The Kansas City Chiefs got the better of the San Francisco 49ers once again, only this time without an MVP-like performance from Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City used a strong running game and another excellent effort on defence to keep its perfect 2024 record intact with Sunday's 28-18 win over the 49ers, the first meeting between the teams since the Chiefs' overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII back in February.
Kareem Hunt had two of four Kansas City rushing touchdowns and the Chiefs amassed a season-high 184 yards on the ground to move to 6-0 and record their 12th straight victory when including play-off games. The two-time defending NFL champions have not lost since a 20-14 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day.
The Chiefs offset Mahomes' two interceptions and a 154-yard passing day from the three-time Super Bowl MVP by picking off Brock Purdy three times, including twice in the second half, to help them pull away in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco dropped to 3-4 and was dealt with another significant injury to a key player when wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk exited in the second quarter with a right knee injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said afterward the team believes Aiyuk sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament that would end his season.
Purdy did rush for two touchdowns but was held to 212 yards on 17-of-31 passing. George Kittle recorded six catches for 92 yards in the loss.
Touchdown runs of one and six yards from Hunt in the second quarter staked the Chiefs to a 14-6 half-time lead, though Deommodore Lenoir's interception of Mahomes and 33-yard return set up Purdy's 1-yard touchdown plunge early in the third quarter that trimmed the margin to two points. 49ers kicker Anders Carlson missed the extra point.
San Francisco's next two drives ended in Purdy interceptions, however, and the Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter to separate. Mahomes had the first with a 1-yard run, while Mecole Hardman scored on an 18-yard jet sweep with 3:09 left to put the game out of reach.
Lions hand Vikings first loss on late field goal
The Minnesota Vikings were the NFL's only other unbeaten team entering Week 7, but their five-game winning streak to start the season came to an end when Detroit's Jake Bates made a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to give the Lions a hard-earned 31-29 victory.
Minnesota overcame an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take a 29-28 lead with 5:50 remaining on linebacker Ivan Pace's 36-yard touchdown return of a fumble by Lions running back David Montgomery. The Vikings could not convert the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt, however, as Sam Darnold's pass intended for Jordan Addison landed off the mark.
That misfire would prove costly for Minnesota (5-1). Detroit's defence forced a three-and-out on the Vikings' next possession, and the Lions marched 44 yards in eight plays after getting the ball back with 2:32 left to play to set up Bates' winning kick.
The Lions owned a 21-10 advantage at half-time on the strength of two Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown runs, including a 45-yard scamper early in the second quarter. Their lead was 28-17 following Jared Goff's second touchdown pass of the day, a 21-yard strike to Kalif Raymond with 5:43 left in the third quarter.
Goff completed 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards and no interceptions in the fourth straight win for Detroit (5-1). The veteran became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to record a passer rating of 140 or more in three consecutive games.
Gibbs finished with 116 rushing yards on 15 attempts, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught Goff's first touchdown pass and recorded 112 yards on eight receptions.
Aaron Jones had a 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for Minnesota and ended with 93 yards on 14 carries. Justin Jefferson led the Vikings with 81 receiving yards on seven catches and had a 25-yard touchdown grab from Darnold in the third quarter.
Wilson's solid Pittsburgh debut helps send Jets to fourth straight loss
Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his long-awaited first game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who extended the New York Jets' struggles by pulling away for a 37-15 victory.
After missing the season's first six games with a lingering calf injury, Wilson completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards with touchdown connections to George Pickens and Van Jefferson to help Pittsburgh (5-2) move a half-game up on the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.
New York (2-5), meanwhile, dropped three games behind the first-place Buffalo Bills in the AFC East after dropping its fourth straight game during what's been a turbulent season for the expected contenders. The Jets are now 0-2 since firing head coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 and replacing him with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
While Wilson had a productive Pittsburgh debut, Davante Adams had a quiet one in his first appearance since being acquired by the Jets from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the week. The accomplished receiver and former Green Bay Packers team-mate of Aaron Rodgers was held to 30 yards on three catches.
Rodgers was intercepted twice by Beanie Bishop as the Jets failed to hold on to a 15-6 second-quarter lead. The Steelers scored the game's final 31 points and outscored New York by a 24-0 margin in the second half.
Bishop's first interception ignited the rally, with the turnover leading to Wilson's 11-yard touchdown pass to Pickens that pulled Pittsburgh within 15-13 at half-time.
The rookie cornerback came through again midway through the third quarter, as he snared a deep pass that fell out of the hands of New York's Garrett Wilson and returned the pick 41 yards to the Jets' 1-yard line. Wilson scored on a quarterback sneak on the following play to give the Steelers a 23-15 advantage.
Pickens finished with 111 yards on five catches for Pittsburgh, which also received 102 rushing yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown from Najee Harris.
Breece Hall had a rushing touchdown for New York and led the Jets with 103 receiving yards on six catches. Rodgers finished 24 of 39 for 276 yards with one touchdown in addition to the two picks.
Commanders crush Panthers despite star rookie Daniels' departure
The Washington Commanders lost quarterback Jayden Daniels to a rib injury in the first quarter, though Marcus Mariota stepped in capably for the rookie sensation and helped the NFC East leaders to a 40-7 rout of the Carolina Panthers.
Mariota completed 18 of 23 attempts for 205 yards with touchdown passes to Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott as Washington (5-2) rolled to its most lopsided win since 2015 despite Daniels exiting after just one drive. The 2024 No. 2 overall pick is scheduled for further testing Monday, and Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said after the game he had yet to receive an update on the injury.
Washington also received a 67-yard interception return touchdown from edge rusher Dante Fowler in the first quarter and four field goals from Austin Seibert for the game. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for a team-high 71 yards with a touchdown on 12 carries, while Terry McLaurin had 98 receiving yards on six catches for the Commanders.
Fowler's pick was one of two by the Washington defence against Andy Dalton, who managed just 93 yards on 11-of-16 passing before being relieved late by 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
Chuba Hubbard had 52 rushing yards for Carolina (1-6) and scored the Panthers' lone touchdown with a 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter, after the Commanders had built an overwhelming 37-0 lead after three periods.
Barkley burns former team for 176 yards as Eagles cruise past Giants
Saquon Barkley's return to MetLife Stadium was a memorable one, as the first-year Philadelphia Eagle piled up 176 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead his new team to a 28-3 victory over the New York Giants.
Facing the Giants for the first time since leaving New York to sign a three-year, $37.5 million contract with Philadelphia in the offseason, Barkley registered the second-highest single-game rushing total of his seven-year career. He spent the first six of those seasons with the Giants and ranks fourth in team history with 5,211 rushing yards.
Philadelphia (4-2) also received a dominant effort on defence en route to its second straight win, as the unit racked up eight sacks and held New York (2-5) to 119 total yards.
Daniel Jones took seven of those sacks and mustered just 99 yards on 14-of-21 passing before being pulled after three quarters in favour of backup Drew Lock.
Barkley ripped off a 55-yard run in the second quarter and later finished that drive with a 3-yard touchdown to break a scoreless tie with 8:58 left before half-time.
The Eagles extended the lead to 14-0 less than five minutes later when Jalen Hurts hit A.J. Brown with a well-thrown deep ball on 4th-and-3 for a 41-yard touchdown.
Hurts added a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the second half and finished with 114 passing yards while completing 10 of 14 attempts. Brown led all receivers with 89 yards on five catches.
Newcomer McManus boots winning field goal as Packers edge Texans
Brandon McManus capped his Green Bay debut with a 45-yard field goal as time expired to give the Green Bay Packers a 24-22 win over the Houston Texans in a clash of teams off to strong starts.
After the AFC South-leading Texans took a 22-21 lead on Ka'imi Fairbarin's 35-yard field goal with 1:44 left, Jordan Love drove the Packers into range for McManus' kick that put an end to a three-game winning streak for Houston (5-2).
McManus signed with the Packers on Wednesday, more than four months after being released by Washington following allegations he sexually assaulted two flight attendants while traveling to London last season while then with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The NFL announced last month it found no evidence the veteran kicker violated its personal conduct policy.
Love shook off two first-half interceptions to throw for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the third straight win for Green Bay (5-2). The young quarterback delivered scoring strikes to Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion WIcks in the second quarter, then later found Josh Jacobs for an 8-yard touchdown that put the Packers up 21-19 in the third quarter.
Jacobs rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries in addition to his touchdown catch, while Romeo Doubs compiled eight catches for 94 yards for Green Bay.
Houston received 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Joe Mixon but got an off day from C.J. Stroud. The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year was held to 86 yards on 10-of-21 passing while being sacked four times by a Green Bay defence that yielded just 197 total yards.
Browns score late touchdown to end Steelers' streak in snowy contest
Nick Chubb ran for a 2-yard touchdown in heavy snow with 57 seconds left, and the Cleveland Browns stunned division rival Pittsburgh 24-19 on Thursday night, ending the Steelers' five-game winning streak.
Chubb's score came in his first game against the AFC North-leading Steelers (8-3) since the running back sustained a season-ending left knee injury on a carry last year at Pittsburgh.
The Browns (3-8) had blown a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and were down 19-18 before getting the ball back with 3:22 remaining after Pittsburgh punter Corliss Waitman shanked a 16-yarder.
With snow piling up and covering the yard lines on the field, Cleveland's Jameis Winston completed a third-down pass to Jerry Jeudy to the Pittsburgh 9. Two plays later, Chubb barrelled into the end zone.
The Steelers had one last chance, but quarterback Russell Wilson's Hail Mary on the final play was knocked down by Browns safety Grant Delpit in the end zone, touching off a wild celebration at Huntington Bank Field.
NFL: Texans bounce back, extend Cowboys' woes
Joe Mixon's 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns helped get the Houston Texans back on track with Monday's 34-10 win over the floundering Dallas Cowboys.
Houston (7-4) snapped a two-game losing streak behind Mixon's powerful running and a defence that sacked Cowboys' fill-in quarterback Cooper Rush five times and forced two turnovers, including a fumble Derek Barnett returned 28 yards for a touchdown that gave the Texans a 27-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
Dallas (3-7) has now lost five straight, its longest skid since dropping seven in a row in 2015, and fell to 0-5 at home. The Cowboys have been outscored by 118 points (187-69) at AT&T Stadium, the third-largest negative differential through five home games in a season in NFL history.
Rush did throw a 64-yard touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin in his second straight start subbing for an injured Dak Prescott, and finished with a career-high 354 passing yards with one interception while completing 32 of 55 attempts.
C.J. Stroud threw for 257 yards with an interception for Houston, which extended its lead over the second-place Indianapolis Colts to two games in the AFC South.
The Texans never trailed after Mixon ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run on the game's opening drive, and the veteran running back added a 1-yard scoring plunge late in the first quarter to give Houston a 14-0 lead.
Turpin got Dallas on the board by taking a short pass from Rush and breaking free from the Houston defence nine seconds into the second quarter, but the Cowboys were shut out in the second half after pulling to within 17-10 on Brandon Aubrey's 53-yard field goal with just under six minutes left before half-time.
Burnett's strip sack of Rush and return of the resulting fumble helped put the game away with 12:31 left, and Mixon tacked on his final touchdown of the night with 3:16 remaining to cap a 35-yard drive that began after the Texans stopped the Cowboys on downs.
Mahomes to use Chiefs' first loss of 2024 as 'spark'
Patrick Mahomes said the Kansas City Chiefs will use their first loss since Christmas Day 2023 as fuel after the Buffalo Bills halted their unbeaten start to the season.
Josh Allen scrambled for a stunning 26-yard touchdown with just over two minutes to play as the Bills improved to 9-2 with a 30-21 win over the reigning Super Bowl champions.
The result ended the Chiefs' 15-game winning streak, a run that began after they lost to the Los Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day last year and included their dramatic triumph over the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII.
The Chiefs had started this season 9-0 to take control of the race for the AFC's top seed, but they could have few complaints about Sunday's result.
The Bills outgained the Chiefs by 366 yards to 259, also recording 24 first downs to Kansas City's 19 and enjoying almost nine more minutes in possession.
Mahomes, however, was relaxed about the end of his team's winning streak, saying: "The undefeated thing was cool, but that's not our ultimate goal.
"It's a good football team, so there's nothing to hang your head about. We feel like we can play better, so we will get back to work and try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end."
The Chiefs rank just 16th in the NFL for yards per game (337.9) and 11th for points per game (24) in 2024, with many of their victories – including against the Denver Broncos in Week 10 and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 – coming via last-gasp defensive or special teams plays.
Mahomes actually feels the team could benefit from a reality check, adding: "I'm hoping that [losing] is a benefit.
"I'm not going to say I or we are relaxed, but at the same time I feel like we were just coming away with these wins at the end of the games.
"I think it's going to spark us to have more urgency, especially at the start of football games, especially with the offense, and that comes from me and turning the ball over on the first drive. It's something you can't do in big games like this."
No quarterback has thrown more interceptions than Mahomes' 11 (level with Geno Smith and Jordan Love) this season, while a passer rating of 90.3 ranks him a lowly 20th among all players at the position.
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