NFL Week 4 matchups: An insiders' guide

Washington (0-3) at N.Y. Giants (1-2), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Redskins numbers: Washington's defense is atrocious, ranking 31st in points allowed per drive (3.07). Poor situational play is a primary reason for that, as the Redskins rank last in third-down conversion rate allowed (63.4 percent). Washington cannot allow struggles on the money down to continue against the Giants, who have converted only 30.6 percent of their third downs, 24th in the league. 

Inside Redskins roster: Among coaches who are in at least their sixth season with a team, Jay Gruden is the only one who has never had a 10-win season. With another injury-plagued Redskins team now 0-3 after a nationally televised home loss, Las Vegas’ “first coach fired” favorite may be on borrowed time. But considering the turmoil this organization’s navigated during team president Bruce Allen’s 10-year tenure, will Washington (one 10-win season in the past 14 years) be able to hire a quality coaching candidate to replace the hard-luck Gruden?

Inside Giants numbers: In his NFL debut in Week 3, Daniel Jones contributed four touchdowns, passing for two and running for two. Jones' 336 passing yards against the Buccaneers was the fourth most by a rookie in his first career start.

Inside Giants roster: Not to interrupt the Jones mania, but New York’s multi-pronged defensive issues are not going away. Mike Evans fantasy owners’ collective rejoice came at the expense of top Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins, whose $14.75M 2019 cap hit is fourth among corners. Jenkins and first-round pick Deandre Baker reside as Pro Football Focus’ Nos. 104- and 107-ranked corners (out of 108 graded). For a Giants team lacking a reliable pass rush, their coverage issues being worse than expected should dim enthusiasm for this team -– from a roster-building standpoint.

L.A. Chargers (1-2) at Miami (0-3), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Chargers numbers: Wide receiver Keenan Allen's league-leading 404 receiving yards are 93 more than the second-ranked player (Sammy Watkins). He will have a great opportunity to boost those numbers against a terrible Dolphins secondary. Miami has allowed 9.7 net yards per pass attempt this season, worst in the league.

Inside Chargers roster:  Los Angeles has spent six Day 1 or Day 2 draft picks on offensive linemen since 2013; none have become dependable starters. The Texans’ 12-hit Sunday on Philip Rivers was the latest example of the concerns the Bolts’ offensive front has caused, as Rivers is one of the league’s least mobile passers. 

Inside Dolphins numbers: Miami had its best showing in Week 3, losing by "only" 25 points and trailing by just four points at the half. Its offense continues to be historically inept, as the Dolphins' total of 16 points through three games are the fewest in franchise history. League-wide, a team has not scored 16 points or fewer over its first three games since the 2002 Bengals, who finished 2-14.

Inside Dolphins roster: Finding rays of hope amid this historically bad start is not easy, but undrafted rookie Preston Williams qualifies. The wide receiver out of Colorado State has put together back-to-back 60-plus-yard games for an offense that has struggled to exit third quarters with 100 total yards. Most of Williams’ production against the Cowboys came in the first half, when the game was still competitive. While QB Josh Rosen will likely be replaced by a first-round draft pick in either 2020 or 2021, Williams has a decent chance to be part of the hopeful Dolphins renaissance.

Oakland (1-2) at Indianapolis (2-1), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Raiders numbers: Edge rusher Clelin Ferrell, Oakland's 2019 first-round pick, has gone cold after a hot start. Following a debut in which he posted two quarterback hits (one of those a sack), Ferrell has not knocked down the quarterback once in the past two games. Ferrell will get a tremendous measuring-stick battle against an elite Colts offensive line that allowed one sack against the Falcons in a Week 3 win.

Inside Raiders roster: Not set to return to Oakland until Nov. 3, the Raiders are already close to entering “evaluations for Las Vegas” mode. The Raiders need to find out about their young pass-rushing core; the results are discouraging so far. Defensive end Benson Mayowa leads Oakland with 3.5 sacks, but the seventh-year veteran is more of a stopgap than long-term cog. With the rest of the Raiders’ group -– featuring Ferrell, Arden Key and Maxx Crosby -– grading among the bottom 10 of Pro Football Focus' edge defender list, this should be one of the spotlight areas for the rebuilding team.

Inside Colts numbers: Surrounded by a talented supporting cast, Jacoby Brissett is off to an outstanding start. He is tied for fourth in the league with seven touchdown passes, and his 112.0 passer rating is sixth best in the league. The Raiders have allowed six TD passes and do not have an interception. Oakland has allowed 9.2 yards per pass attempt, the league's third-worst figure.  

Inside Colts roster: 27 percent of Brissett’s 2019 passes have gone to T.Y. Hilton, the Colts’ perennial No. 1 receiver who aggravated a quadriceps injury in Week 3. Brissett eclipsing 300 passing yards with his top target sidelined in the second half is impressive, and with the Raiders not playing especially well on defense, this will be a good spot for the Colts’ young receiver contingent. Without Hilton and Devin Funchess, the receiving reins go to rookie Parris Campbell and second-year talent Deon Cain. The Colts lost both games Hilton missed last season. 

Carolina (1-2) at Houston (2-1), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Panthers numbers: Through two career starts, Kyle Allen has six TD passes and no interceptions, joining Marcus Mariota (2015) as the only other NFL QB with that accomplishment. Houston's defense, sixth in the league with 22 quarterback hits, should test Allen.

Inside Panthers roster:  In Luke Kuechly, Kawann Short, Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy, Carolina has top-market or upper-echelon contracts populating its front seven. The team’s defensive capital interestingly tilted toward interior players made Week 3’s eight-sack showing more impressive, considering none of the highly paid Panthers collected any sacks. Mario Addison, the NFL’s 32nd-highest-paid edge defender, dropped Kyler Murray three times and now has 23 sacks since signing his $7M-average annual value contract in 2017. With rookies Christian Miller (Round 4) and Brian Burns (Round 1) combining for three sacks, Carolina is getting good value from an unorthodox defensive salary structure. 

Inside Texans numbers: Houston's 4.8 yards-per-carry average is seventh best in the league. Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson have been stellar replacing Lamar Miller, combining to rush for 282 yards on 57 carries (4.9 per attempt). The Panthers have allowed the ninth-most rushing yards per game (129).

Inside Texans roster:  Carolina’s imposing defensive front will encounter a Houston blocking quintet that may be in its best position in years. The Texans deployed both of their top draft picks in Week 3, with first-rounder Tytus Howard moving from guard to his natural tackle spot and second-round guard Max Scharping entering the lineup for the first time. This resulted in better protection for Deshaun Watson, who was hit a season-low six times. With Laremy Tunsil and recently extended center Nick Martin anchoring the unit, Houston has made a widespread effort to invest in its worst 2018 position group.

Kansas City (3-0) at Detroit (2-0-1), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Chiefs numbers: Patrick Mahomes is somehow playing even better than he did last season, leading the NFL in passer rating (134.8) and passing yards per game (398.3). Both marks are on pace to clobber the league's season records. Detroit's surprisingly stout defense has allowed a passer rating of 80.1, seventh lowest in the league.

Inside Chiefs roster:  Kansas City’s injuries have further showcased the potency of this offense, with wideouts Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman and running back Darrel Williams joining the brigade of viable Chiefs weapons. The Chiefs executing to this degree -– 33 points on the Ravens without Tyreek Hill and left tackle Eric Fisher -– reveals capabilities NFL offenses rarely possess. In particular, the early use of Hardman and Williams proves positive for Kansas City’s post-2019 reality -– which may not include Robinson or LeSean McCoy (on expiring deals) or Sammy Watkins ($21M 2020 cap number).

Inside Lions numbers: Active hands in the secondary have been a driving force behind Detroit's undefeated start. It has defended 24 passes, the third-highest total in the league and most in the NFC. That playmaking ability has helped the Lions hold opponents to a 54.8 percent completion rate, the league's second-best mark.

Inside Lions roster: For the first time since 2011, the Lions have gone consecutive games without allowing a sack. They did so against the Chargers’ and Eagles’ quality pass rushes. One aspect of Detroit’s line that is paying dividends is the offseason shift of Frank Ragnow from guard to his more natural center position. The 2018 first-round pick enters Week 4 as PFF’s second-highest-rated center. Last year’s center, Graham Glasgow, grades as PFF’s No. 8 overall guard, with career backup Joe Dahl -– extended at a backup-level rate this offseason –- slotting 10th among all guards.

Cleveland (1-2) at Baltimore (2-1), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Browns numbers: The Browns have allowed a sack rate of 9.2 percent, seventh worst in the league. It's a huge step back from 2018, when their 6.2 percent sack rate ranked as the 11th-lowest rate. Improving the pass protection will be especially crucial against a Ravens defense that leads the NFL with 28 QB hits.

Inside Browns roster:   Cleveland’s defense held the Rams to 20 points, doing so without the aid of every member of its starting secondary. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams may be iffy for Week 4, each having suffered pulled hamstrings late last week. But top safety Damarious Randall exited concussion protocol early this week. Although veterans T.J. Carrie and Terrance Mitchell serve as the Browns’ second-string corners, this situation is one to monitor going into one of the biggest Browns-Ravens games in the rivalry’s 21-year history.

Inside Ravens numbers: After a dominant start to the season, John Harbaugh's run defense was gashed by the Chiefs in Week 3. Kansas City rushed 26 times for 140 yards (5.4 yards per attempt), even without starting back Damien Williams. The Baltimore front seven must get back on track as it prepares to face the league's seventh-leading rusher, Nick Chubb (233 yards).

Inside Ravens roster:  Baltimore giving a soon-to-be 30-year-old running back a deal worth $5.2 million annually raised some eyebrows, but Mark Ingram has rewarded the investment. The longtime Saint has been vital to the revamped Lamar Jackson attack, his two 100-yard games providing lead-dog credentials to a backfield that had consisted of bit players for years. Despite Ingram’s age, the Saints not using him like a true workhorse (fewer than 170 carries in five of his eight seasons) kept the veteran’s mileage low enough for a rare third notable running back contract.

New England (3-0) at Buffalo (3-0), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Patriots numbers: The Patriots lead the NFL in passes defended (26), interceptions (6), fewest yards allowed per pass attempt (5.2), fewest passing yards allowed per game (162.3), and lowest opposing passer rating allowed (44.5). The Patriots aim to go their fifth straight game without allowing an offensive touchdown, which would tie the league's post-merger (since 1970) record. The Bills' offense could be a highly favorable matchup -- Buffalo's passer rating of 83.4 is seventh worst in the league.

Inside Patriots roster:  Rob Gronkowski’s retirement has already tested the Patriots’ proven malleability, and FB James Develin’s IR designation will give the defending champions another reason to flood the field with wide receivers. The fullback’s usage rate dwarfed his peers’ last season, with the Pats playing him on 36 percent of their plays. He saw more 2018 snaps (496) than Sony Michel did and was a big part of Michel’s late-season rushing success. Develin’s neck injury may well force offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to use more three- and four-wideout sets. 

Inside Bills numbers: Buffalo's defense is dominant, allowing a score on only 16.7 percent of drives, the second-lowest rate in the NFL. The only team with a lower rate? New England, which has allowed a score on just one drive this season for a scoring rate of 2.7 percent.

Inside Bills roster: Second-year Buffalo defensive tackle Harrison Phillips was in the early stages of a breakout season, with PFF grading the third-round pick as a top-12 interior defender – a noticeable leap from his rookie-year work sample. But an ACL tear will stall Phillips’ momentum and set the Bills’ defensive line back a bit. This will point to Buffalo’s No. 5-ranked defense deploying veteran starter Star Lotulelei more. The seventh-year vet signed a five-year, $50 million deal in 2018, but he has not lived up to that price yet.

Tampa Bay (1-2) at L.A. Rams (3-0), 4:05 p.m. ET

Inside Buccaneers numbers: In their eighth consecutive season with a new kicker, the Bucs are again suffering from kicking issues. Against the Giants, Matt Gay missed two extra points (one of them blocked) and a a 34-yard field goal attempt as time expired, costing Tampa Bay the victory. With two missed field goals and two missed extra points this season, Gay has cost the team eight points, second most in the league for kickers.

Inside Buccaneers roster:  Tampa Bay’s quarterback depth chart will look different in Week 4; the Bucs placed Blaine Gabbert on injured reserve with a non-throwing shoulder injury. Gabbert represented insurance and experience in Bruce Arians’ system, and his exit will move Ryan Griffin -– the rare seventh-year quarterback with no game reps -– into Tampa Bay’s QB2 spot. Winston sat out eight games between 2017-18. The Bucs are fully committed to their inconsistent passer now. 

Inside Rams numbers: The Rams' secondary is stingy, allowing a passer rating of just 66.2 (third best). Los Angeles has allowed only one TD pass. 

Inside Rams roster: Clay Matthews has become a key component of a Los Angeles team that needs more from its defense than it did at this point last season. The Rams gave Matthews barely $4.6 million per year, this deal coming after his second Packers pact (over $12M annually) did not work out. The 33-year-old outside linebacker has produced, registering four sacks (more than his 2018 total). 

Seattle (2-1) at Arizona (0-2-1), 4:05 p.m. ET

Inside Seahawks numbers: Seattle's running game must be more efficient. Seattle is 21st in the league with an average of four yards per rush attempt. Its lead back, Chris Carson, averages only 3.5 yards per carry. Luckily for the Seahawks, they have a favorable matchup against Arizona. The Cardinals have allowed 157 rush yards per game, fourth worst in the league, and their average of 4.9 yards per carry allowed ranks ninth worst.

Inside Seahawks roster:  Part of Seattle’s edge equation has yet to integrate into the mix fully. After making his debut in Week 2, first-round defensive end L.J. Collier was a healthy scratch against the Saints. The TCU-produced defender was the Seahawks’ second straight surprise first-round pick – after running back Rashaad Penny in 2018 – and looms as a key part of the team’s future, in a way Jadeveon Clowney or Ziggy Ansah may not. For now, though, Collier – who missed much of camp with a sprained ankle – is playing behind 2018 third-rounder Rasheem Green.

Inside Cardinals numbers: Kliff Kingsbury has allowed Kyler Murray to sling the football at will, but so far the results have not quite been there. Murray leads the league with 137 pass attempts, but his average of 4.78 net yards per pass attempt ranks 32nd out of 37 qualifiers. The Seahawks are 30th in the league with just eight quarterback hits, so perhaps he'll up that number.

Inside Cardinals roster:  Murray fantasy owners are undoubtedly disappointed in the QB, who has endured 16 sacks (behind only Tennessee's Mariota). At tackle, the Cardinals are starting a first-round pick who has never truly developed and a player who could not make the 2019 Dolphins. D.J. Humphries and Jordan Mills saw Panthers edge players record three sacks and six QB hits in Week 3; this came after the Cardinals effectively demoted waiver claim Justin Murray from his right tackle post. This setup, in place because of right tackle Marcus Gilbert’s season-ending injury, stands to interfere with Murray’s development.

Minnesota (2-1) at Chicago (2-1), 4:25 p.m. ET

Inside Vikings numbers: The Vikings needed to see a bounce-back performance from Kirk Cousins, and they got one in a blowout home win over the Raiders in Week 3. Cousins completed 15 of 21 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He has averaged only 15.5 pass attempts in two home wins. A road date with the Bears will likely not be as comfortable — in 2018, Cousins threw 79 passes in two games against the Bears, averaging a brutal 4.1 net yards per attempt. 

Inside Vikings roster: Minnesota placed No. 3 wideout Chad Beebe on IR, shelving the second-generation NFLer for at least two months. That position has been oddly superfluous, with the Vikings having attempted 63 passes -– 32 fewer than any other team this season. Even with disappointing first-round pick Laquon Treadwell replacing Beebe, the Vikings have only four wideouts on the roster. Most teams carry six; three have seven. The Gary Kubiak-influenced ground attack has been effective, but with the Vikings investing so much in their passing game, it isn’t cost-effective. 

Inside Bears numbers: Chicago's talented defense looks elite once again; it has allowed only 13 points per game through three weeks (third fewest). Khalil Mack's dominance has been a huge part of that, as he ranks second in the league with 20 pressures. The Vikings have allowed the sixth-lowest sack rate in the league (3.1 percent).

Inside Bears roster: Shortly after their defense-powered Super Bowl victory, the Broncos prioritized an extension for one of their inside linebackers (Brandon Marshall) and let the other (Danny Trevathan) walk. That became the Bears’ gain. Chicago gave Trevathan a $7 million-per-year deal in 2016, and he has delivered quality production over the course of it -– often not the case for free agents entering the final year of a second contract. Considering C.J. Mosley’s $17M-per-year pact nuked the off-ball ‘backer market, Trevathan’s became a value buy for the Bears.

Jacksonville (1-2) at Denver (0-3), 4:25 p.m. ET

Inside Jaguars numbers: Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew's 110.6 passer rating is the league's eighth-best mark. While his early numbers are promising, Minshew can still do a much better job pushing the football downfield. His average of 4.0 yards per completion ranks only 24th among qualifiers.  

Inside Jaguars roster: Owner Shad Khan is reportedly ready to pay Jalen Ramsey a cornerback-record contract, which would do well to break the logjam at this position. But Ramsey said he is upset with the Jaguars' front office, headed by executive VP Tom Coughlin and GM Dave Caldwell, and still seeks a trade. The All-Pro talent, though, does not have the options he would have had he held out from training camp. For what it’s worth, the first- and fourth-round picks the Buccaneers sent the Jets for Darrelle Revis in 2013 represent the modern-era high-water mark for cornerback value in a trade.

Inside Broncos numbers: Minshew could have a ton of time to make some big plays downfield. The Broncos' pass rush is surprisingly awful. Despite fielding the duo of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb (a pair that combined for 26.5 sacks last season), Denver has zero sacks and only three quarterback hits. Since sacks were first recorded in 1982, it's only the sixth time a team has failed to record a sack over its first three games of the season.

Inside Broncos roster: Regarding corners, Denver’s offseason strategy has not panned out. The Broncos signed Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan to accompany Chris Harris in nickel sets but have yet to play Callahan. The standout ex-Bears slot defender continues to battle a foot injury – after a foot malady ended his 2018 season – and it has limited the Broncos’ pass defense. While the blame has gone to Miller and Chubb for the team’s stunning sack drought, a secondary that has featured frequently targeted Callahan replacement Isaac Yiadom has contributed to the dry spell. 

Dallas (3-0) at New Orleans (2-1), 8:20 p.m. ET

Inside Cowboys numbers: Dallas' offense has converted a league-best 58.1 percent on third down. If it can keep that going, the Cowboys can have success against a Saints defense that has allowed the league's sixth-highest points per drive average this season. Good pass protection and strong pocket presence from Dak Prescott are essential factors. In their 2018 trip to New Orleans, Prescott was sacked seven times. 

Inside Cowboys roster: Prescott’s September surge has garnered more attention, but Amari Cooper has re-established his value as well. Dallas’ WR1, who has four TDs in three games, looks at a new market after the Julio Jones and Michael Thomas extensions. But if the NFL has no collective bargaining agreement in place by the time free agency hits, final-CBA-year rules take effect -– one of which would allow teams to use their franchise and transition tags in 2020. This would give the Cowboys more control over their free agents, which may well affect Cooper considering Prescott remains without a deal.

Inside Saints numbers: The Saints must get more downfield production from Teddy Bridgewater. His average pass attempt has traveled only 3.4 yards past the line of scrimmage, which ranks 31st out of 35 qualifiers. Opportunities for big plays could be scarce against a Cowboys defense that has allowed only 9.8 yards per completion this season, which ranks fifth best. 

Inside Saints roster: Alvin Kamara’s 161 scrimmage yards and two TDs without Drew Brees in Week 3 highlight his vast talent. This season suddenly doubles as an interesting showcase for Kamara, who is extension-eligible in 2020. The Saints gave Thomas, a player more dependent on Drew Brees, a then-market-topping deal. Kamara thriving with Bridgewater would put the do-it-all Saint in position for a monster extension as the centerpiece of the post-Brees era.

MONDAY

Cincinnati (0-3) at Pittsburgh (0-3), 8:15 p.m. ET

Inside Bengals numbers: A poor rushing attack is one reason Cincinnati is winless. Entering Week 3 ranked last in rush offense DVOA, the Bengals had another hapless rushing performance in Buffalo, gaining 67 yards on 19 carries (3.5 per attempt). The Bengals are ranked 31st in rushing yards per game (42.0) and last in yards per rush attempt (2.4). Things will not get easier against a Steelers defense ranked second in rush defense EPA (estimated points added).

Inside Bengals roster: A.J. Green’s initial timetable pointed to a two- or three-game absence. The Pro Bowl wideout is set to miss his fourth game and will do so without practicing this week. Green and the Bengals expressed hope for another extension this summer, but the contract-year wideout will have missed 17 of Cincinnati’s past 42 games come Monday. The Bengals will likely want to see Green prove his worth again, after this ankle malady. 

Inside Steelers numbers: Pittsburgh's offense is anemic, ranking 27th in points per drive (1.43) and 29th in yards per game (269.3). A home matchup with the struggling Bengals defense could be the perfect recipe for Mason Rudolph. Cincinnati has allowed 8.2 net yards per pass attempt, the fifth-worst mark in the league.

Inside Steelers roster: For the second time in two weeks, one of the NFL’s more traditional franchises made an in-season trade. Pittsburgh has again parted with 2020 draft capital for a player, former Seattle backup tight end Nick Vannett, who is in a contract year. The Steelers have clearly not conceded this is a rare lost season for them, but the franchise has now dealt its 2020 first-, third- and fifth-round picks. For a team that will have a 38-year-old quarterback coming off a long rehab process, the strategy of shedding draft capital for current talent is curious.