You've probably noticed it. That weird Sunday morning where the coffee hasn't even finished brewing and there's a professional football game on your TV. No, you didn't accidentally record a game from last night. It's just the NFL doing its global thing again.
The nfl week 4 schedule for the 2025 season is honestly a bit of a logistical circus. Between a historic game in Ireland and a massive double-header on Monday night, it’s a week that demands you actually plan your life around the television. If you’re just looking for a casual afternoon of ball, you're going to miss half the story.
Most people think byes have started by now. They haven't. This is actually the final week of the 2025 season where every single team is in action before the Week 5 breaks kick in for the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Steelers. It’s the last "full" Sunday of the year, and the league is leaning into it hard.
The Morning Madness: Dublin and the 9:30 AM Kickoff
If you aren't ready for football at 9:30 AM ET on Sunday, September 28, you’re missing history. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings aren't playing in a dome in the Midwest or a rainy stadium in Pennsylvania. They’re at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
It’s the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Ireland.
Basically, the Vikings are playing two international games in a row—this one in Dublin followed by a London trip the next week. It’s a brutal travel stretch. For us at home, it means the NFL Network is your best friend before the church crowd even gets out. The atmosphere at Croke Park is notoriously loud for Gaelic football, so expect that to translate into some serious noise for a "neutral" site game.
Sunday Afternoon: Rivalries and Revenge
The 1:00 PM ET window is a crowded house. You've got seven games kicking off simultaneously, which is why the RedZone channel exists, honestly.
One of the big ones to watch is the Philadelphia Eagles visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on FOX. These two have a prickly history lately. Then you have the Detroit Lions hosting the Cleveland Browns. Detroit has turned into a powerhouse, and seeing them at home against a gritty Browns defense is a purist's dream.
Late Window Fireworks
Around 4:25 PM ET, things get heavy. The Baltimore Ravens head to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs.
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This isn't just a game. It's a rematch of about a dozen high-stakes AFC battles. Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson is the kind of matchup that sells out stadiums three times over. Usually, these games come down to one weird play or a kicker having the game of his life. CBS is carrying this one, and you can bet the ratings will be through the roof.
While that’s happening, the Chicago Bears are out in the desert taking on the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s a clash of styles—Caleb Williams trying to navigate that loud Allegiant Stadium atmosphere.
Prime Time: The Double Monday Night Header
Most weeks, we get one Monday Night Football game. This week? We get two.
It’s a staggered start. The New York Jets travel to South Beach to play the Miami Dolphins at 7:15 PM ET on ESPN. Divisional games in the AFC East are always messy, and the heat in Miami usually plays a massive factor for teams coming from the North.
Then, just as you're getting settled into that one, the Cincinnati Bengals kick off against the Denver Broncos at 8:15 PM ET on ABC. It’s a lot of football for a school night.
Why the nfl week 4 schedule Matters for Your Season
This week is a pivot point. Teams that start 1-2 or 0-3 are desperately clawing to avoid a 1-3 hole. Historically, the percentage of teams making the playoffs after a 1-3 start is grim.
- International Fatigue: Keep an eye on the Vikings and Steelers. The "jet lag" factor is real, and how they recover will dictate their October.
- The Last Full Slate: Since Week 5 starts the bye weeks, this is the last time your fantasy roster will be at 100% capacity without you needing to scour the waiver wire for a backup kicker or a random TE3.
- Monday Momentum: With two games on Monday, the "short week" effect will hit four teams simultaneously heading into Week 5.
The Full Lineup (Dates and Times)
Here is how the board looks for the nfl week 4 schedule. Note that all times are ET.
Thursday, September 25
The Seattle Seahawks visit the Arizona Cardinals at 8:15 PM. This is an Amazon Prime exclusive. Division games on Thursday nights are notoriously unpredictable and often a bit "ugly" due to the short prep time.
Sunday, September 28
- 9:30 AM: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin, Ireland) - NFL Network
- 1:00 PM: Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons - CBS
- 1:00 PM: New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills - CBS
- 1:00 PM: Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions - FOX
- 1:00 PM: Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans - CBS
- 1:00 PM: Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots - FOX
- 1:00 PM: Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants - CBS
- 1:00 PM: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - FOX
- 4:05 PM: Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams - FOX
- 4:05 PM: Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers - FOX
- 4:25 PM: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs - CBS
- 4:25 PM: Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders - CBS
- 8:20 PM: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys - NBC (Sunday Night Football)
Monday, September 29
- 7:15 PM: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins - ESPN
- 8:15 PM: Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos - ABC
Honestly, the Sunday Night game—Packers at Cowboys—is the crown jewel. It’s a classic NFC rivalry. These teams have a way of finding each other in the playoffs, and the "America's Team" narrative always makes the pre-game show about three hours longer than it needs to be.
Moving Forward with Your Week 4 Plans
If you're planning to watch, check your local listings because the 1:00 PM games are regional. You won't see all seven unless you have a Sunday Ticket subscription.
Start by checking your streaming logins now. Amazon Prime, NFL+, and the various network apps (Paramount+, Peacock) all have pieces of this puzzle. If you're a fantasy manager, this is your last "safe" week before the bye-week chaos starts, so use this time to evaluate which of your players are actually consistent and which were just one-week wonders. Set your alarms for that Dublin kickoff early—missing the first quarter because you forgot about the time zone difference is a rookie mistake.
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Make sure to verify your local FOX and CBS affiliates for the 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM games, as coverage maps typically shift on the Wednesday prior to kickoff.