Vikings become NFL's only unbeaten team as Chiefs and 49ers lose

What happened

The Minnesota Vikings hold the NFL's only unbeaten record after a Sunday that brought first defeats for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Minnesota overcame an Indianapolis Colts lead to win 16-10 at home, taking their record to six victories without a loss.

Kansas City suffered a 20-3 defeat away to the Seattle Seahawks, whose defence contained both quarterback Patrick Mahomes and running back Kenneth Walker. Three points matched the Chiefs' lowest total in any game started by Mahomes.

The contest brought together the league leaders in two major measures: Kansas City had gained the most offensive yards, while Seattle had conceded the fewest. Between them, the clubs had also won three of the previous four Super Bowls.

Walker returned to Seattle having joined Kansas City during the off-season. The running back, named Most Valuable Player in Seattle's Super Bowl victory last season, entered the weekend averaging an NFL-leading 133 rushing yards per game. Against his former team, he managed 36 yards on 14 carries.

Seattle found considerably more room in attack. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, last season's offensive player of the year, caught passes from Sam Darnold for 150 yards and a touchdown. Running back Emanuel Wilson contributed another touchdown and 100 rushing yards.

San Francisco's unbeaten start ended with a 29-20 loss at the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta took possession through four turnovers, including two interceptions thrown by Brock Purdy, leaving the 49ers with six wins and one defeat.

Purdy's difficult afternoon followed a personal milestone the previous week, when he moved into first place on the NFL's career passer-rating list. San Francisco had also become the favourites to win the Super Bowl before their trip to Atlanta.

The background

Minnesota's results have outstripped their pre-season standing, when half the league was judged more likely to win the championship. Their defence has been among the NFL's strongest, while kicker Will Reichard has converted every attempt so far despite an attack that has yet to find its best form.

The winning sequence stretches beyond this season. Including their results at the end of the previous campaign, Kevin O'Connell's team have now won 11 consecutive games.

The Vikings changed their quarterback arrangements before reaching this point. They selected new arrival Kyler Murray as their starter and traded JJ McCarthy four weeks ago. McCarthy made his first start for the New York Giants on Sunday, helping them beat the Houston Texans 27-21 in overtime.

Denver's season has unfolded against a different quarterback backdrop. The Broncos secured the AFC's top seed last season and defeated the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the play-offs, but Bo Nix broke his ankle late in that victory.

Without their starting quarterback for the next round, Denver lost to the New England Patriots and missed out on a Super Bowl appearance. Nix subsequently underwent two operations during the off-season before returning for his third NFL campaign.

Elsewhere in week seven

The Los Angeles Rams ended their losing run with a 35-21 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders. The pre-season Super Bowl favourites improved to 3-4, while quarterback Matt Stafford became the first player to hold the career touchdown-pass records of two franchises.

Stafford had already established the Detroit Lions' record before moving to the Rams in 2021. His latest milestone follows a season in which he won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award.

Detroit won a close divisional encounter against the Green Bay Packers, with Jessie Bates converting a field goal as the clock ran out to secure a 20-17 result. Green Bay rookie Trey Smack missed twice from inside 35 yards; across the entire league, only three attempts from that range have failed this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in the opening game of Sunday's programme. It was the NFL's first game in France, extending the competition's presence beyond its established American venues.

Cleveland subsequently moved back to the top of the AFC North by defeating the Tennessee Titans 27-24. Andre Szmyt supplied the decisive kick, his third match-winning field goal in four weeks, as the Browns reached 5-2.

The Cincinnati Bengals overturned a 13-0 half-time deficit against the Baltimore Ravens to win 35-13. Joe Burrow passed for 292 yards and four touchdowns, while Baltimore lost for the second successive game without injured quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Miami also secured a breakthrough. The Dolphins' 28-25 victory away to the New York Jets left the Los Angeles Chargers as the NFL's only team still seeking a first win.

What people are saying

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson faced boos from his own supporters during pre-season. His performances since then have included five game-winning drives, a marked change in the circumstances surrounding a player the Browns recruited from Houston in 2022 on a fully guaranteed $230m (£172m) contract.

Nix's early performances had prompted questions about whether his ankle operations had reduced his effectiveness as a runner. His passing had also been a concern during Denver's first six games, adding scrutiny to his recovery from the injury that ended his previous season.

Against the Arizona Cardinals, he answered with a 62-yard rushing touchdown, the longest run by an NFL quarterback since 2022. He also threw for 222 yards and a touchdown as Denver won 30-16.

What happens next

Minnesota travel to Detroit next week for a divisional test. The NFC North and AFC North will both enter week eight with every club holding a winning record — the first time in NFL history that two divisions have simultaneously met that threshold at this stage.

Every AFC North team has already recorded at least four victories. Baltimore next visit Buffalo, with Jackson's availability a significant issue: the two-time MVP has missed three successive games because of an ankle injury, and the Ravens have not set a date for his return.

Denver's next opponents are Kansas City, who visit with a 5-1 record. The Broncos are 5-2 and sit behind the Chiefs in the AFC West, giving their meeting immediate importance within the division.

The Rams next face the Chargers in a meeting of the two Los Angeles teams. Seattle, meanwhile, emerge from their victory over Kansas City with four wins and three defeats.

Why this matters

For UK viewers following the race towards the play-offs, divisional results carry particular weight. The NFL awards a play-off place to each division winner, alongside wild-card places for other leading teams in each conference. Minnesota's visit to Detroit therefore concerns more than the survival of an unbeaten record.

Winning percentages also help readers compare teams that have played different numbers of matches because of their scheduled weeks off. That distinction matters in the current standings: an undefeated season is not required to reach the Super Bowl, and a single regular-season defeat does not eliminate a team from championship contention.