Our Guide to NFL Week 4: Schedule, Matchup Previews, Injury Report
It’s already Week 4 around the NFL, and the season is starting to take real shape. We’ve seen enough games to begin drawing conclusions about who these teams are, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty as storylines shift week to week.
Injuries continue to pile up, with some teams losing stars for the season, while others navigate nagging issues that limit key players or sideline them for a couple of weeks. That constant churn makes it tough to keep up with what’s happening across all 32 teams.
That’s why we’ve put together this Week 4 preview, to highlight the most important things you should know about every matchup, keep you informed on the latest twists around the league and give you a sharper edge when making decisions in the NFL's betting market this week.
Let’s take a look at each of the 16 matchups taking place during Week 4.
Thursday Night
Cardinals at Seahawks
This is a game that will be very interesting to see unfold, especially with James Conner, the Cardinals' primary running back, set to be out with a significant foot injury. The Cardinals will also be without Zay Jones, who is currently in concussion protocol. It’s important to remember that this game is in Seattle, in front of some of the most passionate fans in the entire NFL. That generally gives the Seahawks one of the biggest home-field advantages in the league, and between the injuries and Seattle being at home, that’s a lot to consider in this game.
Sunday Morning
Vikings vs Steelers
This one is interesting because it’s taking place in Dublin, Ireland, so this game will be happening on Sunday morning, for those in the United States, at 9:30 a.m. ET, as the Vikings and Steelers take the field. These international games are always quirky, just given the time zone change and the difference in scenery and players spending time in these cities, getting acquainted and enjoying themselves ahead of the game. The thing to consider in this game is the Vikings' offensive line being able to protect backup quarterback Sam Darnold against the Steelers' defensive front. It feels like, although this is the case in most games, the battle in the trenches will be the most interesting part of this contest, at least in terms of on-field performance.
Sunday Early Window
Commanders at Falcons
After being shut out last week, the Falcons will look to really turn things around. The second half of games has been troublesome for Atlanta at this point in the season, but last week, it was the entire game that was a problem. In terms of injuries, there’s no shortage here, just like most games in a Week 4 setting. Both Jaden Daniels and Terry McLaurin are primary players to call out. Daniels has been dealing with an injury, and that can hinder a quarterback’s rhythm, so he may be a little rusty if he is able to take the field. McLaurin has a quad injury, and even if he does play, he could be limited. Those factors will weigh heavily in this game.
Saints at Bills
Buffalo is another team with a tremendous home-field advantage, and the line definitely reflects that here. While the Bills are a much better team than the Saints, playing at home doesn’t make it any easier for New Orleans. One interesting wrinkle is that the Saints may be able to take advantage of some of their offensive weapons against the Bills' secondary, which has proven vulnerable to giving up big plays. Still, with Spencer Rattler under center for New Orleans, Buffalo’s defensive front is going to look to speed him up and force turnovers, which could ultimately decide this matchup.
Browns at Lions
After a slow start to the season, the Lions have been phenomenal since their Week 1 loss, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into this game. Funny enough, Cleveland also has momentum after upsetting the Packers last week in a wild end-of-game situation. The Browns had success on the ground with Quinshon Judkins finally joining the team, but if Detroit gets rolling offensively, Cleveland may be forced to lean on its passing attack — and that’s been shaky at times this year. With the Lions’ pass rush being a real strength, this game could end up being dictated by which style of play the Browns are forced into, and that may be the difference.
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This is a game that could either be surprisingly exciting or extremely dull if neither team can get things going. The Panthers looked great offensively last week, but this isn’t a team expected to be high-flying week to week. The Patriots are in a similar boat. They’ve got some interesting pieces, but they’re still in rebuild mode and have been inconsistent all season. New England gets the benefit of playing at home, which always helps, but this feels like one of those games where the field position battle and a couple of timely field goals could be the deciding factor. Don’t be shocked if it ends up being very low-scoring, with one or two touchdowns enough to settle it.
Chargers at Giants
The Chargers are beat up defensively at nearly every level. Khalil Mack is on IR, Denzel Perryman is out at linebacker, Elijah Molden is banged up in the secondary, and several others are less than fully healthy. Even so, the Giants don’t look like a team that should threaten a 3-0 Chargers squad that’s looked like one of the NFL’s best to start the season. What makes this game fascinating is Jaxson Dart, who will be making his first NFL start. That debut could go a couple of ways. Either the Chargers’ defense makes him uncomfortable and he struggles, as expected for a rookie in his first start, or Dart pulls off a shock performance and turns the game on its head.
Eagles at Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have all sorts of questions at wide receiver. Rookie Emeka Egbuka has been terrific so far, but with Chris Godwin missing time -- and only just now nearing a return-- and Mike Evans now out with a hamstring injury, Tampa Bay still won’t be anywhere close to fully healthy at the position. That’s a problem against an Eagles team built on physicality, depth and controlling the clock. Philadelphia can pound the ball with Saquon Barkley, beat you over the top with DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown, and lean on one of the best offensive lines in football. The Bucs may need some magic to pull off an upset, especially with their defense also dealing with injuries.
Titans at Texans
This divisional contest features two teams whose records don’t fully reflect their rosters. The Texans are 0-3, but still considered a contender in the AFC South if they can turn things around. They lost a tough one to Jacksonville last week, and even in their other two games, Houston was competitive. This week, it may simply come down to which offense finally finds rhythm. Neither unit has been sharp this season, but both defenses have had solid stretches. For Houston, the big key is finishing drives — the Texans have struggled to score touchdowns, so if C.J. Stroud and company can finally get into the end zone consistently, they should come out on top.
Jaguars at 49ers
The 49ers have been decimated by injuries this season. Brandon Aiyuk came into the year banged up, George Kittle has been knocked out, Brock Purdy has been sidelined and now superstar pass rusher Nick Bosa has torn his ACL and is out for the year. Even then, San Francisco sits at 3-0, showing how well-coached and resilient this team continues to be. But each week gets tougher as the injuries mount, and Jacksonville has an opportunity here. Coming off a divisional win against Houston, the Jaguars look like legitimate AFC South contenders. This feels like a different Jaguars team than last year, and with San Francisco so depleted, expect Jacksonville to get creative offensively, using their running backs on the ground and testing the 49ers’ pass rush without Bosa.
Sunday Late Window
Ravens at Chiefs
The Chiefs don’t look like the dominant version we’ve grown used to over the years. Patrick Mahomes is still elite and Travis Kelsey remains productive, but Kansas City’s receiving corps has been gutted by Rashee Rice’s suspension and Xavier Worthy’s injury. As a result, this offense has lacked explosiveness and sits at 1-2. The Ravens, meanwhile, are also trying to steady themselves after a tough one-point loss last week against the Buffalo Bills. Both teams are legitimate contenders if healthy, but neither has hit its stride so far in 2025. This one has the makings of a classic QB duel — Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson — and likely comes down to explosive plays and in-game adjustments. Baltimore’s ground game could tilt the balance, especially against a Kansas City team still searching for an offensive identity.
Bears at Raiders
Chicago started the year slowly but shocked Dallas last week with an offensive explosion under head coach Ben Johnson, dialing up creative play calls and putting the Cowboys on their heels. The Bears’ defensive aggression could also play a huge role in this matchup. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has been turnover-prone, and if Chicago forces him into mistakes, it could be the difference. The Bears’ trio of receivers plus the ground game with D’Andre Swift give them enough balance to put pressure on Las Vegas. That said, the Raiders have weapons too and get the advantage of playing at home. This matchup could come down to the turnover battle.
Colts at Rams
The Colts have been unbelievable to start the season with Daniel Jones leading the way, but the Rams have been nearly as impressive. If not for a fluky ending last week against Philadelphia — a blocked game-winning field goal attempt returned for a touchdown — Los Angeles could easily be 3-0 right now and in the conversation as one of the most well-rounded teams in football. Jonathan Taylor remains the centerpiece of Indianapolis’ offense, and if he keeps rolling, the Colts are hard to beat. But the Rams have been one of the most disciplined teams in terms of dictating game flow, and Sean McVay has been excellent this season, per usual. This matchup feels like one where a big turnover or special-teams play could be the deciding factor.
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Packers at Cowboys
Injuries continue to pile up for Dallas, with CeeDee Lamb out due to an ankle injury and two starting offensive linemen also sidelined. The major storyline, though, is Micah Parsons returning to Dallas, where he’ll be ultra-motivated to perform in front of his former fan base. Green Bay, meanwhile, has looked like the much better team, and history favors them — the Packers have consistently dominated games in Dallas in recent years. With the Cowboys depleted and Parsons as the emotional wild card, this has all the makings of another Packers victory.
Monday Night Football
Jets at Dolphins
It’s been a rocky start for both teams, and this divisional battle feels like a must-win for each side. Miami, once viewed as a real contender alongside Buffalo in the AFC East, has stumbled out of the gate. The Jets, meanwhile, are still searching for an identity in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, with Justin Fields dealing with injuries of his own. This game may not be pretty, but it likely comes down to the quarterback play, whether that's Tua Tagovailoa for Miami or one of Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor for New York.
Bengals at Broncos
In a division that is still within reach, the Broncos will hope to secure a win against a severely beat-up Bengals team that’s without Joe Burrow and just got handled last week by the Vikings. Denver has some injury concerns of its own, but with Bo Nix at the helm and the advantage of playing at Mile High, this feels like a game the Broncos need — and should get. Cincinnati has plenty to figure out offensively, and last week even its defense showed cracks. The Bengals have quickly gone from being a contender with Burrow to simply trying to stay afloat for the next couple of months, and this will be a tough road test for them.
As Week 4 plays out, remember that the NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. The narratives that feel set in stone right now can flip in just a couple of weeks, especially with new injuries, surprise performances and momentum swings.
That volatility is what makes this league so unpredictable — and so compelling for bettors looking for an edge. Stay sharp, stay flexible and use the context from this week’s matchups to guide your decisions in the betting market as the season continues to unfold.
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