- Six NFL teams remain undefeated heading into Week 4 of the regular season.
- The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers will play in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland.
- The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to face off in Tampa Bay.
The Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the six remaining undefeated teams entering Week 4.
Philadelphia travels to Tampa Bay in a battle of undefeated clubs while the Colts put their 3-0 record on the line versus the Rams. How many teams will remain undefeated after Week 4?
This week also features the NFL’s first regular season game in Dublin, Ireland. Plus, Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons makes his much-anticipated return to Dallas.
USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon examines five things to watch in Week 4.
First game in Dublin
The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers will square off in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland.
Late Steelers owner Dan Rooney was an ambassador to the nation.
“This game means a lot to all of us, to the league (and) to the Rooney family,” Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers said. “It’s great for the game. To grow the game in so many countries. Being part of the first game in Ireland is pretty cool. I have Irish heritage, so I’m very excited to get out there.”
Minnesota and Pittsburgh are both coming off Week 3 victories. In Week 3, Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers produced two forced fumbles, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown, and a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Rodgers is the first player in NFL history with an interception return touchdown of 85-plus yards and a fumble return touchdown of 65-plus yards in the same game. The Vikings CB rightfully won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.
The Steelers’ Rodgers will try to prevent the Rodgers on the other side from another historic outing.
Sunday’s tilt will be part of a European tour for the Vikings. Minnesota is set to become the first NFL team to play multiple international games in different cities in the same season as they travel to London to play the Cleveland Browns in Week 5.
Battle of undefeated teams in Tampa Bay
The Eagles or Bucs will have a blemish on their record after this game, barring a tie.
Tampa Bay’s won two straight games versus Philadelphia, including one playoff contest.
Every Bucs game thus far this season has come down to the wire. The Bucs are the first team in the Super Bowl era to record a game-winning score in the final minute of the fourth quarter in each of its first three games of a season, per NFL Research.
Interesting enough, the past two Eagles and Bucs games have been decided by over two scores.
“He’s got a lot of tools and a lot of things in his system in what he does. It’s very challenging,” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts said of Todd Bowles and the Bucs. “That’s what makes them such a great team and great defense. Knowing all those things he has available, you just really want to trust the rules and trust the preparation of everything that you have. This is a really good team, a really good defense (and) well coached. It’s always a competitive environment going down there.”
The Eagles have won nine straight games since Week 17 of last season.
Undefeated Colts face biggest test yet
The Rams return home after they had two field goals blocked during a tough loss to the Eagles last week.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua leads the NFL in catches (29) and receiving yards (333) entering Week 4. Nacua hasn’t found the end zone yet, but new Rams wideout Davante Adams has already reached paydirt twice.
The Rams are the toughest test yet for the surprisingly undefeated Colts.
There’s been a lot of talk about how Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is resurrecting his career, but running back Jonathan Taylor’s been Indy’s best offensive player. Taylor tops the NFL with 338 rushing yards and 431 scrimmage yards entering Week 4.
The Colts have a chance to be 4-0 for the first time since 2009. If they beat the Rams in LA, they’ll also put the NFL on notice.
“I think when you watch that team, there’s a lot of belief in themselves and in each other. They enjoy it and that’s all that matters,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of the Colts. “You hit your stride at the right time and you continuously improve and you have the right guys at the key spots, you capitalize on some of that momentum where it can really compound for you, it can be a really powerful thing. That’s why you look at the tape. The tape tells you the story. You know how good of coaches that they have and how good some of the personnel is.”
Ravens, Chiefs both look to get back on track
Few predicted these two AFC powers would meet in Week 4 with identical 1-2 records. The Ravens are Chiefs both aim to get back on track in this heavyweight tilt.
This game will mark the seventh time in the past eight seasons, including the playoffs, that Baltimore and Kansas City have faced off.
Which NFL teams need to worry? Chiefs, Cowboys lead panic meter readings
Ravens two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is 1-5 against the Chiefs in his career, including the playoffs. Jackson currently leads the NFL in touchdown passes (9) and passer rating (141.8). He’s going to need another MVP-level performance to beat Patrick Mahomes and company in Kansas City.
“It’s in the past,” Jackson said this week of the previous losses against Kansas City. “You can’t bring what happened back whenever when to this year. We just got to lock in on what’s ahead right now. Just getting better in practice, watch film on those guys, watch ourselves, self-scout ourselves and just get after it come Sunday.”
The loser of this game will have the difficult task of digging out of a 1-3 hole.
Micah Parsons returns to Dallas
This game was circled on the calendar as soon as Parsons was traded to Green Bay.
You can bet Parsons wants to make Jerry Jones regret trading him after he starred in Dallas for four seasons. The Packers edge rusher downplayed his return to Dallas, but said it’s going to be “painful” when he gets a chance to sack his former teammate Dak Prescott.
Micah Parsons says Dallas Cowboys contest just another game. No one believes that
‘It’s going to be painful,’ Parsons said in a Tuesday interview with the Associated Press. ‘That’s my guy. He was always like a good mentor for me. But you know how it is. He always told me if I ever faced him that it’ll be a great matchup, so I’m excited to see what Sunday brings itself.’
How many sacks, if any, will Parsons tally against Dallas? Parsons has 1.5 sacks and 15 pressures coming into Sunday.
The Packers enter Week 4 with the NFL’s third ranked defense and they are first in points allowed.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
