NFL

NFL Week 4: Top Five Must-See Matchups FT Cowboys Vs. Packers

Week 4 of the NFL season is already off to a flying start. On Thursday night in Arizona, Sam Darnold looked poised under centre for Seattle, guiding the Seahawks into range for Jason Myers’ walk-off field goal in a thrilling win over the Cardinals. If that game is a preview of what’s to come, fans are in for a weekend packed with drama, storylines, and playoff-level intensity.

With so many compelling contests on the schedule, we’ve narrowed it down to the five must-see matchups of Week 4, capped by a primetime showdown featuring two NFC heavyweights.

NFL Week 4: Packers at Cowboys

Packers Vs. Cowboys

Date: Sunday, Sept. 28 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

TV: NBC | Stream: Fubo

The spotlight in Week 4 shines on Arlington, where the Dallas Cowboys host the Green Bay Packers. After a shaky start to the NFL season, the Cowboys are looking to steady themselves in a matchup that feels bigger than just another regular-season game.

The headline is clear: Micah Parsons’ homecoming. Just a month after his blockbuster trade to Green Bay, the All-Pro pass rusher returns to AT&T Stadium to face Dak Prescott and his former teammates. Parsons has already racked up 15 pressures in three games, and paired with Rashan Gary, he anchors one of the league’s most feared defensive fronts.

Dallas, meanwhile, is short-handed. CeeDee Lamb remains out with an ankle injury, and two starting offensive linemen are sidelined. That leaves Prescott leaning heavily on George Pickens and Jake Ferguson, all while navigating a Packers defence that thrives on disruption.

For Green Bay, the pressure is on Jordan Love to build consistency after last week’s stumble in Cleveland. But with his defence clicking and his team favoured on the road, the stage is set for the Packers to make a statement. However, if history has taught us anything, Sunday Night Football in Dallas rarely goes quietly.

Read Also: Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers NFL Preview: Team news, Where to Watch, and Notable Storylines

Ravens at Chiefs

Ravens Vs. Chiefs

Date: Sunday, Sept. 28 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+

The NFL schedule doesn’t always deliver heavyweight bouts this early in the season, but Sunday’s clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs carries playoff-level stakes. Both teams enter at 1-2, meaning the loser could sink into rare and dangerous territory. The last Super Bowl champion to start 1-3 was the 2001 Patriots, a reminder of how steep the climb becomes with that record.

Lamar Jackson has been dazzling in Baltimore’s league-best offence, averaging 37 points per game, but his struggles at Arrowhead remain a concern. He is 0-3 there as a starter and has often been undone by Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz-heavy defence, including seven sacks last week. However, oddsmakers have the Ravens favoured on the road, and a large majority of pundits back them to finally break through against their AFC nemesis. The return of tight end Isaiah Likely, who burned Kansas City last season, could give Jackson another key option.

Patrick Mahomes, meanwhile, has shouldered the burden of an offence still searching for rhythm. Kansas City hasn’t topped 22 points this season, its ground game has sputtered, and it will need rookie wideout Xavier Worthy’s return to inject some spark alongside Travis Kelce. Baltimore’s defence, ranked last after being gashed by Detroit for 224 rushing yards, will look to rebound behind leaders like Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton.

The Chiefs lead the all-time series 8-4 and have won three straight at Arrowhead, including a nail-biting Week 1 victory last season. History favours Kansas City, but with both teams desperate to avoid a 1-3 start, this feels like more than just a regular-season matchup. On paper, the Ravens may look like the stronger team, but in a must-win game at Arrowhead, betting against Mahomes is never easy.

Vikings at Steelers (Dublin)

Vikings Vs. Steelers

Date: Sunday, Sept. 28 | Time: 9:30 a.m. ET

TV: NFL Network | Stream: Fubo

The NFL makes its long-awaited return to Ireland this Sunday, and the stage couldn’t be bigger: the Minnesota Vikings against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It’s the first leg of a two-game international road swing for Minnesota, a stretch no NFL team has ever attempted. And while the novelty of the setting is undeniable, the stakes on the field are just as real.

The Vikings (2-1) arrive with momentum, fresh off their most complete performance of the year in a blowout win over the Bengals. With rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy sidelined, veteran Carson Wentz has stepped in, leaning on his familiarity with centre Ryan Kelly from their Colts days. He looked comfortable running Kevin O’Connell’s offence in Week 3, though Minnesota’s rotating offensive line remains a concern as they brace for another shuffle. Running back Jordan Mason’s breakout and the return of Christian Darrisaw give the group some stability, but pre-snap penalties have been a lingering issue.

For Pittsburgh (2-1), this game doubles as both a chance to rebound from overseas struggles last year and an opportunity to give Aaron Rodgers one more marquee international spotlight in what’s expected to be his final season. The 41-year-old has shown flashes of his old brilliance, but he’s leaned heavily on short passes so far, with new target DK Metcalf still building chemistry with him. The Steelers’ offence hasn’t fully clicked yet, ranking near the bottom of the league in yardage, though their yards-after-catch ability remains a strength.

Defensively, the matchup is a classic strength-on-strength. Minnesota’s revamped secondary has been stingy, led by Byron Murphy Jr., Jeff Okudah, and Isaiah Rodgers, who just earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week. They’ll be tested by Metcalf, who has four touchdowns in his last six games and has historically performed well against the Vikings. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defence, anchored by T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and newcomers like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, has been leaky through three weeks but still boasts the kind of star power capable of wrecking a game.

Read AlsoCowboys Sign Ex-Packers CB Corey Ballentine Ahead of NFL Week 4 Showdown

Eagles at Buccaneers

Eagles vs. Buccaneers

Date: Sunday, Sept. 28 | Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo

The defending champion Eagles survived a thriller against the Rams in Week 3, riding Jalen Hurts’ second-half surge and a last-second blocked field goal to stay unbeaten. Now comes another test, maybe their toughest yet, as they head to Tampa to face the 3-0 Buccaneers in the Florida heat. It’s the only matchup of undefeated teams on the Week 4 slate, and it feels every bit like an early battle for NFC supremacy.

These two are familiar foes; this will be their sixth meeting in five seasons, with four of those at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay has had the upper hand recently, including a playoff beatdown two years ago and a Week 4 win last season. The Bucs have opened 2025 with three straight nail-biters, all won in the final minute, but they’re hardly a fluke.

Baker Mayfield is off to one of the best starts of his career with six touchdowns and no interceptions, and he’ll get All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs back to help stabilise a banged-up line. Even without Mike Evans and possibly Chris Godwin, Tampa keeps finding ways to move the ball, mixing in tight ends and backs to support Mayfield’s quick-trigger passing.

For Philadelphia, the challenge is clear: withstand Todd Bowles’ relentless blitzes. The Bucs bring pressure on nearly 40 per cent of snaps, one of the league’s highest rates, and they’ve long given Hurts trouble with disguised looks. Hurts has shown progress against early pressure this year. Philly has scored a touchdown in the first quarter of all three games, but history says a slow start in Tampa is dangerous. Behind that aggressive front, the Bucs haven’t allowed a 100-yard rushing game in 11 straight contests, and no individual back has cracked 50 yards against them this season.

The Eagles will also be shorthanded, missing young pass rusher Nolan Smith and potentially corner Adoree’ Jackson. But their defensive depth is strong, and few teams boast a front like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis clogging the middle. Rookie corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have added speed and instincts to a secondary already led by Reed Blankenship, giving Philly plenty of tools to make life difficult for Mayfield.

Beyond the X’s and O’s, the little things may decide it. Both teams have excelled in turnover margin early, tied for fifth in the league, and neither can afford sloppy mistakes in a game this tight. Tampa has also been one of the league’s most penalised teams, a dangerous habit against a disciplined opponent like Philadelphia. And then there’s the heat. September in Tampa tests even the most conditioned teams, and whoever controls time of possession may also control the outcome.

In the end, it’s the kind of matchup that feels like more than just Week 4. The Eagles have won 19 of their last 20 games, while the Buccaneers are chasing a fifth straight NFC South crown and their own spot in the conference hierarchy. One team will leave with a blemish, the other with a perfect record and a strong claim to being the NFC’s team to beat.

Read Also“Just excited to go and have that matchup”: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on reunion with ex-teammate Micah Parsons ahead of Packers clash

5. Colts at Rams

Colts vs Rams

Date: Sunday, Sept. 28 | Time: 4:05 p.m. ET

TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo

The Colts have been one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. Written off in nearly every preseason ranking, they’ve silenced doubters with a 3-0 start fueled by Daniel Jones’ efficient quarterback play and Jonathan Taylor’s return to form. Shane Steichen’s offence has looked balanced and sharp, but now comes their toughest test yet, a trip to Los Angeles to face Sean McVay’s Rams, a team built for another Super Bowl run.

The Rams are as well-rounded as anyone in the league. Matthew Stafford has Puka Nacua leading the NFL in receiving yards, Davante Adams working the perimeter, and Kyren Williams providing steady production on the ground. Rookie Blake Corum has added a jolt of explosiveness, too, giving McVay more options to stress defences. On the other side of the ball, Los Angeles is the only team ranking in the top five in both yards per play on offence and yards per play allowed on defence. Their 12 sacks through three games are tied for the league lead, and rookie edge rusher Jared Verse has fit right in with a ferocious front.

For Indianapolis, this is more than just another game. It’s a measuring stick. The Colts have thrived by protecting Jones, limiting mistakes, and leaning on Taylor to set the tone. But against a Rams defence that rarely gives an inch and an offence that can strike in a hurry, their margin for error shrinks considerably. Depth players like guard Dalton Tucker, receiver Adonai Mitchell, and rotational pass rusher Neville Gallimore may be as important as the stars if Indy hopes to keep pace.

Both teams see this matchup as a chance to define who they are. The Rams want to remind the league why they belong among the NFC’s elite. The Colts want to prove their hot start isn’t just smoke and mirrors. If Indianapolis walks out of SoFi with a 4-0 record, the conversation around them in the AFC South, and maybe beyond, will change completely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is the Cowboys vs. Packers game considered the top matchup of Week 4?

The Cowboys vs. Packers game is considered the top matchup of Week 4 because it features Micah Parsons’ emotional return to Dallas after his trade, Dak Prescott’s underdog Cowboys facing a fierce Packers defence, and the added drama of Sunday Night Football under the lights.

Will Micah Parsons play his former team when the Packers face the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football?

Yes. Parsons was traded from Dallas to Green Bay before the season, and he’s already made a huge impact with the Packers’ defence. Sunday night will mark his first game back at AT&T Stadium since the trade, making it one of the biggest storylines of Week 4.

Why is the Vikings vs. Steelers game being played in Dublin, and why is it historic?

The NFL chose Dublin as part of its push to expand international games, bringing a regular-season matchup to Ireland for the first time ever. It’s also historic because the Vikings are the first team to take on a two-game international road swing, something no franchise has attempted before.

What time does the Vikings vs. Steelers game in Dublin kick off, and how can fans watch it live?

Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Fans in the U.S. can watch the game live on NFL Network or stream it on Fubo

How big is the Eagles vs. Buccaneers clash for NFC supremacy?

It’s the only matchup of undefeated teams in Week 4, and both franchises have recent playoff history against each other, raising the stakes well beyond a typical early-season game.

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