NFL Week 4 Reaction: Key Takeaways and Game-Changing Moments

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September 29, 2025

Week 4 of the NFL season is when patterns begin to solidify and teams start revealing their true identity. This week delivered dramatic performances, devastating injuries, and unexpected outcomes that could reshape the playoff picture. Here are the biggest storylines emerging from Sunday's action.

Jaguars' Statement Win: Lawrence Finds His Formula

Don't look now, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are tied for first place in the AFC South - and this time, it's no fluke.

Despite earlier skepticism surrounding their 2-1 start, the Jaguars delivered a signature 26-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers with Brock Purdy back under center. This wasn't just another win; it was a blueprint for Jacksonville's path forward.

Trevor Lawrence didn't post eye-popping numbers (174 yards, one touchdown), but his performance was defined by discipline and smart decision-making. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over and avoided taking a single sack. For a quarterback whose mistakes have often come at critical moments, this represented significant growth under new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen.

The key to Jacksonville's success was taking pressure off Lawrence's shoulders. Travis Etienne was magnificent, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown, while the defense forced four crucial turnovers. Arik Armstead's late fourth-quarter strip-sack of Purdy sealed the victory, ending San Francisco's potential go-ahead drive.

The Jaguars proved they don't need Lawrence to be a superhero every week. With a potent running game featuring Etienne and promising rookie Bhayshul Tuten, plus a defense creating turnovers, Jacksonville has the foundation to compete with anyone. This balanced approach allows Lawrence to develop good habits without the weight of the entire offense on his shoulders.

Ravens' Crisis Deepens in Kansas City

Things went from bad to worse for the Baltimore Ravens in their 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

What was already a concerning 1-2 start turned catastrophic when Lamar Jackson exited in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Even before Jackson's departure, the Ravens looked overmatched against a Chiefs team that had itself struggled through three weeks. Patrick Mahomes carved up Baltimore's defense for 270 yards and four touchdowns, improving his career record against the Ravens to 6-1, including playoffs.

The defensive collapse is alarming. In all three losses this season, Baltimore has surrendered at least 37 points. Coming into Week 4, they were allowing 420.3 yards per game - second-worst in the league - and the Chiefs added 360 more scrimmage yards to that total.

Jackson's health status will determine whether the Ravens can salvage their season, but even if he returns quickly, Baltimore faces serious structural issues. The defense's struggles, combined with mounting injuries testing their depth, have transformed what looked like a playoff contender into a team fighting for survival at 1-3.

Giants' Victory Comes at Devastating Cost

The New York Giants upset the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers 21-18, but their celebration was muted by a potentially catastrophic injury.

Rookie sensation Malik Nabers, who had become the centerpiece of the Giants' offense, left the game with what is feared to be a torn ACL. If confirmed, this injury devastates New York's entire offensive ecosystem.

Nabers wasn't just good as a rookie - he was transformational. He finished second in the NFL in targets last season, and the Giants' limited offensive success depended almost entirely on his ability to win against defenses focused on stopping him.

Without Nabers, quarterback Jaxson Dart loses his primary weapon just as he's trying to establish himself. Running back Cam Skattebo showed promise, but the remaining receiving corps lacks the talent to support a developing quarterback. This injury doesn't just hurt the Giants' wins and losses - it compromises their ability to properly evaluate their young talent and build chemistry for the future.

The timing couldn't be worse. Even if Brian Daboll returns next season, Dart and Nabers will essentially be starting from scratch in 2026, having lost crucial development time together.

Darnold Delivers in Seattle

Sam Darnold continues to silence his doubters with the Seattle Seahawks, leading them to a dramatic 23-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night.

After an ugly Week 1 debut (150 yards in a loss to San Francisco), Darnold has orchestrated three consecutive wins. Week 4 was his most impressive performance yet. With 28 seconds remaining and the game tied at 20, Darnold needed to deliver under maximum pressure.

Taking advantage of the new kickoff rules, which gave Seattle the ball at their own 40-yard line after a short kick, Darnold found Jaxon Smith-Njigba with a perfect back-shoulder throw for 22 yards. Jason Myers sealed the win with a 52-yard field goal.

Darnold averaged 9.3 yards per attempt without throwing an interception, his best showing of the season. The $55 million investment Seattle made in the former third overall pick is starting to look shrewd. While skepticism about his performance in big moments remains, Thursday night represented a significant step toward erasing those doubts.

Conclusion

Week 4 crystallized several narratives that will define the 2025 season. The Jaguars are legitimate contenders when they don't ask Trevor Lawrence to do too much. The Ravens face an existential crisis with mounting injuries and defensive failures. The Giants' promising season hit a potentially devastating roadblock with Malik Nabers' injury. And Sam Darnold continues his remarkable career resurrection in Seattle.

As we move into Week 5, these storylines will only intensify. The margin for error is shrinking, and teams are running out of time to fix their problems or capitalize on their momentum.

Thanks to Stats Perform for the data

Photo: foxnews.com

More information:24live.com