After another Sunday filled with thrilling finishes, the NFL schedule might be even more promising as the calendar turns to October and teams begin to separate from the pack.
After Steelers vs. Browns play on Thursday Night Football, the Week 4 slate on Sunday, Oct. 4, begins with another international game featuring the Washington Commanders vs. the Indianapolis Colts in London, England. It's followed by a huge AFC East showdown between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills and an intriguing matchup of two AFC teams that look to be on the rise early this season (Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals).
The late afternoon schedule on Sunday might be even better. The Kansas City Chiefs travel to face the undefeated Las Vegas Raiders,
the Los Angeles Chargers try to avoid an 0-4 start on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the undefeated San Francisco 49ers host the Denver Broncos in a fascinating interconference matchup. All three games have meaningful early-season stakes, especially for the AFC West race.
Here's a look at some early expert picks, predictions and odds for every game during Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season:
NFL Week 4 game predictions, picks
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 12 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland)
- TV: None
- Streaming: Prime Video, NFL+
- Spread: Steelers (-3)
Sporting News: Steelers 20, Browns 17
"Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson are coming off strong home performances to help their teams win close games. The Steelers' defense struggled while the Browns' defense has been hot. The goal for Pittsburgh is making Cleveland one-dimensional so it can tee off on the pass rush. The Browns have just a few more issues overall around Watson."
Sports Illustrated: Take the Browns
"The Browns and Steelers have extremely similar metrics through the first three weeks. The Browns have a Net Yards per Play of -0.6, whereas the Steelers are right behind them at -0.7. Despite that, the Browns are getting points on their home field on a short week. That's enough for me to back Cleveland in this spot."
Watch Thursday Night Football with Prime Video
Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, England)
- TV: NFL Network
- Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Colts (-3.5)
Arizona Republic: Colts 27, Commanders 23
"Injuries have already had a big impact for both of these teams this season, but the Colts still have their starting QB and they still have Jonathan Taylor in the backfield."
CBS Sports: Colts 31, Commanders 30
"Both teams won for the first time last week and now head to London to play this week. Then Colts defense showed improvement last week, while the Commanders defense made some big plays. Look for the Colts and Commanders to both score a lot, but it's the Colts who will win it late."
Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Ravens (-11.5)
Sporting News: Ravens 31, Titans 13
"The Ravens are having some trouble finishing games. They survived the Cowboys after succumbing to the Saints. The Titans' defense has playing more inspired under Robert Saleh, but behind Jeffery Simmons there's not enough to slow down Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry more than a handful of times."
Vegas Odds: Ravens win big
"QB Cam Ward has 504 passing yards in three games, which is terrible, even though he’s only a sophomore. As for the Ravens, they’re full of confidence after a late win over the Cowboys in London. ... Baltimore has the 3rd-best run attack in the league with 167.3 yards per game. Titans defend rushing poorly, allowing 126.3 yards per contest."
Watch live NFL games with Fubo
New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Bills (-6.5)
ESPN: Bills pull away and cover
"The Bills lead the league in scoring and rank third in total offense. Meanwhile, New England is coming off a 35-6 loss to Jacksonville (its largest defeat since late 2024), and Drake Maye has already thrown six interceptions. He struggled badly under pressure in Week 3. Also, the Patriots have had issues stopping the run. If those problems continue, the Bills should have ample chances to pull away."
BetMGM: Patriots win on the road
"Drake Maye looks absolutely awful. But are we really going to be so quick to judge after he played three games against top-11 defenses from 2025? No one will be surprised to learn turnovers are what plagued Maye. New England’s eight giveaways are tied with the Falcons. Mike Vrabel’s team currently possesses a -5 differential, which is second-worst. ... The Patriots, despite some regression, remain an outstanding defense."
New York Jets vs Chicago Bears
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Soldier Field (Chicago)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Bears (-3.5)
CBS Sports: Bears 23, Jets 17
"The Jets are playing on the road for the second straight week, while the Bears are playing on a short week. Chicago looked good in blowing out the Eagles Monday night. It looks like Tyson Bagent will be in at quarterback. Look for Chicago to keep rolling as they get to 3-1."
Arizona Republic: Jets 23, Bears 20
"The Jets may be 1-2, but they are no pushover this season. Geno Smith and company will go into Soldier Field and upset the Bears."
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Bengals (-2.5)
Yahoo! Sports: Take the Jaguars
"The Jaguars defense is supremely underrated. They have allowed a league-low 12 points per game (only three touchdowns in three games). They are also eighth in rushing yards allowed, seventh in sacks, third in takeaways and second in turnover differential. These are stats that are directly correlated to winning. ... The Jaguars have a coaching advantage, a defensive advantage and don't lag far behind in quarterback or skill position play, which the Bengals rely on as their strengths."
Covers.com: Back Burrow, Bengals at home
Jacksonville has found ways to win without asking Trevor Lawrence to carry the offense, but that becomes harder when Joe Burrow is on the opposite sideline. Cincinnati’s run defense has improved, which can push Lawrence into a higher-volume passing script than the Jaguars would prefer. The Bengals have secondary injuries worth monitoring, but I’m comfortable backing the better quarterback at home while the number remains below three."
Arizona Cardinals vs New York Giants
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Cardinals (-2)
Arizona Republic: Cardinals 23, Giants 20
"The Giants opened as a 1-point favorite over Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals, but we have a lot more confidence in Arizona's ability to put points up on the scoreboard than New York."
BetMGM: Take the Cardinals to win
"Based on New York’s mounting injuries and their cumulative offensive success on Sunday, my Giants vs Cardinals prediction is the Cardinals moneyline. The best unit on the field is the Cardinals offense. The worst unit on the field is the Giants defense, which is now without Brian Burns for the season."
Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Reliant Stadium (Houston)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Texans (-2.5)
ESPN: Take the points with Cowboys
"Maybe Texans WR Nico Collins (hamstring) is back for this one to boost the Texans' pass game, but the lack of run-game efficiency (3.6 YPC) is still an issue for DeMeco Ryans' team. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys make enough plays here, working the intermediate voids versus Houston's zone-heavy scheme to cover on the road."
The Big Lead: Texans drop to 0-4
"The season hasn’t started well for Houston. The defense entered the season with championship-winning grades but has shown an inability to defend the pass. Following last weekend’s two-point loss, the Texans are eager to secure their first victory against their in-state rivals. The defense plays well, limiting the damage done by Dallas’s offense. In the end, Dallas (hands) Houston its fourth loss on a game-winning field goal."
Los Angeles Rams vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Rams (-3)
Sporting News: Eagles 27, Rams 24
"The Rams are finding plenty of offense with Kyren Williams, Davante Adams and the tight ends, but they still miss that consistent dominant No. 1, Puka Nacua. No Myles Garrett hurts against the Eagles' offensive line. Jalen Hurts will create more downfield than Matthew Stafford, and having the obvious athletic advantage also helps."
BetMGM: Rams win
"Do you remember this game last year? Los Angeles led 26-7 with 14 minutes left in the third quarter. Jalen Hurts proceeded to morph into the greatest quarterback ever, leading a comeback to win 33-27. Here’s the issue: Hurts is now playing with a middling defense. ... Through two games, Philly’s 45.6% rush defense success rate allowed ranks 28th in the league. The Rams, meanwhile, rushed very well against their first three opponents. Sean McVay’s offense ranks seventh in rushing success rate through three games. It should lead them to exploit the Eagles’ defense on short rest."
Green Bay Packers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Packers (-4)
Arizona Republic: Packers 21, Bucs 17
"These are two of the biggest disappointments in the NFL so far this season, but at least the Packers have a win. Jordan Love and company will double their win total in Tampa Bay."
Sports Illustrated: Packers win and cover
"The Packers are going to be in trouble any time they face a defense that can pressure the quarterback, due to their offensive line being horrible at protecting Jordan Love this season. Unfortunately, they have faced three solid pass rushes to begin the season. Now, they face a Buccaneers team that ranks 22nd in pressure rate and 28th in quarterback hurry rate. ... The Buccaneers are starting Jalon Daniels in his first NFL start."
Miami Dolphins vs Minnesota Vikings
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Vikings (-10.5)
CBS Sports: Vikings 27, Dolphins 10
"This is a challenging road game as the Dolphins face that tough Minnesota defense, led by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores. You know he will be amped to play the team that fired him. The Miami offense will be without star runner De'Von Achane, which will make it even more challenging. Look for that Vikings defense to get some takeaways to lead to points."
ESPN: Dolphins cover big spread
"What's the one thing everyone knows about the 2026 Vikings? They blitz a LOT, even compared to past Brian Flores teams. But the Dolphins also are one of the most run-heavy teams in the league, ranking 31st in pass rate over expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Does that inject some chaos into what Minnesota wants to do on defense? Perhaps, and that's all we're asking for here. Enough entropy for the Dolphins to just keep the game within 10. Anything else is gravy."
Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Allegiant Stadium (Paradise, Nevada)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Chiefs (-4.5)
Sporting News: Chiefs 27, Raiders 20
The Chiefs are locked in offensively like they haven't been in a while, with Kenneth Walker III sparking everything and Travis Kelce turning back the clock. Patrick Mahomes has become a confident distributor again. The same is true for Kirk Cousins, also a hot passer early in the season. But the Chiefs have a little more reliable and cohesive defense to get the job done."
The Big Lead: Raiders 20, Chiefs 16
"The early part of this season has been a rejuvenation for the Raiders and Chiefs. Las Vegas has tied its win total from last season, and Kansas City is ridding itself of last season’s woes. Defense has been the key to both teams’ early-season success. On Sunday, a defensive battle ensues, as both offenses are limited in the first half. In a battle of defenses surrendering less than 20 PPG, the Raiders’ offense has the final blow."
Los Angeles Chargers vs Seattle Seahawks
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Lumen Field (Seattle)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Seahawks (-7)
Arizona Republic: Seahawks 27, Chargers 17
"The Chargers are a disappointing 0-3 on the season, with 44 points in three games. Seattle's defense will give Justin Herbert fits at Lumen Field."
Covers.com: Seahawks cover
"Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has whiffed on his offseason coaching hires, including offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and pass game specialist Adam Gase, while QB Justin Herbert has struggled badly. This is the furthest thing from a get-right game for the Chargers. Herbert now faces a Seattle defense that leads the NFL in yards per play allowed, making it difficult to envision Los Angeles' offense suddenly finding its footing."
Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+, NFL+, Fubo
- Spread: 49ers (-2.5)
CBS Sports: 49ers 28, Broncos 21
"This is one of the best games of the week. The Broncos are coming off an impressive comeback victory over the Rams Sunday night. The 49ers have rolled to a 3-0 record behind Brock Purdy. Look for that to continue here. Purdy has a big day as the 49ers stay undefeated."
Sports Illustrated: 49ers win and cover
By a lot of metrics, the San Francisco 49ers are the best team in the NFL through the first three weeks. They are first in Net Yards per Play (+2.5), first in EPA per play, and first in success rate. ... Now they get to face a Broncos team that ... managed to win two games at home, a historically tough place for opponents to play in September, and the game against the Rams finished with a handful of questionable calls that went Denver's way."
Watch Lions vs. Panthers with Peacock
Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Lions (-3.5)
Sporting News: Lions 27, Panthers 24
"The Lions will use plenty of Jahmyr Gibbs to set the tone running on the Panthers' weak run defense. They also will try to stretch the field better in the passing game with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Bryce Young will be game to make it close late with Tetairoa McMillan and a variety of weapons. Detroit will just need to get used to trying to win shootouts every week."
Arizona Republic: Lions 31, Panthers 27
"This could be another high-scoring matchup, but only one team has Jahmyr Gibbs and that gives the Lions an edge over the Panthers in a shootout."
Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
- Date: Monday, Oct. 5
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Caesars Superdome
- TV: ABC, ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Saints (-2.5)
CBS Sports: Falcons 33, Saints 30
"The Falcons impressed last Thursday in blowing out Green Bay on the road. Getting Michael Penix back at quarterback matters. They will continue to give it to Bijan Robinson in this one. The Saints will get theirs behind Tyler Shough. It's high scoring, and the Falcons will win it."
Covers.com: Take the points with Atlanta
"Michael Penix Jr.’s return gave Atlanta’s offense balance again, while the Falcons’ front generated 19 pressures in the blowout win over Green Bay. They now get extended rest before facing a New Orleans that's dealing with injuries along the defensive line. The Saints can attack Atlanta’s secondary, but (pick) the healthier offensive trajectory and extra preparation."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 4 game picks: Odds and expert predictions for every matchup
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Advertiser disclosure: USA TODAY may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. Commissions never influence our editorial coverage or rankings. Offers and odds were accurate at publication and are subject to change; terms apply — see the operator’s site. This is general information, not betting, legal or financial advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, USA TODAY is not liable for losses arising from your use of it.
Must be 21+ (18+ where permitted). Sports betting and casino gaming are not legal everywhere; complying with the laws where you are located is your responsibility. Gamble only with funds you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Help is available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET. State helplines and responsible gaming resources.
