Week 4 gave us the first real separation of the 2026 season. Kansas City and San Francisco reached 4-0 with victories over legitimate opponents, Minnesota remained perfect by winning another defensive rock fight and Seattle responded to its first loss by handling the Chargers. Buffalo, meanwhile, surrendered the top spot by losing at home to a New England team that had been beaten by 29 points one week earlier. The NFL remains committed to making certainty look stupid.
The middle of the league became even more chaotic. Jacksonville won its third straight game, Chicago earned a second consecutive victory with a different backup quarterback, Cleveland took control of the AFC North and the Giants improved to 3-1 by scoring 36 points. The Rams climbed out of a 10-point fourth-quarter hole in Philadelphia, while Carolina supplied Sunday night’s biggest surprise by hanging 32 points on Detroit.
Atlanta finished the week by crushing New Orleans 45-24 on Monday night, rushing for 205 yards and five touchdowns while turning the Superdome’s emotional anniversary celebration into a three-hour evacuation drill.
Philadelphia then followed its second straight loss with an even worse week: Lane Johnson retired and the Eagles traded Cam Jurgens to Baltimore. Week 5 brings San Francisco-Seattle for control of the NFC West, Philadelphia-Jacksonville in London and Buffalo-Los Angeles on Monday night, because apparently the schedule would like several fan bases to begin experiencing chest pain before Halloween.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
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Kansas City scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to escape Las Vegas with a 30-27 win and improve to 4-0. Patrick Mahomes threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III ran for 177 yards and two scores, and the Chiefs survived a Raiders offense that led 13-10 entering the final quarter.
Kansas City has a Week 5 bye, giving an undefeated team time to rest after taking control of the AFC West. The rest of the conference gets one peaceful Sunday before Mahomes returns, which is roughly as generous as the Chiefs ever get.
2. San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco improved to 4-0 with a 24-14 win over Denver, scoring 14 fourth-quarter points to separate from a physical Broncos team. The 49ers did not dominate every minute, but they controlled the decisive moments and became one of only two remaining undefeated teams in the NFC.
The 49ers visit Seattle with first place in the NFC West and the league’s most important early-season tiebreaker on the line. San Francisco can establish clear ownership of the division, assuming the electrical substation beside Levi’s Stadium does not claim three more starters before the flight leaves.
3. Minnesota Vikings
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Minnesota improved to 4-0 by beating Miami 15-10 without scoring a touchdown. Will Reichard supplied all 15 points with five field goals, while the defense again dragged an inconsistent offense across the finish line and prevented the Dolphins from completing a late upset.
The Vikings visit New Orleans in Week 5 with an opportunity to remain perfect and keep pace for the NFC’s top seed. Winning without touchdowns is a wonderful party trick, but Minnesota should eventually confirm that the end zone is still part of the field.
4. Seattle Seahawks
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Seattle rebounded from its turnover-filled loss in Washington by beating the Chargers 30-23 at home. The Seahawks leaned on their ground game, pressured Justin Herbert and built enough of a lead through three quarters to survive a scoreless fourth.
San Francisco visits Lumen Field for a heavyweight fight that will decide control of the NFC West. A Seattle win would erase the Washington stumble; a loss would leave the defending champions chasing the same 49ers team that apparently treats healthy players as an optional luxury.
5. Buffalo Bills
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Buffalo suffered its first loss in the new stadium, falling 29-26 to New England on a late score. The Bills struggled to run the ball early, committed two costly turnovers and still took the lead with 4:27 remaining before allowing the Patriots to produce the winning response.
Buffalo travels to face the Rams on Monday night with a chance to prove the upset was a divisional bruise rather than an exposed weakness. Lose again and the expensive new stadium may need to add a panic room before the next home game.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jacksonville won its third straight game by beating Cincinnati 22-17 on the road. The Jaguars held the Bengals to 23 rushing yards, forced two critical turnovers and stopped Cincinnati one yard short on fourth-and-10 during the final minute.
The Jaguars meet Philadelphia in London with a chance to improve to 4-1 and bury another struggling preseason contender. Jacksonville has spent years treating London like a second home, while the Eagles currently look uncomfortable everywhere, including their actual home.
7. Baltimore Ravens
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Baltimore survived an injury-filled afternoon and held off Tennessee 24-18 in the rain. The Ravens improved to 3-1, but allowing the winless Titans to remain within one possession kept a routine home assignment from becoming a convincing statement.
The Ravens visit Atlanta on Sunday night after the Falcons play Monday, creating a rest advantage Baltimore should exploit. A contender beats a short-week opponent; a fraud spends four quarters explaining why Tennessee was tougher than expected.
8. Chicago Bears
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Chicago beat the Jets 23-12 behind Tyson Bagent, becoming the rare team to win games with three different starting quarterbacks in the season’s first four weeks. Bagent threw for 239 yards, Kyle Monangai rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense allowed only one touchdown for the second straight game.
The Bears visit Green Bay with first place in the NFC North potentially within reach and another chance to prove their formula travels. If Bagent wins at Lambeau, Chicago may begin building backup-quarterback statues in alphabetical order.
9. Las Vegas Raiders
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Las Vegas lost its first game 30-27 but earned credibility by pushing Kansas City to the final possession. Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns, Brock Bowers delivered another strong performance and the Raiders held a fourth-quarter lead before the Chiefs produced their familiar late escape.
The Raiders visit New England in a fascinating test between the team that nearly upset Kansas City and the team that actually upset Buffalo. Las Vegas can prove 3-0 was no fluke; lose badly and the Raiders will be charged retroactive rent for their week inside the top ten.
10. Los Angeles Rams
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The Rams erased a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit and beat Philadelphia 24-20 on the road. Kyren Williams scored twice in the final four minutes, including the winning touchdown, as Los Angeles avoided a second consecutive collapse and climbed back to 2-2.
Buffalo visits on Monday night in a matchup that can restore the Rams’ preseason contender status or return it directly to the fraud department. Beating the Eagles stopped the bleeding; beating the Bills would convince people the patient actually has a pulse.
11. New York Giants
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New York improved to 3-1 with a 36-24 victory over Arizona, finally pairing its strong defense with a productive offense. Malik Nabers caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, and Deonte Banks sealed the win with a 98-yard pick-six.
The Giants visit Washington with an opportunity to reach 4-1 and turn their surprising start into a legitimate NFC East campaign. If New York scores 30 again, someone should check whether John Harbaugh secretly replaced the Giants offense during the night.
12. Cleveland Browns
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Cleveland beat Pittsburgh 27-24 on Thursday night and ended the week alone atop the AFC North at 3-1. Andre Szmyt drilled a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds left, and Grant Delpit intercepted Aaron Rodgers on Pittsburgh’s final desperate possession.
The Browns visit the Jets with a chance to win a fourth straight game and establish themselves as more than the division’s weird September story. Cleveland entered the season chasing the first pick; now the draft board is gathering dust and filing a missing-person report.
13. Atlanta Falcons
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Atlanta humiliated New Orleans 45-24 on Monday night, scoring on Bijan Robinson’s 59-yard run on the third play and never allowing the Saints to regain control. Robinson finished with 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while the Falcons ran for 205 yards and five scores to move to 2-2.
Baltimore visits Atlanta on Sunday night in Week 5, leaving the Falcons with a short week but a chance to prove consecutive blowout victories are the beginning of something real. Another win makes Atlanta a contender; another 40-point performance may require the NFC South to file a noise complaint.
14. Detroit Lions
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Detroit’s streak of scoring exactly 31 points ended in the wrong direction with a 32-26 loss at Carolina. The Lions could not contain Bryce Young or Tetairoa McMillan, who caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense wasted another productive offensive night.
Detroit visits Arizona needing to avoid a second straight road upset and a fall below .500. The offense remains dangerous, but the defense is beginning to resemble a very expensive turnstile with excellent sideline seats.
15. Dallas Cowboys
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Dallas overcame a 16-6 halftime deficit and beat Houston 34-30 on a touchdown with 40 seconds remaining. CeeDee Lamb set a career high with 17 catches for 189 yards, Javonte Williams scored three second-half rushing touchdowns and Dak Prescott threw for 335 yards.
The Cowboys host winless Tampa Bay on Thursday night with a chance to move above .500 and build on their best offensive half of the season. Lose to a rookie quarterback on a short week and Dallas may have to surrender those Texas bragging rights before the ink dries.
16. Denver Broncos
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Denver remained competitive for three quarters in San Francisco before losing 24-14. The Broncos’ defense kept the game tight, but the offense could not match the 49ers’ fourth-quarter execution and Denver fell to 2-2 after consecutive emotional finishes.
The Broncos visit the 0-4 Chargers in a divisional game they cannot afford to waste. Denver should win, but AFC West road games have a long history of turning common sense into confetti.
17. Carolina Panthers
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Carolina delivered Sunday’s biggest surprise by beating Detroit 32-26 in prime time. Bryce Young repeatedly found Tetairoa McMillan, and the Panthers produced enough offense to hand the Lions their second loss and move to 2-2.
Carolina enters its bye week tied with Atlanta atop the NFC South at 2-2. The Panthers should enjoy the rest, because being .500 has not generated this much excitement in Charlotte since someone accidentally opened the standings upside down.
18. Indianapolis Colts
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Indianapolis overcame a sloppy start in London and pulled away from Washington for a 30-13 win. The Colts led only 10-6 at halftime after two turnovers, then scored 20 second-half points and took advantage of a Commanders offense forced to use rookie Athan Kaliakmanis after Marcus Mariota left early.
The Colts visit Pittsburgh with both teams sitting at 2-2 and trying to remain relevant in crowded divisions. Indianapolis can build a winning streak; Pittsburgh can send it home remembering that British vacations usually last longer than AFC South momentum.
19. Green Bay Packers
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Green Bay survived its own two fourth-quarter turnovers and escaped Tampa Bay with a 17-14 win. The Packers did not score after halftime, but a defense facing rookie Jalon Daniels protected the three-point margin and prevented a third consecutive loss.
Chicago visits Lambeau Field with the Packers needing a divisional win to return above .500. Green Bay can halt the Bears’ backup-quarterback circus, or it can become the next proud franchise turned into a trivia answer by Tyson Bagent.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pittsburgh rallied to tie Cleveland late Thursday night but lost 27-24 on a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining. Aaron Rodgers then threw an interception on the final play, extending the Steelers’ astonishing run of Thursday road misery against AFC North opponents.
Indianapolis visits with both teams at 2-2 and the Steelers already chasing Cleveland and Baltimore in the division. Pittsburgh needs a home win before Mike McCarthy and Rodgers discover that “veteran experience” is often television language for “everyone involved remembers dial-up internet.”
21. New England Patriots
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New England responded to its 35-6 humiliation in Jacksonville by upsetting Buffalo 29-26 in the Bills’ new stadium. The Patriots created two turnovers, answered after Buffalo took a late lead and climbed back to .500 with the league’s most surprising win of the week.
Las Vegas visits Foxborough with New England holding a chance to prove the Buffalo result was a turning point. One great upset does not erase a 29-point loss, but beating a second top-ten team would at least force us to stop calling it a clerical error.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
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Cincinnati lost 22-17 to Jacksonville and has now dropped consecutive games after a 2-0 start. The Bengals managed only 23 rushing yards, committed two decisive turnovers and came up one yard short on their final fourth-down attempt.
Cincinnati visits winless Miami in a game that has become mandatory rather than helpful. If the Bengals cannot beat the Dolphins, their rebuilt defense may need to be rebuilt again before the first rebuild finishes drying.
23. New Orleans Saints
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New Orleans turned the 20th anniversary celebration of the Superdome’s post-Katrina reopening into a 45-24 humiliation against Atlanta. The Saints surrendered a 59-yard touchdown run on the third play, allowed 205 rushing yards and five rushing scores, and never pulled closer than seven after falling behind 14-0.
Undefeated Minnesota visits New Orleans in Week 5, giving the Saints a short turnaround against the league’s nastiest defense. The anniversary ceremony honored the Superdome’s rebirth; the football game looked more like a burial.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
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Philadelphia led the Rams 20-10 entering the fourth quarter and lost 24-20, its second consecutive defeat. The week then became even worse when Lane Johnson retired and the Eagles traded Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Baltimore for a 2027 fifth-rounder and a 2028 second-rounder, removing two more starters from an offensive line already searching for stability.
The Eagles travel to London to face a Jacksonville team that has won three straight, and they must protect Jalen Hurts with an offensive line reorganized in the middle of the week. A loss would drop Philadelphia to 2-3 and turn Howie Roseman’s roster management into an international incident.
25. Washington Commanders
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Washington followed its upset of Seattle with a 30-13 loss to Indianapolis in London. Marcus Mariota left after the second drive, rookie Athan Kaliakmanis finished the game and the Commanders were outscored 20-7 after halftime while falling to 1-3.
The Giants visit Washington with the Commanders trying to keep the NFC East from disappearing before mid-October. Last week’s passport stamp did not produce an international powerhouse; maybe staying home will help them remember where the end zone is.
26. Arizona Cardinals
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Arizona allowed 36 points in a loss to the Giants and fell to 1-3 despite scoring 24 through three quarters. A late 98-yard pick-six ended any comeback hope and highlighted a defense that has now surrendered 72 points over the last two weeks.
Detroit visits Arizona after suffering an upset of its own, giving the Cardinals a dangerous opponent in a foul mood. If Arizona’s defense offers another 30-point coupon, the Lions will redeem it before the first quarter ends.
27. New York Jets
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The Jets managed only 12 points in Chicago and fell to 1-3. Geno Smith produced one late 58-yard touchdown, but New York spent most of the afternoon being controlled by a Bears team starting its third different winning quarterback in four weeks.
Cleveland visits with the Jets needing a home win to prevent the season from slipping away. The Browns began the year as a supposed tank; the Jets may helpfully show them what one actually looks like.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Tampa Bay lost 17-14 to Green Bay and fell to 0-4 despite another competitive effort. Rookie Jalon Daniels set a franchise record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback and threw a touchdown, but two interceptions and another stalled comeback kept the Buccaneers winless.
The Buccaneers visit Dallas on Thursday night with almost no time to repair an offense already using its backup quarterback. At 0-4, Tampa Bay is no longer searching for momentum; it is checking couch cushions for a complete football game.
29. Los Angeles Chargers
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The Chargers lost 30-23 in Seattle and became the league’s most talented 0-4 disaster. Los Angeles moved the ball against an elite defense but committed four turnovers, piled up penalties and spent the entire second half trying to escape a hole it had dug itself.
Denver visits SoFi Stadium for a divisional game that may represent the Chargers’ final chance to save the season. Lose again and Jim Harbaugh’s contender will become a five-week documentary about how much punishment one roster can self-administer.
30. Tennessee Titans
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Tennessee remained competitive in Baltimore but lost 24-18 and fell to 0-4. The Titans pushed through miserable weather and multiple injuries, yet another late effort ended with encouragement instead of the first victory.
Houston visits Nashville in a game guaranteed to remove one team from the winless list unless the football gods deliver a tie out of pure spite. The winner gets relief; the loser receives temporary custody of the first overall pick.
31. Houston Texans
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Houston led Dallas 16-6 at halftime and 30-27 in the final minute before losing 34-30. The Texans allowed CeeDee Lamb to catch 17 passes for 189 yards, surrendered three second-half rushing touchdowns to Javonte Williams and fell to 0-4 despite their best offensive performance of the season.
Houston visits Tennessee for a game that should be labeled AFC South emergency services. If the Texans lose to another winless team, C.J. Stroud’s contract negotiation may be conducted by people wearing hazmat suits.
32. Miami Dolphins
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Miami’s defense gave the team a genuine chance in Minnesota, but the Dolphins lost 15-10 and fell to 0-4. Holding an undefeated opponent without a touchdown counts as progress; scoring only 10 points against a team that settled for five field goals explains why progress has not produced a victory.
Cincinnati comes to Miami after losing two straight, creating the Dolphins’ best opportunity yet to end the rebuild’s opening nightmare. If Miami cannot beat a Bengals team in free fall, the dead-cap experiment may officially require peer review from an undertaker.
