The Minnesota Vikings are the only undefeated team left in the NFL after a Week 7 Sunday that saw the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs both lose. Minnesota moved to 6-0 with a 16-10 comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts, though its offense continues to raise questions.
The day began in France, where Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the league's first regular-season game in that country. It ended in Seattle, where the Seahawks beat the Chiefs 20-3.
San Francisco had opened the season 6-0 despite a long list of injuries, but its luck ran out in Atlanta. The 49ers blew a 14-3 lead and lost 29-20 while missing their top five receivers, including Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. Christian McCaffrey also left for part of the game. Even so, San Francisco had a chance to drive for the go-ahead score until Brock Purdy threw his second interception near midfield, with the team down six and fewer than three minutes remaining. Atlanta turned the 49ers' four turnovers into 13 points.
Purdy took responsibility afterward. "It starts with me at quarterback and I think it bleeds into everybody else, too," he said, adding that protecting the football is the offense's top priority. The 49ers now have a week off before hosting Las Vegas (3-4) on Nov. 8.
Kansas City had even more trouble against the defending Super Bowl champions. Seattle's defense held Kenneth Walker III to 36 rushing yards on 14 carries in his first game against his former team. The Super Bowl MVP had entered the week leading the NFL in rushing and had four 100-yard games in the season's first five. Patrick Mahomes completed only 57.6% of his passes, and the Chiefs failed to reach the red zone for the first time in his career. "You don't want to perform like this in prime time in a big moment like this," Mahomes said.
The Chiefs (5-1) face a quick turnaround, with a game for first place in the AFC West next Sunday at Denver (5-2).
Minnesota's win over Indianapolis again leaned on its defense, which held the Colts to 218 yards. The offense was far less impressive. Kyler Murray threw for 150 yards, and the Vikings finished with only 275 total yards. Coach Kevin O'Connell urged patience. "You can't get down on it right now, just because it's still relatively early enough that we're catching our stride," he said.
The schedule offers little relief. The Vikings visit the Lions (4-2) next week, host the Bills (5-1), then play back-to-back road games against the Packers (4-3) and the 49ers. The NFC North is also deep, with four teams holding winning records.
Detroit nearly gave away its game against Green Bay with an aggressive call. With the score tied and just under five minutes left, Lions coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 24. Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for a 2-yard loss, and the Packers took over at the Detroit 22 but could not move the ball. Trey Smack's 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked, and the Lions drove for the winning field goal.
Campbell has faced criticism before. Two failed fourth-down tries in field-goal range in the second half of a 34-31 loss in the 2024 NFC championship game cost Detroit a shot at the Super Bowl. His latest decision recalled Barry Switzer's twice going for fourth-and-1 at the Cowboys' 29 in a tie game at Philadelphia in 1995, after which the Eagles drove for a winning kick. "I thought we would get it, No. 1," Campbell said, adding that he knew Detroit would get the ball back if the play failed.
