NFL Sunday Roundup: Vikings Stand Alone, Seahawks Hold Chiefs to 3

Sunday took the NFL's perfection away in two places and left it standing in one. The Kansas City Chiefs scored three points. The San Francisco 49ers lost for the first time. And the Minnesota Vikings, 16-10 winners over Indianapolis, walk into Monday as the league's only unbeaten team at 6-0.

The headline result: Seahawks 20, Chiefs 3

Kansas City's first loss was not close. Seattle held the Chiefs to a field goal on Sunday night, winning 20-3. Patrick Mahomes finished 19 of 33 for 165 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Holding that offense to three points is the defensive performance of the season so far, and it changes the top of the AFC picture in one night: the Chiefs no longer own the league's margin for error.

The other unbeaten falls: Falcons 29, 49ers 20

Atlanta handed San Francisco its first loss, 29-20. The 49ers also lost Christian McCaffrey to a thigh injury during the game, and he was questionable to return. Two stories came out of this one: the Falcons are real, and San Francisco's offense has a health question at its centre.

That leaves Minnesota alone at the top. The Vikings beat the Colts 16-10, a low and tight game that ended with the defense holding the line. Six wins, no losses, and the league's best record with a style that travels.

The comeback: Bengals 35, Ravens 13

Cincinnati scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to beat Baltimore 35-13. Joe Burrow threw four touchdowns after halftime. A division game that looked gone at the break became the weekend's statement win, and it keeps the Bengals in the AFC North race they seemed to be leaving.

The rest of Sunday

The Steelers beat the Saints 16-10 in Paris, a low-scoring game on the league's international stage. The Buccaneers routed the Panthers 43-13, and Baker Mayfield threw his 200th career touchdown in his return. The Giants beat the Texans 27-21 in overtime. The Dolphins finally won, beating the Jets 28-25 for their first victory of the season. The Browns edged the Titans 27-24 on a walk-off field goal, and the Lions beat the Packers 20-17 the same way, on a kick as time expired. The Broncos beat the Cardinals 30-16, and the Rams beat the Raiders 35-21 as Matthew Stafford broke the franchise touchdown record.

Winners and losers

Winner: Minnesota. The last unbeaten team standing gets the league's respect and its hardest schedule of attention. Winner: Seattle's defense, which made the Chiefs look ordinary. Winner: Cincinnati's season, saved in one half.

Loser: Kansas City's aura. Three points does not end a season, but it ends the idea that the Chiefs can win any game on a bad night. Loser: San Francisco's injury luck, with McCaffrey's thigh now a weekly question. Loser: Baltimore, which led a division rival at halftime and gave up 35 straight.

Key numbers

• 3 points: all Kansas City scored against Seattle, with Mahomes held to 165 yards and no touchdowns
• 6-0: Minnesota, the league's only unbeaten record
• 35: unanswered second-half points by Cincinnati against Baltimore, with four Burrow touchdowns
• 200: Baker Mayfield's career touchdown passes, reached in Tampa Bay's 43-13 win

What happens next

Monday night closes the week with the Cowboys at the Eagles, 8:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and ABC. Then the league turns to Week 8 with a new shape: the Vikings alone on top, the Chiefs and 49ers answering their first losses, and Cincinnati back in a race it nearly left.