The NFL is set to enter it’s fourth week this week, and the number of talking points are not slowing down any point soon.

In the ‘old days’ of the NFL, this week would have been seen as the end of the first ‘quarter’ of games, which gave coaches and players the first milestone when it came to stepping back and assessing where they were at the beginning of the season and what needed to be fixed going forward.

However with the introduction of a 17th game last season, the maths are ever so slightly skewed on that end, but that doesn’t make this point in the season any less important as the schedule and the standings begin to take on a little bit more of a solid shape. 

But what are the big talking points that you need to be focusing on when it comes to this week in the NFL and what needs to be given extra special attention when you tune in, either to your game of choice or to NFL Red Zone? Luckily we’ve come up with a handy little guide to point you in the right direction. 

The NFL returns across the pond

This week marks the return of the NFL to the United Kingdom, and whilst a lot of the fanfare and ‘uniqueness’ has largely gone in recent years as the games have become part of the regular schedule rather than a one-off attraction each year, it is still a great experience that players look forward to each year, with the first game taking place between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings.

The two teams have taken different approaches to the trip, with the Saints arriving earlier in the week on Monday and the Vikings doing so on Friday, so it’s going to be interesting to see who wins out in what we’re calling ‘The Jet Lag Battle’ and who made the right decision in coming over when they did.

Don’t let Jameis get left behind

One of the other storylines surrounding the game will be the status of Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, who isn’t exactly lighting things up in The Big Easy, throwing for more interceptions than touchdowns so far this year as the Saints have put up a 1-2 record in the first three weeks.

He wasn’t at practice on Wednesday, and whilst head coach Dennis Allen did note that it was a ‘rest’ day for him, the fact that Taysom Hill took some snaps at quarterback might be an indicator that if he doesn’t pick his game up soon, he could find himself on the bench before too long.

Are the Patriots jumping the gun on Mac Jones?

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones suffered a high-ankle sprain last week against the Baltimore Ravens and there was some concern that it might force him to miss some time. However the vibe coming out of Patriots camp from head coach Bill Belichick is that he looks set to start this weekend against the Green Bay Packers this weekend with his status being listed as ‘day by day’.

Now it’s understandable why the Patriots would want to have him back, he showed in his rookie season that he does have what it takes to be their QB moving forward and presents a much better option than backup Brian Hoyer, who has a losing record as a starter, but they shouldn’t be looking to risk his, and the team’s, long-term success by bringing him back too early, so his health will be something to monitor moving forward.

Now or never out west

The AFC West came into this season looking as if it might be the toughest in all of football when it came to competitiveness thanks to the calibre of the teams involved, but it hasn’t started off well for the Las Vegas Raiders as they have started the season 0-3 and face off this week against one of their division rivals in the Denver Broncos. 

If they are to have any chance of success this season, they are going to have to pull out a win this week, or it might be time for them to start looking ahead to next season rather than trying to salvage this one. And given how much they gave up to trade for Davante Adams, that would make the trade come off looking somewhat disastrous. 

Video: ESPN analysts discuss the Las Vegas Raiders' problems:

The passing of the G.O.A.T torch? 

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend, we are more than likely going to be watching the final battle between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, the NFL’s G.O.A.T and the man who is putting up the best case so far to beat him in that category.

Now obviously Mahomes has a long way to go before he can get that crown, but with over 23,000 yards and 187 touchdowns in the regular and postseason, four AFC Conference Championship game appearances, two Super Bowl trips and one Super Bowl title in his time so far in the NFL, he’s certainly on course to give Brady a heck of a run for his money. 

And one other big step that might go some way to giving him that crown, beating Brady on his own turf, one last time, something Mahomes has done against Brady both when he was with the Patriots and with the Buccaneers.