• Micah Parsons returns to Dallas: Micah Parsons returns to Dallas as one of the league’s most dominant edge rushers, ranking top-three in pass-rush grade (91.5) and win rate (27%). He’s been doubled on 61% of rushes — second only to Myles Garrett — yet continues to produce.

• Baltimore’s red-zone regression: Baltimore’s red-zone efficiency has regressed from last season’s league-best 75% touchdown rate to just 55% in 2025, with a 22% successful play rate that ranks 29th through three weeks.

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NFL Week 4 is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced data and analysis.

PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff — pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to win your fantasy matchup, hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every Week 4 contest.

Want the same insights trusted by all 32 NFL teams and our broadcast partners? Subscribe to PFF+ and get everything you need to win your fantasy season and gain an edge at the sportsbook.

SEA@ARI | MIN@PIT | WAS@ATL | NO@BUF | CLE@DET | TEN@HOU | CAR@NE | LAC@NYG |
PHI@TB | IND@LAR | JAX@SF | CHI@LV | BAL@KC | GB@DAL | NYJ@MIA | CIN@DEN

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

Sam Darnold is once again thriving off play action — this time in Seattle.

Through Week 3, Darnold leads all quarterbacks in yards per attempt on play-action passes (14.3). It’s a continuation of last year’s success in Minnesota, where he posted a 129.4 passer rating (second-best) and 10.1 yards per attempt (fourth-best) on play action.

On the other side, Seattle’s defense will have its hands full with Kyler Murray. Creating pressure is only part of the equation — Murray leads the league with an average of 4.35 seconds to throw when pressured, making extended coverage critical.

Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers

Something has to give on late downs when the Vikings offense meets the Steelers defense. Minnesota ranks last in the league with just 2.9 yards per play on third and fourth downs and converts only 34% of the time (28th). But Pittsburgh’s defense has been equally poor, allowing 7.0 yards per play and a 50% conversion rate in those same situations, both 30th in the NFL.

This matchup could determine which unit rights the ship first.

On early downs, expect aggressive pressure from Brian Flores. The Vikings have blitzed on 51% of first and second downs, third-most in the league. Aaron Rodgers, however, has responded well to the blitz, getting the ball out in just 2.39 seconds on average, the second-fastest in the NFL behind only Dak Prescott. 

Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons

Washington leaned heavily on a jumbo package in Week 3, using six offensive linemen on 19 plays — the most by any team since Tennessee’s 28 such snaps in Week 18 of the 2023 season. With Trent Scott in as the extra lineman, the Commanders ran 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown from the formation, adding a 56-yard strike to Terry McLaurin on one of just two passes.

For Atlanta, the ground game continues to run through Bijan Robinson. The second-year back leads the NFL with 19 forced missed tackles on rushes this season and has 88 since the start of 2024 — the most in the league over that span.

New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills

Saints center Erik McCoy has picked up right where he left off. Despite battling injuries in 2024, he allowed just a 2.1% pressure rate and no sacks. That consistency has carried into 2025. Through three games, he’s surrendered only one hurry and hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 8 of the 2023 season.

He’ll face a stiff test this week against a relentless Buffalo front. The Bills rank second in quick pressure rate (33% within 2.5 seconds) and third in average time to pressure at 2.41 seconds.

Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions

Grant Delpit has quickly established himself as one of the league’s top run-defending safeties in 2025. His 88.3 run defense grade leads all players at the position, and his six run stops are tied for the most among safeties through three weeks.

For Detroit, Aidan Hutchinson continues to set the tone up front. The edge rusher looked fully back to form in Week 3, racking up nine total pressures against Baltimore, the third-highest single-game total of his career.

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

Peter Skoronski has been one of the league’s top pass-blocking guards through three weeks. His 84.5 pass-blocking grade leads all players at the position, and he’s allowed just two pressures all season. Skoronski has already turned in two clean sheets in protection—one in Week 1 vs. Denver and another last week against Indianapolis.

Houston’s pass rush will test him. The tandem of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter has combined for 148 total pressures since joining forces—fifth-most among any defensive duo over that span.

Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots

Carolina has built a clear defensive identity early in 2025, leaning heavily on light boxes. The Panthers have kept fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage on 60% of snaps — the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. Even with that numbers disadvantage, they’ve held opponents to just 4.4 yards per carry and 2.4 yards after contact, both seventh-best marks league-wide.

On the other side, quarterback Drake Maye continues to progress in Year 2. He owns a 120.0 passer rating against the blitz — third-best in the league — and is completing 73% of his attempts in those situations, also ranking third among quarterbacks.

Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants

Derwin James continues to anchor the Chargers’ defense with his versatility and range. He leads all defensive backs with 14 defensive stops — tied for the third-most among all players this season — and has lined up at multiple positions to create impact plays across the field.

In New York, the Jaxson Dart era kicks off this week. The rookie brings a vertical element to the Giants’ offense after leading the FBS with 17 touchdown passes and 1,517 yards on throws of 20-plus air yards last season at Ole Miss.

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A.J. Brown powered the Eagles’ Week 3 comeback with 103 receiving yards against single coverage—most of any player last week—hauling in five of seven targets. Since the start of the 2024 season, Brown leads all receivers in yards when facing single coverage (879).

He’ll likely see more of the same Sunday, as Tampa Bay has pressed receivers on 78% of coverage snaps this season—the second-highest rate in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams

Rookie tight end Tyler Warren has picked up right where he left off at Penn State. His 132 yards after the catch lead all wide receivers and tight ends through Week 3, following a 2024 college season in which he ranked second among FBS tight ends with 690 yards after the catch.

For the Rams, Puka Nacua continues to dominate their passing attack. He leads all wide receivers in target rate (43%) and ranks second with 4.11 yards per route run.

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers

The Jaguars have made screens a focal point of their passing game, calling them on 20% of attempts this season—the highest rate in the league. That’s nearly double their 11% usage in 2024, and it reflects a familiar tendency for offensive coordinator Liam Coen, whose Buccaneers ranked fourth in screen rate (17%) last season.

Fred Warner is showing no signs of slowing down in his eighth season. He leads all linebackers with a 92.8 grade through three games, fueled by elite marks both against the run and in coverage.

Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders

Ben Johnson has brought his signature play-action attack to Chicago, with the Bears using it on 30% of dropbacks—the sixth-highest rate in the NFL. Caleb Williams capitalized in Week 3, posting a career-best 125 yards and two touchdowns off play action. That success could continue against a Raiders defense allowing 9.8 yards per play on play action, which ranks 30th league-wide.

On the other side, Ashton Jeanty has gained all of his rushing yards after contact this season, averaging 0.0 yards before contact per carry. Despite that, he ranks tied for fourth in missed tackles forced. He now faces a Bears defense that has surrendered a league-high 178 rushing yards before contact, potentially giving Jeanty his first real runway this year.

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

Baltimore’s red-zone efficiency has regressed from last season’s league-best 75% touchdown rate to just 55% in 2025, with a 22% successful play rate that ranks 29th through three weeks.

Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz-heavy approach could be tested against Lamar Jackson, who leads the NFL with a 154.8 passer rating and 11.6 yards per attempt when blitzed. Kansas City has defended blitzes well, allowing just a 77.3 passer rating and minimal scrambling damage.

Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys

Micah Parsons returns to Dallas as one of the league’s most dominant edge rushers, ranking top-three in pass-rush grade (91.5) and win rate (27%). He’s been doubled on 61% of rushes — second only to Myles Garrett — yet continues to produce. He’ll now face a Cowboys tackle unit that ranks bottom-five in both pass-block grade (42.5) and pressures allowed (24).

Expect Jordan Love to get back to airing it out in this matchup. While he attempted just one deep pass last week — the fewest of his starting career — he leads the NFL with 162 deep attempts since 2023 and owns a 93.6 deep passing grade this season (fifth-best). The Cowboys’ defense has struggled mightily on these throws, allowing a league-high 444 yards and five touchdowns on deep completions.

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

Jets quarterbacks have been under siege this season, facing a league-high 50% pressure rate, more than 5% higher than any other team. Tyrod Taylor helped mitigate that last week with his mobility, rushing five times for 42 yards and three conversions. But he may not need to run as often in Week 4 against a Dolphins pass rush that surprisingly ranks 30th in pressure rate (25%) despite their talent up front.

De’Von Achane continues to thrive as a pass-catching weapon, leading Miami with 18 receptions on 24 targets. He’s been electric after the catch, racking up an NFL-best 185 yards after the catch and forcing nine missed tackles, also tops among backs. He’ll face a Jets defense that’s allowing a league-worst 7.4 yards after the catch per completion.

Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos

The Broncos defense ranks second in man coverage usage at 43%, setting the stage for marquee one-on-one matchups against Cincinnati’s wide receivers. Ja’Marr Chase has faced Pat Surtain II 44 times in coverage — the fifth-most matchups he’s had against any defender — but has been largely bottled up, managing just three catches for 27 yards on six targets. On the other side, Tee Higgins dominated Riley Moss in Week 17 last season, catching seven of his eight targets for 101 yards and two scores across 24 matchups.

Denver’s screen game remains a core part of its passing attack, with a 20% screen rate (second-highest) and 0.26 EPA per play (also second). Troy Franklin has emerged as the go-to screen target, ranking top-three with seven receptions for 47 yards. He’ll face a Bengals defense that has struggled against screens, allowing 7.8 yards per reception (fifth-most) and two touchdowns — the only team to allow multiple scores on such plays this season.