NFL · Week 4 · Sunday wrap · 2026 regular season
Carolina did really well on Sunday night. The Raiders pushed the undefeated Chiefs. Minnesota’s defence remains ridiculous — and the offence still has to catch up.
Sunday games 4 October US. TNF already in: Browns 27, Steelers 24. Monday Night still ahead: Falcons at Saints, Mon 5 Oct 8:15pm ET — Tue 6 Oct 10:15am AEST. No byes. After Sunday only Kansas City, Minnesota and San Francisco remain unbeaten. Desk colour labelled below.
Desk colour (Anthony), labelled: Carolina did really well. Lead with Panthers 32, Lions 26 on Sunday Night. The Raiders pushed the Chiefs, who remain undefeated. The Vikings’ defence is absolutely ridiculous, but the offence must step up — and “switch to Wentz” cries are not valid given his performances were not that stellar either. That Wentz line is desk colour, supported with his actual numbers below. Scores and named stats from ESPN / CBS Sports / NFL.com / team wires.
Panthers 32, Lions 26 — Sunday Night in Charlotte
Carolina Panthers 32, Detroit Lions 26 at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte — Sunday Night Football. Quarters: DET 3-13-3-7, CAR 7-9-13-3. The game was 16–16 at half. Carolina’s first Sunday Night appearance since Week 13 of 2016.
Bryce Young completed his first 11 passes and finished 29/41 for 329 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 turnovers. He joins Cam Newton as the only Panther with 300-plus passing yards and two-plus touchdowns in prime time. Tetairoa McMillan posted a career high: 14 catches, 192 yards, 2 touchdowns, including 9/147 and a 32-yard touchdown in the first half. Chuba Hubbard ran 20 times for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns. After an opening punt, Carolina put together six straight scoring drives.
Detroit cut it to 32–26 with 3:38 left. The Lions’ last drive started from their own 13 with 2:12 remaining and failed to pick up a first down. Jared Goff threw for 412 yards and 1 touchdown. Carolina played without Coker and Legette. Freeling (knee) and Phillips (hamstring) left the game; no update at wrap. Panthers are 2–2, tied atop the NFC South, with a bye next week and then at Philadelphia on 18 October.
Desk colour (Anthony), labelled: Carolina did really well. That is the desk’s read of a Sunday Night in which Young, McMillan and Hubbard all produced against Detroit — not a ranking.
Chiefs 30, Raiders 27 — Allegiant, both unbeaten into Q4
Kansas City Chiefs 30, Las Vegas Raiders 27 at Allegiant Stadium. Quarters: KC 7-3-0-20, LV 7-6-0-14. Chiefs move to 4–0. Raiders take their first loss at 3–1; both clubs entered unbeaten.
Las Vegas led 13–10 into the fourth. The lead flipped again: Raiders 19–17 with 4:53 left, then Chiefs 23–19 with 3:21 left. The Raiders fumbled the next kickoff; Kenneth Walker scored on the next play to make it 30–19. Kirk Cousins found Brock Bowers for a 20-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion to cut it to 30–27 with 1:46 remaining. The final Raiders drive started from their own 1 and ended with an interception of Cousins by Nwankpa.
Walker finished 22 carries, 177 yards, 2 touchdowns, including a 76-yard run. Patrick Mahomes threw for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns and is now 6–0 at Allegiant against the Raiders. Tyquan Thornton had 5 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns before he was carted off with a left ankle injury. Cousins threw for 365 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception; the three tight ends combined for 16 catches, 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rashee Rice (hamstring) did not return. Kansas City has a bye next week.
Desk colour (Anthony), labelled: the Raiders pushed the Chiefs, who remain undefeated. That is the desk’s framing of a fourth quarter that kept flipping until Nwankpa’s interception — not a ranking.
Vikings 15, Dolphins 10 — defence holds; offence still searching
Minnesota Vikings 15, Miami Dolphins 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Vikings are 4–0. All 15 Minnesota points came from Will Reichard field goals — 47, 50, 33, 41 and 29 yards. He is 12/12 on the season and on a streak of 31 straight makes. The Vikings offence scored 0 touchdowns, went 0/3 in the red zone, and has one offensive touchdown across the last three games. NFL.com notes Minnesota as the third team in history to start 4–0 with two games without a touchdown.
The defence allowed 10 points and 198 yards. Malik Willis went 9/17 for 85 yards. Miami managed 77 net passing yards and converted 2/9 on third down. Minnesota recorded 0 interceptions in this game and 2 sacks, both by Dallas Turner — including a strip-sack recovered by Cashman. Turner has 5.5 sacks on the season. Miami’s only touchdown was Ollie Gordon’s 12-yard run; Gordon finished with 100 yards on 9 carries. Minnesota’s season points allowed: 22 + 3 + 16 + 10 = 51.
Kyler Murray started and finished 27/37 for 247 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, sacked 4 times. Season line: 45/71, 433 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 73.3 rating (25th of 29). Minnesota played without Justin Jefferson (ankle). The offensive line took injuries during the game. Fans booed. Kevin O’Connell: “The unacceptable part of it is the pre-snap things.” Murray: “Today wasn't by any means up to our standard.”
Carson Wentz is the backup after J.J. McCarthy was traded to the Giants last week. Wentz Week 1 off the bench: 12/19, 133 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Week 2 as the starter at Chicago: 11/20, 143 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, sacked 3 times; the Vikings scored no touchdown that game. Combined: 23/39, 276 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. CBS / RotoWire on those outings: “It wasn't spectacular.” The switch debate has been documented in Week 3 coverage. This page does not claim fans chanted for Wentz — that remains unconfirmed.
Desk colour (Anthony), labelled: the Vikings defence is absolutely ridiculous, but the offence must step up. “Switch to Wentz” cries are not valid given his performances were not that stellar either — supported by the Week 1–2 lines above and the CBS/RotoWire note. That is desk colour on the switch debate, not a ranking and not a claim that fans chanted for him.
Rest of the Sunday slate
Cowboys 34, Texans 30 — CeeDee Lamb 17/189 and the winning touchdown. Bears 23, Jets 12 — Chicago outgained New York 492–157; Tyson Bagent started. Rams 24, Eagles 20 — Philadelphia went 0/12 on third down. Patriots 29, Bills 26 — Drake Maye threw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Giants 36, Cardinals 24. Ravens 24, Titans 18 — Lamar Jackson’s ankle is day-to-day per Ian Rapoport. 49ers 24, Broncos 14 — San Francisco 4–0.
Winless after Sunday: Houston, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Miami, Los Angeles Chargers.
TNF callback · MNF still ahead
Thursday Night already final: Browns 27, Steelers 24 — see tnf-browns. Monday Night Football still upcoming as of this wrap: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, Monday 5 October 8:15pm ET — Tuesday 6 October 10:15am AEST. No score invented for that game.
Sources: ESPN / CBS Sports / NFL.com Week 4 scoreboard and box scores (Sunday 4 Oct 2026 US; Panthers 32–26 Lions — Young 29/41 329 2 TD 0 TO, McMillan 14/192/2, Hubbard 20/122/2, Goff 412/1, Bank of America Stadium, CAR 2–2; Chiefs 30–27 Raiders — Walker 22/177/2, Mahomes 225/2, Thornton 5/111/2, Cousins 365/2/1 INT, Nwankpa INT, KC 4–0 LV 3–1, Allegiant; Vikings 15–10 Dolphins — Reichard 5 FGs 12/12 season / 31 straight, offence 0 TDs 0/3 RZ, defence 10 pts / 198 yards, Willis 9/17 85, Turner 5.5 sacks, Gordon 9/100/1 rush TD, Murray 27/37 247 0/0 sacked 4, season 45/71 433 1 TD 2 INT 73.3, Wentz W1 12/19 133 3 TD / W2 11/20 143 0 TD sacked 3 / combined 23/39 276 3 TD 0 INT; other Sunday finals as listed; unbeaten KC/MIN/SF; winless HOU/TEN/TB/MIA/LAC); NFL.com (third team in history to start 4–0 with two games without a TD); CBS / RotoWire on Wentz (“It wasn't spectacular”); O’Connell and Murray postgame quotes via team/wire; Rapoport on Lamar ankle day-to-day; TNF Browns 27–24 Steelers already final; MNF Falcons at Saints Mon 5 Oct 8:15pm ET / Tue 6 Oct 10:15am AEST still upcoming. Desk colour (Carolina did really well; Raiders pushed undefeated Chiefs; Vikings D ridiculous / offence must step up / Wentz switch cries not valid given his lines) labelled as such — not rankings. No claim that fans chanted for Wentz (unconfirmed).