Up to date Oct. 4, 2026, 10:47 p.m. ET
The 32 issues we discovered from Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season:
0(-4): The 1992 San Diego Chargers are the patron saints of 0-4 NFL groups (of which there are 5 in 2026), nonetheless the one squad in league historical past to achieve the playoffs after such a ghastly begin. So, for the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hope stays … if solely the slightest glimmer.
1. As within the first interception by the New York Jets protection over the previous two seasons. It got here courtesy of veteran S Minkah Fitzpatrick, who pilfered the Chicago Bears’ Tyson Bagent for the NYJ’s first choose since Week 18 of the 2024 season. Final 12 months, the Jets turned the primary NFL staff to play a full season with out recording a single defensive interception.
(QB)2. Bucs QB Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent out of Kansas who acquired a $25,000 signing bonus, misplaced his first NFL begin on Sunday whereas filling in for injured Baker Mayfield. Daniels, who handed for 148 yards (with 1 TD and a couple of INTs), turned the primary quarterback this season – among the many seven who weren’t of their groups’ Week 1 lineups – to lose his first begin.
(QB)3. The Washington Commanders are already the third staff league-wide this season that’s needed to drill all the way down to its third-string quarterback. Seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis was pressed into service Sunday in London after Marcus Mariota – filling in for starter Jayden Daniels himself – was misplaced to an MCL harm within the first quarter. Elsewhere, the Bears have already had to make use of QB3 Case Keenum – to spectacular ends in Week 3, however he reverted to the bench (largely) Sunday – and the Atlanta Falcons suffered by two disastrous video games with third-stringer Cooper Rush. If that No. 3 QB can get you one win in a season if his quantity is named, then he’s in all probability earned his complete wage for the 12 months.
4. Oddly, Keenum was truly credited with Sunday’s 23-12 win over the Jets by taking the Bears’ first snap, a handoff to D’Andre Swift. Any quarterback who begins an NFL recreation, irrespective of how lengthy he performs in it, turns into the participant of file from a win-loss perspective.
5. However Chicago appeared first rate in any other case in Bagent’s most in depth motion since his rookie 12 months in 2023 – the offense posting 492 yards towards a New York D that entered the sport ranked second total within the NFL. The Bears held the ball for almost 43 minutes, ran 89 performs and racked up 34 first downs (in comparison with the Jets’ 32 performs) – simply a rare show of ball management that belied their 11-point margin of victory … which may largely be attributed by failure to seek out the tip zone on 5 of their seven red-zone visits.
6. Nonetheless, the Bears at the moment are 3-1, regardless of being with out QB1 Caleb Williams for 2 full video games and a part of one other, making Chicago – regardless of its challenges – certainly one of this season’s few would-be contenders to dwell as much as their advance billing.
7. Why is that? There’s nearly by no means a one-size-fits-all rationalization for something that happens within the NFL, notably from a development perspective. However what looks as if a rising unwillingness of groups to make use of key gamers in August has seemingly rendered the primary 4 or so video games of standard season as a de facto preseason anymore.
8.Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has all the time been detest to play his starters in preseason, and the league’s perceived tremendous staff is off to a rocky 2-2 begin – and LA is lucky to be at .500 following the undermanned Philadelphia Eagles’ collapse Sunday. The Rams began 3-6 in 2023 and 1-4 in 2024 and wound up within the postseason each instances. And perhaps the present struggles must be forgiven given their accidents, journey to Australia, and the brand new gamers they’re attempting to combine.
9. However you’ll be able to guess the panic button would have lit up Sunday had they didn’t win at Philly. And regardless of no matter excuses may very well be made for the Rams, QB Matthew Stafford serving up six interceptions this season (he had 8 because the league MVP in 2025) or the 21 penalties (for almost 200 yards) the staff has dedicated over the previous two weeks aren’t amongst them.
10. But the Eagles, a perennial contender – albeit one which fell out of a first-place tie within the NFC East on Sunday – couldn’t sufficiently exploit the Rams’ errors. Philadelphia additionally couldn’t cease Stafford and Co. on two prolonged fourth-quarter TD drives, to say nothing of one other pitiful displaying by QB Jalen Hurts in his staff’s new offensive system.
11. Sure, Philly was unexpectedly with out RT Lane Johnson on a day when RB Saquon Barkley joined WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert and LB Zach Baun among the many injured. However that doesn’t excuse a no-show towards the Keenum-led Bears or Sunday afternoon’s disappearing act after they took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter.
(0-)12. The Eagles’ traditionally dangerous conversion fee on third downs on Sunday – worst for the franchise since no less than 1991.
13. Philadelphia is now 18-30 all time when Johnson, who was drafted in 2013 and missed Sunday’s recreation attributable to “private causes,” doesn’t play.
14. Learn or hear something this summer season which may recommend the Dallas Cowboys, who final reached the Tremendous Bowl greater than three many years in the past, had been a respectable risk to seize the Lombardi Trophy? (Yep, I heard it, too, and am additionally responsible of writing it.) “America’s Group” nearly didn’t emerge as Texas’ staff on Sunday, barely squeaking previous winless Houston to salvage a 2-2 begin of their very own.
15. However identical ol’ Cowboys appears apropos as their disastrous protection stays within the gutter, with Dallas surrendering no less than 28 factors for the third time already this season after giving up probably the most factors within the league in 2025.
16. And that’s regardless of newly acquired CB Joey Porter Jr. not permitting a reception in his Dallas debut, throughout which he performed almost half of the defensive snaps.
17. The variety of catches Sunday by Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb, tied for the seventh most in a recreation in NFL historical past. It’s additionally probably the most ever in a recreation by a Cowboys broad receiver, although former TE Jason Witten truly holds the staff file (18).
18. Lamb, who completed with 189 yards in a valiant particular person effort, scored the game-winning TD on his remaining catch of the day, a 12-yarder with 40 seconds left to play which may have saved Dallas’ season whereas successfully ending Houston’s.
19. Ah, Houston. I truly thought the Texans had a legit shot at being the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed earlier than the season began. I additionally by no means would have guessed their vaunted protection could be ceding 30 factors per recreation at residence. Some very fascinating selections lie forward for a staff constructed to win now, particularly the way forward for QB C.J. Stroud.
20. The Cincinnati Bengals? They’ve the one holdover coach within the AFC North and are lastly in possession of a practical protection. But QB Joe Burrow, by his personal lofty requirements, has been Joe Blow this season. Burrow fumbled on Cincy’s remaining offensive snap in Week 3’s loss at Pittsburgh earlier than being picked off twice in Sunday’s 22-17 residence loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
21. As within the worst 21-game file for a quarterback picked No. 1 total throughout the widespread draft period (since 1967). That unhappy distinction is shared by the Tennessee Titans’ Cam Ward, who’s now misplaced 18 of his 21 profession begins, and Troy Aikman who had an ignominious begin to his profession in Dallas. Ward can solely hope he finishes out just like the eventual Corridor of Famer did.
22. And what to make of the Buffalo Payments, who kinda (at present) seem like they peaked in Week 1? Their protection is more and more projecting as their chief vulnerability – permitting 29 factors Sunday for the third time this season, an excessive amount of to beat even a struggling New England Patriots squad.
23. The Patriots, you ask? The defending AFC champs turned the primary staff to knock off Buffalo this 12 months, QB Drake Maye displaying indicators of life together with his greatest recreation of this season (269 yards and three TDs passing, team-high 54 yards speeding). Nonetheless, the 2025 runner-up for NFL MVP additionally dedicated two extra turnovers, giving him a league-high 9 by 4 weeks.
24. The Denver Broncos, who barely missed out on a berth in Tremendous Bowl 60 final season, have unsurprisingly proven flashes of being a power this season. They’ve surprisingly scored 13 first-half factors – whole – by 4 weeks beneath rookie OC Davis Webb and couldn’t overcome their typical spot behind the eight ball in Sunday’s 24-14 setback to the San Francisco 49ers.
25. Along with his staff now sitting in third place within the AFC West, Denver coach Sean Payton is unquestionably mulling anew whether or not to take the decision sheet away from Webb.
26. Did you suppose sooner or later the NFL script may need the Rams and Chargers assembly in an all-LA Tremendous Bowl – in suburban Los Angeles – on Valentine’s Day? Welp. Bolts QB Justin Herbert’s regression beneath new OC Mike McDaniel stays one of many season’s most beautiful subplots.
27. As Lamar Jackson goes, so go the Baltimore Ravens. Sunday’s ankle harm is actually a priority for a participant who’s traditionally achieved a lot harm together with his legs – and who faces a flight for a highway recreation three of the subsequent 4 weeks.
28. Every time – at any time when? – the NFL expands into or relocates a staff to Europe, Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor must be on that membership’s roster. Sunday was his third worldwide look, after two earlier ones in Germany, and he was as soon as once more stellar in his staff’s 30-13 victory over the Washington Commanders in London. In three worldwide video games, Taylor has rushed for 408 yards and 6 touchdowns – each abroad league information.
29. Not that Taylor is finally going to do the Colts a lot good … except they flip him sooner or later for the rebuilding belongings they want.
30. The variety of combination penalties (for 280 yards!) within the Seattle Seahawks 30-23 defeat of the still-winless Chargers.
31. Congratulations to the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, who surpassed the legendary Invoice Walsh for probably the most video games coached in franchise historical past – Shanahan getting the win Sunday in his 167th look (together with playoffs). Walsh nonetheless has these three Lombardi Trophies on his résumé, however Shanahan, who’s misplaced two Tremendous Bowls with San Francisco, nonetheless has time to catch up – perhaps beginning this 12 months amid a 4-0 begin.
32. What are you aware – a projected contender that’s truly excelling – even with half the 49ers’ roster seemingly on injured reserve!
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