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2026 NFL · WEEK 4 · FSN-ROOT-1.1

NFL Week 4 Rooting Guide: Who Should Every Team Root For?

Pick your team for Week 4. FSN ranks every other unplayed game by how much each result helps your playoff path—using the same 5,000 full-season simulations behind the Playoff Predictor.

PICK YOUR TEAM

Who should you root for in Week 4?

WEEK 4 ROOTING INTERESTS

Arizona Cardinals fans: here’s who to root for

Your own game is excluded. Winning that one is still the best possible rooting strategy.

Current playoff odds5.1%4 meaningful outside-game impacts
Meaningful impact
ROOT FOR New York Jets over Chicago Bears
+1.7 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If New York Jets wins6.3%Playoff odds
If Chicago Bears wins4.6%Playoff odds
Playoffs6.3%vs4.6%
Division0.1%vs0.2%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Meaningful impact
ROOT FOR Philadelphia Eagles over Los Angeles Rams
+1.1 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Philadelphia Eagles wins5.7%Playoff odds
If Los Angeles Rams wins4.6%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.7%vs4.6%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Meaningful impact small model edge
ROOT FOR Miami Dolphins over Minnesota Vikings
+1.0 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Miami Dolphins wins5.9%Playoff odds
If Minnesota Vikings wins4.9%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.9%vs4.9%
Division0.2%vs0.2%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Meaningful impact
ROOT FOR Green Bay Packers over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
+1.1 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Green Bay Packers wins5.6%Playoff odds
If Tampa Bay Buccaneers wins4.5%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.6%vs4.5%
Division0.1%vs0.3%
#1 seed0.0%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Small edge
ROOT FOR New England Patriots over Buffalo Bills
+1.0 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If New England Patriots wins5.8%Playoff odds
If Buffalo Bills wins4.8%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.8%vs4.8%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Small edge
ROOT FOR Houston Texans over Dallas Cowboys
+0.8 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Houston Texans wins5.5%Playoff odds
If Dallas Cowboys wins4.6%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.5%vs4.6%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.0%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Small edge small model edge
ROOT FOR Tennessee Titans over Baltimore Ravens
+0.7 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Tennessee Titans wins5.7%Playoff odds
If Baltimore Ravens wins5.0%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.7%vs5.0%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Small edge small model edge
ROOT FOR Los Angeles Chargers over Seattle Seahawks
+0.7 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Los Angeles Chargers wins5.6%Playoff odds
If Seattle Seahawks wins5.0%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.6%vs5.0%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Small edge small model edge
ROOT FOR Washington Commanders over Indianapolis Colts
+0.5 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Washington Commanders wins5.4%Playoff odds
If Indianapolis Colts wins4.9%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.4%vs4.9%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Small edge small model edge
ROOT FOR San Francisco 49ers over Denver Broncos
+0.6 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If San Francisco 49ers wins5.2%Playoff odds
If Denver Broncos wins4.7%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.2%vs4.7%
Division0.1%vs0.2%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Minimal impact small model edge
ROOT FOR Carolina Panthers over Detroit Lions
+0.5 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Carolina Panthers wins5.4%Playoff odds
If Detroit Lions wins4.9%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.4%vs4.9%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Minimal impact small model edge
ROOT FOR Jacksonville Jaguars over Cincinnati Bengals
+0.5 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Jacksonville Jaguars wins5.3%Playoff odds
If Cincinnati Bengals wins4.8%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.3%vs4.8%
Division0.2%vs0.1%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Minimal impact small model edge
ROOT FOR Las Vegas Raiders over Kansas City Chiefs
+0.2 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Las Vegas Raiders wins5.2%Playoff odds
If Kansas City Chiefs wins5.0%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.2%vs5.0%
Division0.2%vs0.2%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Minimal impact
ROOT FOR New Orleans Saints over Atlanta Falcons
+0.2 pts Division odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If New Orleans Saints wins0.3%Division odds
If Atlanta Falcons wins0.0%Division odds
Playoffs5.1%vs5.0%
Division0.3%vs0.0%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.0%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
Minimal impact small model edge
ROOT FOR Cleveland Browns over Pittsburgh Steelers
+0.2 pts Playoff odds for Arizona Cardinals in the preferred-result branch
See the simulation impact
If Cleveland Browns wins5.2%Playoff odds
If Pittsburgh Steelers wins5.0%Playoff odds
Playoffs5.2%vs5.0%
Division0.1%vs0.2%
#1 seed0.1%vs0.1%
Reach SB0.0%vs0.0%
Win SB0.0%vs0.0%
ALL 32 TEAMS

Top rooting interest at a glance

This server-rendered table gives every fan base’s strongest current outside-game rooting interest. Use the picker above for the full slate.

TeamRoot forAgainstImpact
ARIArizona Cardinals New York JetsChicago Bears+1.7 ptsPlayoff odds ATLAtlanta Falcons Detroit LionsCarolina Panthers+2.4 ptsPlayoff odds BALBaltimore Ravens Jacksonville JaguarsCincinnati Bengals+7.4 ptsDivision odds BUFBuffalo Bills Tennessee TitansBaltimore Ravens+5.1 ptsNo. 1 seed odds CARCarolina Panthers Atlanta FalconsNew Orleans Saints+4.8 ptsPlayoff odds CHIChicago Bears Carolina PanthersDetroit Lions+5.3 ptsDivision odds CINCincinnati Bengals Tennessee TitansBaltimore Ravens+8.5 ptsDivision odds CLECleveland Browns Tennessee TitansBaltimore Ravens+3.4 ptsPlayoff odds DALDallas Cowboys Los Angeles RamsPhiladelphia Eagles+6.1 ptsDivision odds DENDenver Broncos Las Vegas RaidersKansas City Chiefs+6.1 ptsDivision odds DETDetroit Lions Miami DolphinsMinnesota Vikings+8.2 ptsDivision odds GBGreen Bay Packers Washington CommandersIndianapolis Colts+1.2 ptsPlayoff odds HOUHouston Texans Washington CommandersIndianapolis Colts+2.0 ptsPlayoff odds INDIndianapolis Colts Cincinnati BengalsJacksonville Jaguars+4.9 ptsDivision odds JAXJacksonville Jaguars New England PatriotsBuffalo Bills+7.0 ptsNo. 1 seed odds KCKansas City Chiefs New England PatriotsBuffalo Bills+6.2 ptsNo. 1 seed odds LVLas Vegas Raiders Detroit LionsCarolina Panthers+5.1 ptsPlayoff odds LACLos Angeles Chargers Jacksonville JaguarsCincinnati Bengals+0.5 ptsPlayoff odds LARLos Angeles Rams New York JetsChicago Bears+3.6 ptsPlayoff odds MIAMiami Dolphins Philadelphia EaglesLos Angeles Rams+0.2 ptsPlayoff odds MINMinnesota Vikings New York JetsChicago Bears+5.1 ptsDivision odds NENew England Patriots Kansas City ChiefsLas Vegas Raiders+3.7 ptsPlayoff odds NONew Orleans Saints Detroit LionsCarolina Panthers+7.5 ptsPlayoff odds NYGNew York Giants Houston TexansDallas Cowboys+2.9 ptsPlayoff odds NYJNew York Jets San Francisco 49ersDenver Broncos+1.3 ptsPlayoff odds PHIPhiladelphia Eagles Houston TexansDallas Cowboys+5.7 ptsPlayoff odds PITPittsburgh Steelers Washington CommandersIndianapolis Colts+2.8 ptsPlayoff odds SFSan Francisco 49ers Los Angeles ChargersSeattle Seahawks+6.3 ptsDivision odds SEASeattle Seahawks Denver BroncosSan Francisco 49ers+10.8 ptsDivision odds TBTampa Bay Buccaneers Atlanta FalconsNew Orleans Saints+2.3 ptsPlayoff odds TENTennessee Titans Kansas City ChiefsLas Vegas Raiders+0.3 ptsPlayoff odds WASWashington Commanders Houston TexansDallas Cowboys+2.0 ptsPlayoff odds
WEEKLY ARCHIVE

Rooting guides change as the playoff picture changes

Saved weekly checkpoints let fans revisit what helped their team at that point in the season.

WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT

It measures the impact instead of guessing at rooting interests

For each unplayed Week 4 game, FSN looks at the season simulations where the away team won and the simulations where the home team won. Then it compares what happened to every other team’s playoff path.

The ranking gives playoff qualification the most weight for bubble teams. For strong contenders, division and No. 1 seed leverage becomes more important. Super Bowl paths remain a smaller secondary signal so the guide does not tell a 5–8 team to root for an exotic championship path instead of the result that actually helps it reach January.

Because these are Monte Carlo estimates, very small differences can move from refresh to refresh. FSN explicitly labels those as small or minimal rather than pretending a tenth of a percentage point is destiny.

FAQ

NFL rooting interests, explained

Why isn’t my team’s own game listed?

Because winning your own game is already the strongest direct way to improve your position. This tool answers the harder question: what should you want to happen everywhere else?

Does “+4.7 points” mean the result guarantees my playoff odds rise by exactly 4.7 points?

No. It is the difference between two conditional Monte Carlo branches in the current forecast. It is a useful estimate of leverage, not a guaranteed future update.

Will the rooting guide update after games are played?

Yes. The live guide follows the current unplayed slate. Weekly archive pages preserve the checkpoint from that week so later results do not rewrite what fans were supposed to root for beforehand.

NFL data via nflverse (CC BY 4.0) · College data via CollegeFootballData.com