Heading into Week 5, three teams remain undefeated in the NFL: the Chiefs, 49ers and Vikings. The first two cases may not come as much of a surprise. Among the teams still looking for their first win — the Dolphins, Titans, Texans, Chargers and Buccaneers — Houston may be the most surprising, considering the potential of its defense, a unit that has let the team down late in games.
A Surprising 4-0: Minnesota Vikings
Using two quarterbacks, winning two of their four games solely on field goals, but playing dominant defense, the Vikings entered October undefeated. They currently have the NFL’s best defense.
Minnesota is allowing an average of 12.8 points per game, has recorded 16 sacks and blitzes on 66.9% of its defensive plays. The Vikings rank first in the league in all three categories.
In three of their four wins, they held their opponents below 300 total yards. Against the Bears, they allowed just two field goals. Against the Dolphins, they gave up only 10 points.
Individually, Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel have stood out, combining for 8.5 sacks. Defense is the key to Minnesota’s success. The question is whether this formula can remain effective throughout the entire season.
A Troubling 0-4: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have played poorly, and as a result, they have lost. The biggest concern is on offense, which ranks fourth-worst in the NFL at 16.8 points per game.
They didn’t score more than 20 points until their most recent game, when they lost 30-23 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. To make matters worse, Los Angeles has committed a league-high 10 turnovers. Four of those came in Week 4.
Justin Herbert’s performance is also concerning. Through four games, he has thrown six interceptions — he had 13 all of last season — while completing 59.7% of his passes, the lowest mark of his career. His 70.6 passer rating is also a career low.
The schedule isn’t encouraging, either. The Chargers host the Broncos before traveling to face the Chiefs and Rams, with a bye week in between.
When will they finally get their first win? That’s a difficult question to answer.
Philadelphia Eagles: Falling Apart?
In less than five days, the Eagles lost at home to the Rams, falling to 2-2. During the same game, Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for at least a couple of games.
On Tuesday, Lane Johnson — who did not play Sunday — announced his retirement, ending a 14-year career for personal reasons.
Anything else? On Wednesday, the Eagles traded Cam Jurgens, a starting offensive lineman, to the Baltimore Ravens for two future draft picks.
This chain of events could suggest that the Eagles’ competitive aspirations have taken a major hit before the halfway point of the season. Now, it will be up to Nick Sirianni to figure things out on the field and Howie Roseman to address them at the front-office level.
The Value of the Backfield: Walker, Robinson and Other Standouts
Five running backs have recorded at least 80 carries through four games: Derrick Henry, Kenneth Walker, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
At their current pace, all five could finish the regular season with more than 300 carries. Of the group, Walker and Robinson stand out in particular, as they currently lead the NFL in rushing yards.
Walker has made an immediate impact with the Chiefs. In two games, he has recorded runs of 50-plus yards, and in three of his four games, he has topped 100 scrimmage yards. He also has six touchdowns.
Robinson is the centerpiece of the Falcons’ offense and the main reason behind their two most recent wins. In both games, he topped 100 yards, broke off runs of 50-plus yards and, so far, has scored five touchdowns.
You can also read this article in Spanish: Después de cuatro semanas en la NFL 2026
