Vikings Become NFL's First 5-0 Team as 49ers and Chiefs Look to Join Them
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New Orleans Saints 23-20 on Sunday to become the NFL's first 5-0 team of the 2026 season, riding a dominant defense that has allowed just 15.2 points per game. The Vikings (5-0) have won despite an offense that has scored only six touchdowns all year and entered Week 5 averaging just 11.8 points over its previous four games.
"It's not always pretty, but we find ways," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said after the win. "Our defense is playing at an elite level right now."
Quarterback Kyler Murray, who missed significant time in the first two weeks with a concussion, scrambled seven times in Sunday's victory — a performance that reminded observers of his earlier career. "He turned back the clock," ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers (4-0) and Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) remain undefeated heading into their Week 5 matchups. The 49ers visit the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon, while the Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.
Context: Different Paths to Perfection
49ers Lean on Offense
San Francisco has been the NFL's most efficient offense through four games, scoring 30.5 points per game (tied for second) and converting a league-best 57.5% of third downs. Quarterback Brock Purdy has thrown 11 touchdown passes against just one interception, earning praise as the early-season MVP frontrunner.
"Through four games there's Purdy, and then there's everybody else," ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell wrote.
The 49ers have won three of their four games by double digits, including a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. However, skeptics point out that San Francisco's opponents have combined for a 5-7 record in games not against the 49ers, and the team has yet to beat a squad currently above .500.
Chiefs Boast Strongest Resume
Kansas City owns the most impressive collection of wins among the unbeaten teams. The Chiefs' opponents are 7-5 in games not against Kansas City, and they handed the Las Vegas Raiders their first loss, 30-27 on the road. Running back Kenneth Walker III leads the NFL with 537 rushing yards — the most by any player through four games in the last 15 years.
Vikings Defense Carries the Load
Minnesota's path has been the most unusual. Since Week 2, the Vikings have allowed just 32 points in four games. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has confounded opposing quarterbacks with exotic blitz packages and coverage schemes. The Vikings won two of those games without scoring a touchdown at all.
"We're not going to apologize for winning," Flores said. "The object is to score more than the other team."
Perspective: Undefeated Starts Rarely Lead to Perfection
Historically, fast starts generate outsized attention, but undefeated seasons remain extraordinarily rare. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are still the only team to complete a perfect season in the Super Bowl era. Last year, the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles both started 4-0 before losing their fifth games.
This year's trio of unbeatens has already surpassed that mark: the Vikings reached 5-0, and the 49ers and Chiefs have a chance to do the same in Week 5.
The stakes are significant. Undefeated teams face mounting pressure as the season progresses, with every opponent treating them as a Super Bowl-caliber test. The Vikings, in particular, have managed their streak without a consistently productive offense — a formula that may not hold up against stronger competition later in the season.
San Francisco's schedule stiffens considerably. After Seattle, the 49ers face a stretch that includes games against the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. Kansas City's path appears more manageable, but the Chiefs have historically stumbled in November.
For now, the NFL's undefeated club remains a compelling story. Whether any team can match the 2007 New England Patriots — who started 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl — remains to be seen. But for the Vikings, 49ers, and Chiefs, the pursuit of perfection is very much alive.
Follow our NFL coverage for updates on all the undefeated teams throughout the 2026 season.
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