The full NFL Sunday slate for Oct. 4, 2026, converted to Arizona time, with current records, matchup analysis and a prediction for every game.
NFL Sunday, Oct. 4: a 14-game marathon built for Tucson
Sunday starts before sunrise in Arizona and doesn't let up until dinner. The NFL's Week 4 schedule drops 14 games on Oct. 4, 2026 — a 6:30 a.m. Arizona kickoff out of London, eight games at 10 a.m., four afternoon matchups sliding in at 1:05 or 1:25 p.m., and Sunday Night Football wrapping things up at 5:20 p.m. Undefeated teams are on display, so are desperate 0-3 squads, the AFC West is already locked in a tight collision, and injury reports keep things honest with enough midweek uncertainty to make Thursday's practice notes matter.
This River Road Report pulls together the NFL's Week 4 schedule, records and injury notes as of Oct. 1, plus Week 3 results, to walk you through the day from first coffee to the final whistle. Practice designations can shift before kickoff, so treat midweek notes as uncertainty rather than final availability.
Early window, Part I: London at 6:30 a.m. and the first wave at 10:00
Colts (1-2) at Commanders (1-2) — 6:30 a.m. Arizona. Indianapolis finally broke through last week with a 19-17 win over Houston, while Washington edged Seattle 33-31. The Commanders have already ruled out Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross, so the London opener comes with real personnel uncertainty. Washington showed more late-game punch in Week 3, and that edge should carry across the pond. Prediction: Commanders 23, Colts 20.
Titans (0-3) at Ravens (2-1) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Tennessee scored just seven points in a lopsided loss to the Giants, while Baltimore held off Dallas 34-31 in a thriller. Lamar Jackson was limited in practice with a back issue, making his final status the biggest variable in a matchup Baltimore otherwise controls with depth and offensive ceiling. Prediction: Ravens 27, Titans 13.
Patriots (1-2) at Bills (3-0) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Buffalo survived five turnovers and still found a way to beat the Chargers 24-16; New England is reeling from a 35-6 drubbing by Jacksonville. Drake Maye appeared on the Patriots' injury report with a shoulder issue but said it wasn't affecting his throws. Buffalo has far more margin for error right now — and way more talent on both sides. Prediction: Bills 30, Patriots 17.
Jets (1-2) at Bears (2-1) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. The Jets lost 31-24 to Detroit, while Chicago beat Philadelphia 27-7 on Monday night. Chicago's starting-quarterback situation remained unsettled entering Week 4, which keeps this from being a comfortable pick despite the Bears' strong Week 3 showing. Prediction: Bears 23, Jets 20.
Jaguars (2-1) at Bengals (2-1) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Jacksonville arrives with real momentum after hammering New England 35-6; Cincinnati is trying to reset after a 30-27 loss at Pittsburgh. Both teams are 2-1, but the Jaguars have the cleaner recent performance and enough speed to stress Cincinnati on both sides of the ball. Prediction: Jaguars 27, Bengals 24.
Cowboys (1-2) at Texans (0-3) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Dallas pushed Baltimore before falling 34-31, while Houston dropped another one-score game, 19-17, to Indianapolis. The Texans have been more competitive than 0-3 suggests, but Dallas showed enough offensive life in Week 3 to earn the edge. Prediction: Cowboys 24, Texans 20.
Early window, Part II: three more 10:00 a.m. games with upset potential
Cardinals (1-2) at Giants (2-1) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Arizona just went toe-to-toe with unbeaten San Francisco before losing 36-30, while New York beat Tennessee 12-7. The Cardinals showed more offensive ceiling against a stronger opponent, and that is enough to swing a close road pick. Prediction: Cardinals 23, Giants 20.
Rams (1-2) at Eagles (2-1) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Los Angeles lost 30-26 at Denver on Sunday night, while Philadelphia was beaten 27-7 by Chicago on Monday. The Rams expect Puka Nacua to return after missing two games with a hip/groin injury — a meaningful boost in a matchup where explosive plays could decide it. Philadelphia still gets the slight home-field lean. Prediction: Eagles 27, Rams 24.
Packers (1-2) at Buccaneers (0-3) — 10:00 a.m. Arizona. Green Bay is trying to recover from a 35-14 home loss to Atlanta, while Tampa Bay is still looking for its first win after falling 23-16 to Minnesota. The Packers have been uneven, but Tampa Bay has yet to put together a complete game. Prediction: Packers 24, Buccaneers 17.
Late-afternoon games: unbeaten showdowns and a brutal AFC West test
Dolphins (0-3) at Vikings (3-0) — 1:05 p.m. Arizona. Miami lost 24-10 to Kansas City last week and now walks into Minnesota against an unbeaten team that just beat Tampa Bay 23-16. The records tell the story: Miami needs a clean, efficient game just to keep this from tilting early. Prediction: Vikings 27, Dolphins 17.
Chiefs (3-0) at Raiders (3-0) — 1:25 p.m. Arizona. This is the late window's heavyweight: two unbeaten AFC West teams, Patrick Mahomes back at full speed after last season's injury, and Maxx Crosby waiting on the other side. Kansas City beat Miami 24-10 in Week 3; Las Vegas beat New Orleans 35-27, with Brock Bowers earning league recognition afterward. The Raiders are real, but Kansas City remains the steadier choice in a one-score divisional game. Prediction: Chiefs 27, Raiders 24.
Chargers (0-3) at Seahawks (2-1) — 1:25 p.m. Arizona. Los Angeles is still winless after a 24-16 loss at Buffalo, while Seattle lost a 33-31 heartbreaker in Washington. The Seahawks have shown more finishing ability through three weeks, and Lumen Field adds another layer to an already difficult spot for the Chargers. Prediction: Seahawks 26, Chargers 20.
Broncos (2-1) at 49ers (3-0) — 1:25 p.m. Arizona. Denver beat the Rams 30-26 on Sunday night, while San Francisco stayed unbeaten by surviving Arizona 36-30. The Broncos have enough balance to make this uncomfortable, but the 49ers have been better at turning tight games into wins. Prediction: 49ers 28, Broncos 23.
Sunday Night Football: Lions at Panthers closes the day
Lions (2-1) at Panthers (1-2) — 5:20 p.m. Arizona. Detroit rebounded from its Week 2 loss by beating the Jets 31-24, while Carolina came up short 21-18 in Cleveland. The Panthers have already shown they can surprise people this season, but Detroit brings the more reliable offense and the stronger three-week body of work. Prediction: Lions 28, Panthers 20.
By the time Sunday night arrives, the best of Week 4 should already have produced plenty to argue about. For Tucson fans, the cleanest viewing plan is simple: catch the London opener if you are ambitious, lock in for the crowded 10 a.m. window, circle Chiefs-Raiders at 1:25 p.m., then finish with Detroit-Carolina. Famous Sam's on River fits naturally into that kind of football day — grab a spot early for the big matchups, settle in for the 10 a.m. marathon, and let the day unfold.
The games that matter most — and the late-week injury check
If you can only choose a few windows, Chiefs-Raiders is the late-afternoon headliner because both teams enter 3-0, Rams-Eagles has the best quarterback-and-playmaker feel in the early block, and Broncos-49ers puts two winning teams together with San Francisco's unbeaten start on the line. The London opener is its own event simply because 6:30 a.m. Arizona football is an act of commitment.
Injury information remains fluid on Thursday. The NFL's Week 4 reporting already confirms Washington will be without Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross, Lamar Jackson has been limited with a back issue, Drake Maye has appeared on New England's report with a shoulder issue, and the Rams expect Puka Nacua back from a hip/groin injury. Other final game designations can change before kickoff, so any major Friday or weekend update should be folded into the draft before publication.
One last note for the road: this guide is all about the Sunday slate. The Steelers-Browns Thursday night battle and the Falcons-Saints Monday night matchup are separate events. We're focusing on the 14-game Sunday marathon here, so keep this map handy as you navigate the day.