NFL Undefeated Status: Only Vikings Remain After 49ers and Chiefs Fall

Minnesota is the only team in the National Football League without a loss.

The Vikings beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 on Sunday to maintain their perfect record. This result came after the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs both lost, eliminating them from the undefeated column. The 49ers fell 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons, while the Seattle Seahawks shut out the Chiefs 20-3. These outcomes leave Minnesota with a 6-0 record, the best in the league.

The 49ers entered the game with a 6-0 record but faced a depleted roster. The team did not start its top five receivers, including Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. Running back Christian McCaffrey also missed part of the game. San Francisco held a 14-3 lead before falling behind. The Falcons scored 13 points on four San Francisco turnovers. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw his second interception with under three minutes left and a six-point deficit. Purdy said the team was moving the ball well before costly mistakes changed the momentum. He noted that protecting the football is the priority for the offense.

The 49ers will have a week off to recover. They will host the Las Vegas Raiders, who are 3-4, on Nov. 8. The Chiefs, who are 5-1, already used their bye week. They must prepare quickly for a first-place contest in the AFC West against the Denver Broncos, who are 5-2, next Sunday.

Seattle’s defense limited Kenneth Walker III in his return to his former team. Walker rushed for 36 yards on 14 carries. He had been leading the NFL in rushing and had four 100-yard games in his first five outings. Patrick Mahomes completed 57.6% of his passes. This was the first time in his career that he did not guide an offense into the red zone in a game. Mahomes said he did not want to perform that way in a prime time slot.

The Vikings relied on their defense to secure the win against Indianapolis. The unit held the Colts to 218 total yards. Quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 150 yards, and Minnesota managed only 275 total yards. Coach Kevin O’Connell said the team is still finding its stride but must progress to handle the upcoming schedule. The Vikings will face the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers in the coming weeks.

The Lions nearly lost a game due to a fourth-down decision. Coach Dan Campbell chose to go for a fourth-and-1 from his own 24-yard line with the score tied and under five minutes remaining. Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for a two-yard loss. The Packers took possession at Detroit’s 22-yard line but could not score. A 35-yard field goal attempt by Trey Smack was blocked. The Lions subsequently drove for a winning field goal.

Campbell’s decision echoed a historic play by Barry Switzer in 1995. Switzer went for a fourth-and-1 at the Cowboys 29-yard line in a tie game against Philadelphia. Emmitt Smith was stopped, and the Eagles scored the winning field goal. Campbell said he believed the Lions would convert and would get the ball back if they did not. He acknowledged the risk involved in the decision.