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Chiefs, 49ers and Vikings improve to 4-0 in NFL season
AP • October 5th, 2026 2:00 pm
Patrick Mahomes (15) has helped Kansas City improve to 4-0 to start the NFL season | Photo: AP
The Chiefs, 49ers and Vikings improved to 4-0 in the NFL season on a day filled with significant injuries across the competition.
Patrick Mahomes remained undefeated at Allegiant Stadium, passing for 225 yards and two touchdowns on Monday (NZ Time), and Kenneth Walker III rushed for 177 yards and two TDs to lead the Chiefs to a 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Walker's 2-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left put the Chiefs (4-0) ahead for good at 23-19. It was set up by Tyquan Thornton's 55-yard reception on the previous play. Thornton, who had five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, suffered a gruesome-looking left leg injury on the play and was carted off.
Patrick Mahomes consoles Tyquan Thornton as he is taken from the field with an ankle injury | Photo: AP
In San Francisco, Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes and Christian McCaffrey ran for a score to lead the undefeated 49ers to a 24-14 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Both offences struggled to generate offence on a hot day in the Bay Area, but the 49ers took advantage of a fumbled punt return by Marvin Mims Jr. to set up a short touchdown drive in the third quarter that gave them the lead for good.
Purdy capped the 28-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel that made it 10-3 late in the third quarter. He then engineered a 74-yard drive that McCaffrey finished with a 1-yard run to extend the lead to 17-6 midway through the fourth after the Broncos (2-2) had settled for a field goal on fourth-and-2.
Bo Nix, who has thrived in late-game comeback situations, tried to mount another for Denver with his 13-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle cutting the Niners' lead to 17-14 with a 2-point conversion with 4:05 to play.
George Kittle (85) scored an important touchdown late in the game against Denver | Photo: AP
But Purdy sealed the win with a 56-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle with 2:15 to go. Purdy finished 19 of 30 for 218 yards and avoided taking a sack for a fourth straight game and committing no turnovers.
The Minnesota Vikings stayed undefeated with more dominance by their defence and five field goals from Will Reichard, sidestepping their early passing game problems to secure a 15-10 victory over the winless Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
In Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley went down early against the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury. Quinyon Mitchell, Jonathan Greenard and Tank Bigsby all went into the sideline medical tent at some point during the game.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was in clear discomfort due to his leg injury | Photo: AP
Philadelphia already had ruled out wide receiver DeVonta Smith with a hamstring injury along with linebacker Zack Baun, who has a concussion. Six starters were ruled out ahead of the game.
The Eagles gamely tried to overcome their various injuries, but poor execution on a late fourth-down play gave new life to the Rams, who rallied for a 24-20 victory.
Star quarterback Lamar Jackson was also injured, as his Ravens beat Tennessee 24-18.
Jackson's ankle appeared to roll under a Tennessee defender in the final seconds of the second quarter, and although the Ravens held on to win, they didn't score after their star quarterback left the game. Tyler Huntley, no stranger to replacing Jackson when needed, took the snaps for Baltimore in the second half.
Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers beat Tampa Bay 17-14 despite losing star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to an Achilles tendon injury. The Packers are still missing three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is recovering from surgery for a torn ACL suffered last December.
And at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Josh Allen threw a late interception as the Bills lost 29-26 to New England.
