A top QB showdown and a historic anniversary: 5 things to know from the NFL this week
By Andy Scholes, CNN
(CNN) — Three weeks into the NFL season, we’re already seeing some familiar storylines, some huge surprises and plenty of history being made.
The Houston Texans are 0-3 – again – while the Las Vegas Raiders are sitting at a surprising 3-0. Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are renewing a rivalry this week that goes all the way back to college; some of the NFL’s biggest stars are putting up ridiculous numbers, and Monday night in New Orleans will mark the anniversary of one of the most memorable games in NFL history.
Here are five things to watch in Week 4.
Texans are 0-3 … again
Well, this is déjà vu for Texans fans. Another 0-3 start.
Last season, the Texans became just the seventh team ever to make the playoffs after starting 0-3, and they’ve actually done it twice — in 2025 and 2018. But no team has ever lost its first three games and then made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
And only one team has ever started 0-4 and made the playoffs. That was the 1992 San Diego Chargers, who started 0-4 but then won 11 of their final 12 games.
Do the Texans have that kind of run in them?
Well, they would have to start finding a way to block and run the ball, but their upcoming schedule isn’t that difficult. Their next seven games are against the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars in London, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns and then the Indianapolis Colts at home.
If Houston can go 5-2 during that stretch and get to 5-5, the Texans would be well on their way to salvaging the season. And with the AFC South just 3-9 collectively, chasing down a division title is certainly not out of the question despite another terrible start.
The Raiders are 3-0!
On the other side of things, Raider Nation is riding high after yet another thrilling win.
The Raiders are 3-0 for the first time since 2021 and are actually the first team ever to start a season 3-0 after drafting a quarterback No. 1 overall.
But Fernando Mendoza has had nothing to do with the wins.
Instead, 38-year-old Kirk Cousins has found the fountain of youth!
Cousins has been fantastic, throwing three touchdowns in each of the Raiders’ first three games. Fans were hoping Cousins would play well after he reunited with Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who was his offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings when Cousins had some of the best seasons of his career. Right now, Cousins is tied with San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy for the most passing touchdowns this season.
Now, the Raiders’ wins so far have come against the lowly Miami Dolphins, Chargers and New Orleans Saints, so this 3-0 start may turn out to be a bit of a mirage.
But if Las Vegas can beat the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs at home Sunday, that would be a huge statement win – and give the Raiders their first 4-0 start since 2002.
Burrow vs. Lawrence
We have a showdown between former No. 1 overall picks Sunday in Cincinnati as Joe Burrow and the Bengals host Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.
This is a game Lawrence will certainly be motivated for because he has never beaten Burrow — even dating back to college.
Burrow and LSU beat Lawrence and Clemson in the national championship game in January 2020. Burrow has also beaten Lawrence in both of their head-to-head matchups in the NFL.
But if Burrow wants to once again get the better of Lawrence, he’d better already be winning late.
Burrow is 1-34 when trailing in the final eight minutes of regulation.
Just a wild stat.
Stars keep scoring
If you drafted Jahmyr Gibbs, Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Josh Allen in your fantasy league, you’re likely off to a great start because all three are scoring at a historic pace.
Gibbs was the consensus No. 1 overall fantasy pick, and he’s lived up to the hype, scoring six touchdowns in the Detroit Lions’ first three games. He’s just the fifth running back ever to do that to start a season.
JSN, meanwhile, has been incredible for the Seahawks, leading the NFL in both receiving yards and touchdowns. He’s had at least 120 receiving yards and a touchdown in each game, joining Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the only receiver in NFL history to do that in each of the first three games of a season.
And then there’s Allen.
With two more rushing touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Chargers, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history with multiple rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games.
The Buffalo QB already has the most rushing touchdowns ever by a quarterback with 85. That puts him tied for 17th on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdown list. And Allen is still only 30 years old!
His Bills will look for a 4-0 start when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Katrina anniversary game
Monday night will be an emotional one in New Orleans as the Saints commemorate the 20th anniversary of their return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
On September 25, 2006, the Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-3 in their first game back at the Superdome following the storm.
Steve Gleason’s blocked punt, which was recovered for a Saints touchdown, remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise – and arguably NFL – history. The moment is now immortalized with a statue outside the Superdome.
That game became known as the “Domecoming” or “Rebirth” game and served as a powerful symbol of recovery and resilience for the city of New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast region following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Twenty years later, the Falcons and Saints will meet again on Monday night.
Both teams enter the matchup at 1-2.
Full Week 4 schedule
Thursday
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday
Indianapolis Colts @ Washington Commanders (in London, UK), 9:30 a.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
New York Jets @ Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans @ Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings, 4:05 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers, 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints, 8:15 p.m. ET
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