NFL Week 4 breakdown: Chiefs edge Jets in front of Taylor Swift; Cowboys embarrass Patriots

As Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season winds down it feels like we're already wondering: Will Taylor Swift be in Minnesota for the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings?

Here are some of the other top story lines from Sunday:

• It's hard to imagine anything that happened Sunday being more meaningful than Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin returning to action. Hamlin mostly played on special teams in his first regular-season game since suffering cardiac arrest on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals last season.
• The NFL and Disney+ might have actually found something with their "Toy Story Funday Football" broadcast. The alternate, and animated, broadcast took place in the "Toy Story" bedroom and included Slinky Dog working as the mark for first downs.
• Is this rock bottom for the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick? The Patriots' 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys was the most lopsided defeat of Belichick's 29 years as head coach. Belichick remains one win shy of joining George Halas and Don Shula as the only NFL coaches with 300 career regular-season victories.
• Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles just over 10 months after returning from an ACL tear. Bills coach Sean McDermott says an MRI is scheduled for Monday.
• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett left Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans during the third quarter with a knee injury. Mitchell Trubisky replaced Pickett, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game he had no further information.
• And, of course, Taylor Swift witnessed Travis Kelce "rock the stage" at another Chiefs game. Swift sat with famous friends – actors Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Hugh Jackman – during Kansas City's matchup with the New York Jets.

➤ PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 4

NFL Week 4 key storylines

• Winners and losers: The last time a non-quarterback won the NFL MVP was 2012 when Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson did it. Could this be the year that drought is snapped?
• 32 things we learned: There are two undefeated teams left, and they're both in the NFC. But are either the actual team to beat? Nate Davis looks a little closer.
• Major statement: One week after the Miami Dolphins put up 70 points and won by 50, the Buffalo Bills reminded them they are still very much the kings of the AFC East, writes Jarrett Bell.
• Un-Bear-able: After running out to a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, the Chicago Bears watched it all slip away against the Denver Broncos. The Bears are one of only two teams without a win during the 2023 campaign.

➤ PHOTOS: Fans, mascots, cheerleaders and celebrities at NFL games

NFL Week 4 results

• Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Atlanta Falcons 7: In the first of five international games on the NFL's docket this season, Jacksonville got three sacks from Josh Allen and a pick-six from Darious Williams to help break a two-game skid. Calvin Ridley added a touchdown for the Jaguars against his former team.
• Buffalo Bills 48, Miami Dolphins 20: Josh Allen threw for 320 yards on 21 of 25 passing and four touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground, and Buffalo gave Miami a reality check one week after the Dolphins put up 70 points in a win against the Broncos.
• Minnesota Vikings 21, Carolina Panthers 13: It wasn't pretty, but the Vikings picked up their first win of the 2023 season as Kirk Cousins tossed two touchdown passes to Justin Jefferson, and D.J. Wonnum returned a Bryce Young fumble 51 yards for a game-changing score.
• Denver Broncos 31, Chicago Bears 28: One week after losing by 50 points to the Dolphins, Denver rallied from a 21-point third-quarter deficit to earn Sean Payton's first win with the Broncos. Russell Wilson tossed three touchdown passes and Will Lutz kicked the tiebreaking 51-yard field goal with 1:46 to play.
• Baltimore Ravens 28, Cleveland Browns 3: Lamar Jackson accounted for four touchdowns – two rushing, two passing – and Baltimore's defense made life miserable for rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson Robinson, who made his first NFL start in place of injured starter Deshaun Watson.
• Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6: Houston rookie C.J. Stroud threw for two touchdowns and 306 yards to give him the second-most passing yards by a rookie after his first four career games. Pittsburgh's usually stout defense allowed 451 total yards.
• Los Angeles Rams 29, Indianapolis Colts 23 (OT): Despite blowing a 23-point lead, L.A. earned the overtime victory when a hobbled Matthew Stafford hit rookie receiver Puka Nacua for a 22-yard touchdown. It was Indianapolis' sixth consecutive loss at home.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26, New Orleans Saints 9: The rebirth of Baker Mayfield continues in Tampa Bay after the 2018 No. 1 pick tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers to help the Buccaneers move into first place all by themselves in the NFC South.
• Philadelphia Eagles 34, Washington Commanders 31 (OT): Philadelphia stayed undefeated … barely. Jake Elliott's 54-yard field goal in overtime helped the Eagles to their second consecutive 4-0 start. A.J. Brown caught nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns for Philly.
• Tennessee Titans 27, Cincinnati Bengals 3: Cincinnati's offensive woes continued as Joe Burrow threw for just 165 yards. The Bengals remain one of two NFL teams not to score a first-half TD this season. Derrick Henry ran for a touchdown and made a jump-pass to rookie tight end Josh Whyle for another score.
• Los Angeles Chargers 24, Las Vegas Raiders 17: Khalil Mack set a Chargers single-game record with six sacks, while Justin Herbert shook off an injured middle finger on his non-throwing hand and accounted for three touchdowns. After an 0-2 start, Los Angeles is back to .500 at 2-2.
• Dallas Cowboys 38, New England Patriots 3: Dallas' defense forced three turnovers and returned two of them for touchdowns to hand Bill Belichick and New England an embarrassing loss. DaRon Bland had two interceptions, including his second pick-six of the young season.
• San Francisco 49ers 35, Arizona Cardinals 16: Christian McCaffrey scored four touchdowns, one shy of the franchise record, as San Francisco improved to 4-0. 49ers QB Brock Purdy went 20-for-21, setting a 49ers franchise record for completion percentage in a game.
• Kansas City Chiefs 23, New York Jets 20: In front of Taylor Swift and a handful of her Hollywood friends, Kansas City coughed up a 17-point lead but held off feisty New York. Patrick Mahomes' 24-yard run on third-and-22 sealed the victory after a Jets interception was negated by a holding call.
• Detroit Lions 34, Green Bay Packers 20 (Thursday): David Montgomery rushed for a career-high 121 yards and three touchdowns to give the Lions their fourth consecutive win against the Packers and catapult Detroit into sole possession of first place in the NFC North.

Coming this week!

Monday: "Monday Night Football" returns to normalcy with just one matchup on ESPN in Week 4. The Seattle Seahawks are looking to stay hot and capture their third consecutive win as they head into MetLife Stadium to face the offensively starved New York Giants.

Tuesday: Paste BN Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 4.

Thursday: Week 5 kicks off with the Washington Commanders welcoming the Chicago Bears into FedEx Field (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) in a matchup of teams with a combined record of 2-6. Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 5 game.

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