Week 4 Warmup: Pats on cusp of the impossible, Jags desperate for win

The Week 4 Warmup takes an in-depth look ahead at the most intriguing storylines to preview the NFL's weekend slate of games.

The Rundown

One-way flight?

The Jaguars entered this season thought by many to be positioned for a long-awaited turnaround. Yet another impressive draft class added some young talent to the defensive side, and the the offense was only supposed to improve after last season's breakout. With his team having fallen well short of all such expectations and regressing to an 0-3 mark heading into a London matchup with the Colts, Gus Bradley's job could now be on the line. The bye week that follows international games has become a popular time to make changes.

Perfect Patriots

Raise your hand if you had the Patriots sitting 4-0 when Tom Brady made a triumphant return from his Deflategate suspension. No you didn't. Behind a well-rounded roster and a coaching staff that unquestionably remains among the NFL's elite, New England has an opportunity to do just that this week against the division-rival Bills. That should be a scary thought for the rest of the NFL as Brady waits in the wings.

Geno on standby

The already curious decision to bring Ryan Fitzpatrick back as the starter became all the more questionable when the veteran signal-caller served up six(!) interceptions in a loss to the Chiefs last week. Unless he can turn in a more promising performance against a still-dominant Seahawks defense - which seems unlikely at best - perhaps it's time for the Jets to consider making a change. Why not see if Chan Gailey's offense can help Geno Smith the same way it did Fitzpatrick last year?

Must-See Matchups

Bucs WRs vs. Broncos CBs

Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson give the Buccaneers an incredibly imposing pair of receivers on the outside. Their size and ability to consistently win over the top of defenders creates big plays in the passing game, but the duo may meet its match in Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib. The Bucs should have some trouble moving the ball against the NFL's premier cornerback tandem.

Antonio Brown vs. Marcus Peters

Peters' playmaking ability has been readily apparent from Day 1. Perfectly following up a rookie season in which he recorded eight interceptions (tied for the league lead), the Chiefs' young cornerback already has four picks through three games. Any such success in a one-on-one matchup with Brown will tell us everything we need to know about the kind of career Peters is poised to have.

Drew Brees vs. Philip Rivers

These two won't exactly go head-to-head, but a Sunday afternoon showdown between the Saints and Chargers should quickly see both offenses start lighting up the scoreboard. With a pair of defenses at a clear disadvantage, the quarterback who avoids a costly mistake should emerge victorious. Brees, of course, has the extra motivation returning to San Diego for the first time since his free-agent departure in 2005.

Upset Watch

Giants over Vikings (-5)

The Vikings look better than anyone could have expected following the losses of Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson. Led by a stout defensive front and a receiving corps that can be a nightmare for the best of secondaries, though, the Giants may represent the most difficult matchup yet. New York gets it done by making Sam Bradford uncomfortable and getting another strong prime-time performance from Odell Beckham Jr. on the other side of the ball.

Stat of the Week

Unexpected Star

Dwayne Washington, Lions

Injuries and ineffective play in the Lions' offensive backfield should have Washington in line for a lead role this week. The matchup couldn't be much more favorable, as he goes up against a Bears defense allowing 142.7 rushing yards per game, good for 30th in the league. Look for the seventh-round rookie to go over the 100-yard mark and earn himself consideration as the lead back going forward.