Week 4 Takeaways for the 2026 NFL Season
If it seems like more players are getting hurt than ever before, I’m afraid you might be right. I hate to keep starting articles this way, but the hits don’t stop coming. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson left with an ankle injury. Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase suffered a concussion on a dirty hit. Denver lost both starting CBs, with Patrick Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs) each exiting. Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper got the worst news of all, as his year is done with a torn Achilles. Despite the losses, all 32 teams had no choice but to soldier on. Scroll down to read my week 4 takeaways for the 2026 NFL season and see who did what!
TNF: Browns Outlast Steelers for Third Straight Win
When AFC North rivals play, the games are usually tight. And you usually get a very physical battle. Pittsburgh drew first blood with a 17-play, 78-yard march that took 9:48 of clock and led to a TD. After that though, they sort of went into the tank offensively until the 4th quarter. Browns DE Sam Williams (sack) killed one drive by hitting the arm of Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers to force an INT. Another possession ended with a Chris Boswell FG miss from 48 yards out. The normally elite kicker is not having a great year thus far. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s poor first quarter gave way to a second-quarter barrage and a defensive clinic.
It hurts people to say or hear this, but Browns QB Deshaun Watson (24/33, 268 yards, TD, INT; 7/22 rushing, FUM) is playing pretty decently. He has a good connection with rookie WR Denzel Boston (4/89), whose debut season is off to a nice start. Cleveland bullied the Steelers’ defense for 3 second-quarter TDs, and it seemed like the Browns might run away with this. Their defense suffocated Pittsburgh. They earned 5 sacks and 2 INTs while allowing just 3 total points in the second and third frames. That unit is still the Browns’ bread and butter, though it must be noted that Pittsburgh helped them out a bunch.
The Steelers have two main problems: their WRs don’t get open, and their line can’t pass protect. That sabotaged so many drives. Even after a TJ Watt strip sack near midfield, the offense did nothing. Like last week against the Bengals though, something clicked in the 4th quarter. DE Jack Sawyer tipped a pass to force an INT, which Pittsburgh received after challenging to remove a PI call. Rodgers began targeting slot CB Myles Harden with WRs DK Metcalf (5/115) and Roman Wilson (3/74/1) because Cleveland’s outside corners are too good. That, along with 14 Browns penalties on the night, lead to a pair of scores.
A two-point conversion tied the game at 24, but credit the Steelers’ defense for giving the offense time to work. They held Cleveland to 6 second-half points, but the last 3 points were costly. Watson led his team down the field and despite taking a bad sack, K Andre Szmyt kicked a career-long 56-yard FG to retake the lead. A last-gasp launch by Rodgers (22/40, 299 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) was picked by S Grant Delpit, and the Browns moved to 3-1. Curiously, they’re now 8-0 on TNF. Defying preseason projections, these Browns are competitive. If nothing else, the AFC North will be a dogfight to the very end (as usual).
QB Carousel Spins Again for Washington, Chicago, and Tampa Bay
Three more quarterbacks played significant snaps this week due to injuries. For Chicago, Tyson Bagent returned from a concussion to resume his backup role. Last week, 3rd-stringer Case Keenum torched the Eagles in place of starter Caleb Williams, who remains out (hamstring). That led some to wonder if he’d get the nod once again. HC Ben Johnson noted that Bagent won the backup QB competition though, so it was indeed him (technically, both QBs came out on the first play, and Keenum took the snap and handed the ball off, making him the starter of record; that was his only action, however).
Bagent moved the ball well but did not execute in the red zone. The Bears settled for 3 FGs and a turnover on downs but still handily beat the Jets 23-12. Bagent (25/34, 268 yards, INT) showcased his live arm and formed a good connection with WR Rome Odunze (6/94). I thought Keenum definitely played better (against a better defense too), and Bagent allowed S Minkah Fitzpatrick to claim the Jets’ first INT in over a year. Still, Bagent performed well enough to win the game, and he is expected to start again next week. Facing the struggling Packers, I think Chicago is in really good shape with either passer.
In our first London game of the year, Marcus Mariota (3/4, 46 yards; 1/35 rushing) got another start for Washington in place of Jayden Daniels. Unfortunately, he sprained his ACL in the first quarter and did not return. Thus, 7th-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis entered the game, and the results were predictable. I don’t know why OC David Blough called so many deep shots, but Kaliakmanis (15/33, 186 yards, TD, INT) hit two of them, including a Treylon Burks TD. Otherwise, Kaliakmanis really struggled against the Colts in a 30-13 loss, but he really didn’t have a chance. The pressure is on Daniels to return quickly.
Speaking of Daniels, another Daniels became our first rookie QB to start a game this year: UDFA Jalon Daniels of Kansas. After surprisingly winning the Bucs’ backup job, he became the interim starter once Baker Mayfield injured his thumb. Daniels (19/27, 148 yards, TD, 2 INTs; 8/55 rushing) looked…like a rookie. He did some good things against the Packers! His dual-threat ability was on full display, and his TD pass to RB Kenny Gainwell was a nifty play. Tampa did almost nothing to support him though, and they lost 17-14 when Daniels’ last-gasp heave was picked off. Daniels may not be ready, but he’s far from the reason TB lost.
CeeDee Lamb Exposes Houston’s Defense in Battle of Texas
This week’s matchup between Houston and Dallas at NRG Stadium held quite a bit of significance. The Texans needed to avoid an 0-4 start, while Dallas couldn’t fall further behind in the NFC East. Houston got a major boost via the return of WR Nico Collins. After two weeks out due to injury, you could tell just how much he was needed. Collins (7/118/2) instantly made the offense watchable again, though it helped that Dallas’ defense is a sieve. New trade acquisition Joey Porter Jr played 24 snaps and allowed 0 receptions on one target, but it’s clear that he can’t fix this unit on its own. We probably already knew that.
The bigger shock for me was the Texans’ defense. This was the #1 defense in football, and on paper, it only got better. Additions such as 2nd-round DT Kayden McDonald and free agent S Reed Blankenship were only supposed to help. Instead, Houston’s defense has regressed thus far this year. Surrendering a bunch of points to Buffalo is not a big deal. Neither is giving up 34 against Dallas’ potent attack. The points aren’t the main issue. It’s the way in which the defense is failing that gives me cause for alarm. Whenever they needed a stop in the past, they got one. Let’s look at their past 2 games to see how that’s no longer true.
Against the Colts in week 3, Houston’s beleaguered offense actually gave them a late lead in the clutch. However, the stop unit allowed Indy to drive down and kick a game-winning FG. In a worse performance, Dallas simply trampled them. RB Javonte Williams scored 3 TDs. QB Dak Prescott (32/45, 335 yards, TD) topped 300 yards against a vaunted secondary. And then there’s WR CeeDee Lamb (17/189/1). The man could not be covered, and with the game on the line, he scored the winning TD. Nothing the Texans did made any sort of difference. When Lamb wanted the ball, he found it with ease. Even when we all knew it was coming.
This is not the old Texans defense. Unfortunately, they need to be. The offense is still a stop-and-go operation. QB CJ Stroud (21/31, 347 yards, 2 TDs), despite the critics, has been quite good when Collins is on the field. Houston’s old problems persist though: the line doesn’t block, and they can’t run the ball. In 2025, the Texans overcame an 0-3 start because the defense was so elite that they carried the team on its back. This year, that’s not the case. Thus, Houston is 0-4, and their playoff hopes may already be dead. Only the ’92 Chargers have overcome an 0-4 start to reach the playoffs. I can’t see Houston joining them.
Rams Bust Out of Slump in Comeback Win Over Eagles
LA’s supposed super team hasn’t gotten off to the best start. New DE Myles Garrett is hurt, new/old DT Aaron Donald is out too, and the Rams simply aren’t playing their best. I gave them a pass for their Australian debacle, and they bounced back nicely in week 2. However, their second half against Denver last week was pitiful, and that sluggish play carried over to week 4. It’s easy to see why. Philly has had this team’s number in recent meetings. In three straight matchups, the Eagles came out on top. For the Rams, the return of WR Puka Nacua from injury was supposed to change things. It did! Eventually at least.
We can’t beat around the bush: through 4 games, QB Matthew Stafford is not playing great football. He’s far off his 2025 MVP pace, and missing Nacua was a convenient excuse. In the first half against the Eagles though, even with Nacua on the field, Stafford (32/51, 317 yards, 2 INTs) fired a pair of INTs that were poor throws and decisions. The turnovers turned into 10 Eagles points and produced a 20-10 halftime deficit. This was in no way the defense’s fault. That unit obliterated Philly’s offense. QB Jalen Hurts (12/27, 93 yards, 2 TDs) didn’t even reach 100 yards passing and only connected with WR Darius Cooper (3/33/2).
The problem for LA was that they weren’t trailing an Eagles team at full strength. Highly important players such as RT Lane Johnson, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert, and LB Zack Baun were out, and RB Saquon Barkley (2/8) left injured after just 2 carries. The absence of these stars allowed the Rams’ sputtering offense to hang around, as did the Eagles’ inability to convert a single 3rd down (0/12 for the game). Still trailing 20-10 in the 4th quarter, LA’s defense forced a critical turnover on downs in the red zone. The offense turned to Nacua (9/125) and RB Kyren Williams (16/80/2; 10/67 receiving), and it finally woke up.
LA marched 98 yards for a TD, forced a 3-and-out by the Eagles, and then hurried down the field again. Needing a field goal to tie, the Rams didn’t accept that outcome. Instead, Williams broke several tackles and scored the winning touchdown, bringing the Rams to 2-2. We’ll probably continue to talk about the Eagles’ inept offense and how OC Sean Mannion was a disaster of a hire (as expected). LA has to be relieved to come away with the win despite being the superior team. They’ve started slowly in seasons past, so maybe this is the game that triggers a hot streak and transforms them into the team we thought we’d see all along.
Chiefs Withstand Feisty Raiders in Matchup Between Unbeatens
If you predicted that our only matchup of 3-0 teams would be the Chiefs and the Raiders, I don’t believe you. Picking the Chiefs? Sure. But Las Vegas only won 3 games all of last year. Thanks to defensive imports such as LBs Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, plus the steady hand of new QB Kirk Cousins, the Raiders are much improved. This game was their litmus test. Beating Miami, the Chargers, and New Orleans is one thing. Besting a rejuvenated KC squad is another. If I can take one thing away from this game, it’s that even though the Chiefs one, Las Vegas is 100% legit. They’re completely different from their prior iterations.
The two teams remained close for most of the contest. LV operated through their TEs. Brock Bowers (6/86/1), Michael Mayer (8/82), and even Ian Thomas (2/32/1) had productive outings. Kansas City’s passing game wasn’t actually as efficient. QB Patrick Mahomes (15/30, 225 yards, 2 TDs) didn’t make any mistakes, but most of his production came on deep shots to WR Tyquan Thornton (5/111/2). Sadly, Thornton dislocated his ankle on one such bomb late in the game. He’ll be out for most if not all of the season, but his catch was a major reason why the Chiefs one. The other main factor was the running game.
Unlike the Raiders, KC dominated on the ground. RB Kenneth Walker III (22/177/2) had another banner day. He has completely changed this attack. Conversely, the Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty (15/58) didn’t find much running room. Regardless of the rushing disparity, two big LV mistakes really changed the game. First, HC Klint Kubiak took points off the board to start the 3rd quarter when KC committed a penalty on a 4th-and-7 FG attempt. Vegas failed the subsequent 4th-and-2 try and came away with nothing. You should never remove points unless the penalty results in a first down. It’s much too risky of a ploy.
The other mistake was far more unfortunate. Returner Dareke Young fumbled a kickoff following a Walker TD, and Walker scored again one play after the turnover. That sequence put the Raiders in a 30-19 hole with 3:02 to go. Despite a valiant effort from Cousins (31/52, 365 yards, 2 TDs, INT on a desperation heave) and the defense, LV ultimately came up short in a 30-27 loss. We still learned plenty. KC is back to their one-score game-winning ways. They’re going to be in the thick of things. Las Vegas is not simply a fun upstart. They’re a real team that can compete with good ones on a regular basis. That’s a very welcome shift!