giants are finding late-game answers.
The other side of the picture is becoming harder to dismiss.
Houston, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Miami and the Chargers are all 0-4. Each has enough season remaining to recover mathematically. None has enough time to continue repeating the same mistakes.
TSE’s Week 2 analysis argued that September was beginning to separate offseason plans that functioned under pressure from those that did not.
Week 4 moved that process forward.
The NFL still has months left to scramble the picture. Sunday’s games showed which teams already possess multiple ways to survive that uncertainty.
NFL Week 4 Sunday FAQs
Which NFL teams are still 4-0 after Sunday’s Week 4 games?
The Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers are all 4-0 after winning Sunday.
Which NFL teams fell to 0-4?
The Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers all finished Sunday at 0-4.
Who had the best receiving performance of NFL Week 4 Sunday?
Tetairoa McMillan produced the most receiving yards with 192 on 14 catches and scored twice for Carolina. CeeDee Lamb caught a remarkable 17 passes for 189 yards and scored Dallas’ late winning touchdown.
Who had the best rushing performance on Sunday?
Kenneth Walker III rushed for a career-high 177 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries for Kansas City.
What record did Jonathan Taylor break in London?
Taylor became the NFL’s all-time leader in both rushing yards and touchdowns in international regular-season games. He now has 408 international rushing yards and six touchdowns.
What happened to Lamar Jackson?
Jackson suffered an ankle injury during Baltimore’s victory over Tennessee and did not return after halftime. Initial reporting indicated that he was considered day to day.
Why did T.J. Hockenson slide instead of trying to score?
Miami had no timeouts remaining. By sliding at the two-yard line after securing a first down, Hockenson allowed Minnesota to run out the clock rather than give Miami another possession.
What is the biggest Week 5 game after Sunday’s results?
San Francisco at Seattle is one of the strongest candidates. The 49ers are 4-0, the Seahawks are 3-1, and the result will have immediate consequences for the NFC West. Houston at Tennessee is equally important at the opposite end of the standings because both teams enter 0-4.
NFL 2026
- Chiefs, Vikings, 49ers Stay Perfect in Week 4 of NFL 2026 as Lamb, McMillan and Walker Steal the Limelight
- Bijan Robinson Turns Penix’s Return Into a Falcons Reset as Packers Collapse 35-14 at Lambeau
- NFL 2026 After Two Weeks: Who Is for Real, Who Is in Trouble and What Week 3 Will Reveal
- NFL 2026: Mahomes Survives Overtime, Dak Makes History and Seahawks Send Another Warning
- NFL 2026: Josh Allen Scores Five Touchdowns at New Highmark Stadium as Bills Down Lions 41-31
