Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with an exciting matchup between the Seahawks and the Cardinals. Arizona tied the score at 20 with 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but Seattle drove down for a game-winning, 52-yard field goal by Jason Myers as time expired.
Sunday’s action kicked off in Dublin, Ireland, as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-21 in the first international game of 2025.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
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Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Steelers
Is this version of the Steelers’ defense here to stay? The Steelers’ defense put together its best showing of the season in the win over the Vikings, teeing off on QB Carson Wentz and a handful of backup offensive linemen to collect six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The return of S DeShon Elliott was crucial in thwarting RB Jordan Mason and the rushing attack, and he came up with a big second-quarter interception. LB T.J. Watt dramatically affected the game, too, with a third-quarter interception when he batted the ball down at the line of scrimmage and grabbed it out of the air. Even DT Keeanu Benton, who had a tough start to the season, got in on the action with two sacks.
While the defense was solid for most of the afternoon, big plays still came back to bite them when Jordan Addison’s 81-yard catch-and-run set up Jalen Nailor’s late fourth-quarter touchdown. Even so, the Steelers defense spent most of the afternoon in the backfield. They will aim to import this performance back to the States and keep the momentum going after the Week 5 bye.
Most surprising performance: With starting running back Jaylen Warren a surprise inactive with a knee injury, the already woeful Steelers’ run game seemed dead on arrival to Croke Park. But veteran Kenneth Gainwell quickly revived it with two touchdowns as he averaged 5.2 yards on 19 carries for 99 yards to go with six catches for 35 yards. The Steelers also used OL Spencer Anderson and TE Darnell Washington as extra blockers to help unlock the run game. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Browns (Oct. 12, 1 p.m. ET)
Vikings
Where does the Vikings’ offense go from here? The Vikings showed some life with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but by the end of Sunday’s game, the Vikings were playing with more backup offensive linemen (three) than starters (two). And their results reflected it, with quarterback Carson Wentz taking six sacks and facing pressure for most of the game. From a personnel perspective, there aren’t many reinforcements on the way. QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle) has missed two consecutive weeks of practice, making his return in Week 4 a longshot. Left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) is going to miss at least one more game, and it’s difficult to project either right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) or center Ryan Kelly (concussion) to be ready. Coach Kevin O’Connell will have his work cut out to fashion a game plan next week in London, against the Browns’ tough defense, that can compensate for that slate of injuries.
What to make of the QB performance: It was hard not to compare the Vikings’ struggling offense with the Steelers’ offense, quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers, whom the Vikings decided against signing during the offseason. Rodgers’ nearly perfect afternoon (18 of 22, 200 yards) came mostly on the kind of timing-based, quick-pass offense that would work well for a team like the Vikings, who have protection issues. Instead, the Vikings were left with Wentz, whom the Vikings signed last month as a backup for McCarthy. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Seahawks
Where does Jaxon Smith-Njigba rank among the best receivers in football? Smith-Njigba got off to the best three-game start in franchise history with 323 receiving yards — second most in the NFL this season to that point. It took him a while to get going against Arizona on Thursday, but he finished with four catches for 79 yards, including a 22-yarder that set up the Seahawk’s winning field goal. Smith-Njigba, who also rushed for 11 rushing, was Seattle’s best receiver last season, even with DK Metcalf still in the fold. Now, Smith-Njigba has a case to be among the best in football.
What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold has been getting it done with his arm and his legs. In this contest, his poise on key drives was a factor, as well. In addition to the throw to Smith-Njigba that set up the winning kick, Darnold (18-of-26, 242 yards, one TD) threw a dime to his No. 1 receiver on the previous drive for 36 yards. Late in the first half, Darnold scrambled and hit rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo for 32 yards; on the next play, he found an open swath of turf and ran for 24 yards. That drive ended with a touchdown that put Seattle up 14-3 at halftime. — Brady Henderson
Next game: vs. Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Cardinals
How do the Cardinals fix their offense? It won’t be easy or quick, but the Cardinals need to address a few issues to their offense: how to get the entire scheme and key players in a rhythm early; how to reduce the number of plays that are losses, no gain or gains of a yard or two; and how to complete “got to have it” plays on third down and in the red zone. If they can improve in those three areas, Arizona’s offense will look more like the one that scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Seattle.
What to make of the QB performance: Kyler Murray did what he could with what he had available to him, finishing with his lowest adjusted QBR this season (27.8). Both of his interceptions were on throws to Marvin Harrison Jr., and the wide receiver was likely more at fault for each of them. However, after going 1-of-5 when targeting Harrison in the first half, the duo was 5-of-5 for 58 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Murray finished 27-of-41 passing for 200 yards. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
