Chiefs and 49ers remain unbeaten - five things from NFL week four

Five teams went into week four of the NFL season with a 100% record, but only three teams remain unbeaten after Sunday's action. Only three teams remain unbeaten in the NFL after two more 100% starts were halted during week four of the season. Sunday's slate got under way with the Indianapolis Colts beating the Washington Commanders in the first of this season's three London games. The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams then avoided dropping to a 1-3 record by pulling off some big wins on the road. The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders were among the five teams who made a 3-0 start to the season and one team's '0' had to go as the divisional rivals met, while the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings marched on. Kansas City have dominated their rivalry with the Raiders in recent years, but Las Vegas are vastly improved after winning only three games last season and pushed the Chiefs all the way. The Raiders led 13-10 heading into the final quarter in Vegas, which featured three lead changes before Kansas City held on for a 30-27 win. The turning point came as new running back Kenneth Walker maintained his stunning start by scoring two touchdowns in 19 seconds, with the Chiefs regaining possession immediately by forcing a fumble on the kick-off return. The Raiders gave themselves hope with a Brock Bowers score and stayed alive until the final play, when Kirk Cousins was tackled as he threw and his wayward pass was intercepted. Walker finished with 177 yards from 22 carries, while team-mate Tyquan Thornton also had two touchdowns and 111 receiving yards. After missing last season's play-offs, the Chiefs look capable of getting back into Super Bowl contention.

They next face the Los Angeles Chargers, who are 0-4 after losing 30-23 to defending champions the Seattle Seahawks. The other two teams who improved to 4-0 were the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers hosted the Denver Broncos, who overcame Super Bowl favourites the Rams last week, and they were tied 3-3 until late in the third quarter. Christian Mc Caffrey's touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the 49ers some breathing space and, although Jaylen Waddle replied, George Kittle scored on a huge catch-and-run down the middle to seal a 24-14 win. While Cousins and Brock Purdy lead the league with 11 touchdown passes, Purdy has been intercepted only once and has not been sacked in the 49ers' first four games. The Vikings are the biggest surprise to be 4-0, having ground out another win, this time 15-10 over the Miami Dolphins, with Will Reichard kicking five field goals. Some said Drake Maye's confidence was shot after he was benched during the New England Patriots' blowout loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. After throwing eight interceptions in the 2025 regular season, the 24-year-old quarterback had six in the Patriots' first three games and only one touchdown pass. Next up was a daunting trip to the unbeaten Buffalo Bills - led by the 2024 Most Valuable Player Josh Allen - but Maye showed why he narrowly missed out on the MVP award last season, when he led the Patriots to an unexpected Super Bowl run. After Allen restored Buffalo's lead with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman with four minutes left, Efton Chism made a superb one-handed catch in the endzone to put the Patriots back in front. They then intercepted a hopeful Allen throw to clinch a 29-26 win, with Maye passing for three touchdowns and 269 yards.

The Bills joined the Rams as Super Bowl favourites last week and they go head to head in LA next week. After losing a thriller at Denver last Monday, the LA Rams were 1-2 and faced another stern test on the road this week at the Philadelphia Eagles. The hosts led 20-10 at half-time after two Darius Cooper touchdowns, but the Rams fought back, with Kyren Williams rushing for two touchdowns in the final four minutes to claim a 24-20 victory. The fit-again Puka Nacua finished with 125 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Rams, while the Eagles' injury concerns mounted. Wide receiver De Vonta Smith (hamstring) was ruled out before the game, joining tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) on the sidelines, and Philadelphia lost star running back Saquon Barkley to an early hamstring injury. That is a big blow for the Eagles and UK fans as they visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who beat the Cincinnati Bengals 22-17 to make it back-to-back wins. The Baltimore Ravens also have fitness concerns over a key man, with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (ankle) unable to play during the second half of their 24-18 home win against the Tennessee Titans. There have been at least 48 points in every Dallas Cowboys game this season, and they played their part in another high-scoring affair at state rivals Houston. The Texans led 23-13 after Nico Collins' second score in the third quarter and then 30-27 with two minutes remaining. But Dak Prescott led the Cowboys to a game-winning drive of 11 plays and 74 yards, throwing a touchdown pass to star receiver Cee Dee Lamb to claim a 34-30 win.

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