Three teams kept their unbeaten starts alive on Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs each improved to 4-0.
49ers 24, Broncos 14
Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey scored 1-yard touchdowns and George Kittle took a screen pass 56 yards for the clinching score as the 49ers pulled away from the Denver Broncos in the second half in Santa Clara.
After a 3-3 first half, San Francisco seized control when a fumbled punt return by Denver's Marvin Mims Jr. set up Samuel's touchdown with 4:15 left in the third quarter. McCaffrey's plunge gave the 49ers a two-score lead with 8:52 to play, and Kittle's long touchdown finished it after Denver had closed to 17-14.
Brock Purdy finished 19-for-30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns, with Mike Evans his top target on five catches for 76 yards. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who played last season for the Broncos, led the defence with 12 tackles. The 49ers opened the season with four straight wins for the second time in the last four years. Bo Nix went 25-for-42 for 214 yards for the Broncos (2-2), and neither quarterback threw an interception.
Vikings 15, Dolphins 10
Will Reichard kicked five field goals and the Vikings held on to beat the winless Miami Dolphins in Minneapolis. Reichard connected from 47, 50, 33, 41 and 29 yards, with T.J. Hockenson posting 13 receptions for 119 yards and Kyler Murray completing 27 of 37 passes for 247 yards. Minnesota improved to 4-0 for the 11th time in franchise history — without star wideout Justin Jefferson, sidelined by a sprained left ankle.
Ollie Gordon II led the Dolphins (0-4) with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Malik Willis completed nine of 17 passes for 85 yards and lost a fumble. Miami pulled within 12-10 in the final minute of the third quarter, but Reichard's fifth kick with 6:41 remaining sealed it.
Chiefs 30, Raiders 27
Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III and the Chiefs planted their flag atop the AFC West with a tight win over the Raiders in Las Vegas. Walker carried 22 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard burst — the longest run in the NFL this season — that set up the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes, 15-of-30 for 225 yards, threw two touchdown passes to Tyquan Thornton and won his 99th regular-season game, improving to 7-0 at Allegiant Stadium. But the win came at a cost: Thornton, celebrating a career day of five catches for 111 yards, was carted off with an ankle injury after a 55-yard reception. Rashee Rice also left with a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Walker leads the NFL in rushing with 537 yards.
Kirk Cousins nearly stole it for the Raiders (3-1), throwing a late touchdown to Brock Bowers and converting the two-point try to force an onside kick. The Chiefs (4-0) roll into their bye week as the last undefeated team in the AFC. Tight end Travis Kelce's first catch was the 1,096th of his career, moving him past Tim Brown for seventh on the NFL's all-time receptions list.
Sources:
Reuters (Field Level Media): 49ers reach 4-0, pull away from Broncos in second half
Reuters (Field Level Media): Vikings improve to 4-0 with 5 FGs, keep Dolphins winless
Reuters (Field Level Media): Chiefs improve to 4-0 with tight win over Raiders
49ers 24, Broncos 14
Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey scored 1-yard touchdowns and George Kittle took a screen pass 56 yards for the clinching score as the 49ers pulled away from the Denver Broncos in the second half in Santa Clara.
After a 3-3 first half, San Francisco seized control when a fumbled punt return by Denver's Marvin Mims Jr. set up Samuel's touchdown with 4:15 left in the third quarter. McCaffrey's plunge gave the 49ers a two-score lead with 8:52 to play, and Kittle's long touchdown finished it after Denver had closed to 17-14.
Brock Purdy finished 19-for-30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns, with Mike Evans his top target on five catches for 76 yards. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who played last season for the Broncos, led the defence with 12 tackles. The 49ers opened the season with four straight wins for the second time in the last four years. Bo Nix went 25-for-42 for 214 yards for the Broncos (2-2), and neither quarterback threw an interception.
Vikings 15, Dolphins 10
Will Reichard kicked five field goals and the Vikings held on to beat the winless Miami Dolphins in Minneapolis. Reichard connected from 47, 50, 33, 41 and 29 yards, with T.J. Hockenson posting 13 receptions for 119 yards and Kyler Murray completing 27 of 37 passes for 247 yards. Minnesota improved to 4-0 for the 11th time in franchise history — without star wideout Justin Jefferson, sidelined by a sprained left ankle.
Ollie Gordon II led the Dolphins (0-4) with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Malik Willis completed nine of 17 passes for 85 yards and lost a fumble. Miami pulled within 12-10 in the final minute of the third quarter, but Reichard's fifth kick with 6:41 remaining sealed it.
Chiefs 30, Raiders 27
Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III and the Chiefs planted their flag atop the AFC West with a tight win over the Raiders in Las Vegas. Walker carried 22 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard burst — the longest run in the NFL this season — that set up the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes, 15-of-30 for 225 yards, threw two touchdown passes to Tyquan Thornton and won his 99th regular-season game, improving to 7-0 at Allegiant Stadium. But the win came at a cost: Thornton, celebrating a career day of five catches for 111 yards, was carted off with an ankle injury after a 55-yard reception. Rashee Rice also left with a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Walker leads the NFL in rushing with 537 yards.
Kirk Cousins nearly stole it for the Raiders (3-1), throwing a late touchdown to Brock Bowers and converting the two-point try to force an onside kick. The Chiefs (4-0) roll into their bye week as the last undefeated team in the AFC. Tight end Travis Kelce's first catch was the 1,096th of his career, moving him past Tim Brown for seventh on the NFL's all-time receptions list.
Sources:
Reuters (Field Level Media): 49ers reach 4-0, pull away from Broncos in second half
Reuters (Field Level Media): Vikings improve to 4-0 with 5 FGs, keep Dolphins winless
Reuters (Field Level Media): Chiefs improve to 4-0 with tight win over Raiders
