Vikings remain the NFL’s sole unbeaten team after Chiefs beaten by Seahawks in Week Seven
Minnesota Vikings became the NFL's last unbeaten side on Sunday after the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce's team, were defeated 20-3 by the Seattle Seahawks in Week Seven and the San Francisco 49ers also suffered their first loss.
Week Seven produced several high-profile results: the Chiefs travelled to Seattle for a primetime matchup between two recent Super Bowl powers, Kansas City and Seattle, who have each won three of the past four Super Bowls; they entered the weekend with this season's leading offence and defence respectively by total yards. The game also marked Kenneth Walker's return to his former team Seattle after joining Kansas City in the off-season, and Walker had led the NFL in rushing yards per game (133) after six weeks.
Seattle's defence limited the Chiefs' attack, holding Walker to 36 yards from 14 carries and keeping Kansas City to one of their lowest point totals with Patrick Mahomes starting; Sam Darnold targeted Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 150 receiving yards and a touchdown, Emanuel Wilson recorded 100 rushing yards and a score, and the Seahawks won 20-3 to move to 4-3 while the Chiefs fell to 5-1.
San Francisco's run was halted by the Atlanta Falcons, who forced four turnovers including two interceptions of Brock Purdy in a 29-20 victory that handed the 49ers their first defeat of the season and left San Francisco 6-1. The Los Angeles Rams returned to winning form with a 35-21 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders; Matt Stafford became the first player to lead two different teams for touchdown passes, and the Rams sit at 3-4.
The NFC North will enter Week Eight with all four teams holding records above .500, and Minnesota top the division at 6-0 after coming from behind to beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 at home. The Vikings' defence is described as one of the league's best, Will Reichard is yet to miss a kick for the team, their offence has not yet sparked into life, and Kevin O'Connell's side have extended a winning run to 11 games including the end of last season; they face divisional rivals Detroit next week.
Other notable results included JJ McCarthy, traded four weeks ago by Minnesota after the club named new signing Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback, impressing on his first start for the New York Giants as he led them to a 27-21 overtime win at the Houston Texans. Jessie Bates kicked a field goal as time expired to give the Detroit Lions a 20-17 win over the Green Bay Packers; only three field-goal attempts have been missed from inside 35 yards all season and Green Bay rookie Trey Smack missed two on Sunday.
A number of AFC contests shifted divisional pecking orders: the Pittsburgh Steelers opened Sunday with a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFL's first game in France, the Cleveland Browns moved to 5-2 after Andre Szmyt made his third game-winning kick in four weeks in a 27-24 win at the Tennessee Titans, and Deshaun Watson has led five game-winning drives this season after entering the campaign with a 9-10 record in four years with Cleveland. The Cincinnati Bengals rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens 35-13, with Joe Burrow throwing four touchdowns for 292 yards; Baltimore have been without Lamar Jackson for a third straight game, have not announced a return date for Jackson (ankle) and head to the Buffalo Bills next week.
The Broncos defeated the Arizona Cardinals 30-16 as Bo Nix rushed for a 62-yard touchdown — the longest quarterback run since 2022 — finished with 222 passing yards and a touchdown pass, and the win moved Denver to 5-2 in the AFC West; they will host the Kansas City Chiefs next week. The Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Chargers next, the Minnesota Vikings travel to Detroit, and the Baltimore Ravens have a trip to the Buffalo Bills on their immediate docket.