Chiefs and 49ers Remain Unbeaten Through Six Weeks

The Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) and San Francisco 49ers (6-0) are both still unbeaten, according to The Guardian's unbeaten-teams roundup published Oct. 22. Only a few weeks ago, the Chiefs looked like a different team. They finished last season 6-11.

Kansas City's turnaround starts with its running game. Kenneth Walker III had 665 rushing yards coming into Week 7, the most in the NFL. As a team, the Chiefs averaged 5.5 yards per carry (the average gain on each run), best in the league. They averaged 4.2 last season. Walker also broke off seven runs of more than 20 yards this season. The entire Chiefs team had three such runs all of last year.

Walker signed with Kansas City for $14.35 million a year, making him the ninth-most expensive running back in the league. He added 128 yards on the ground in Week 6. The Chiefs also took a bye week before Week 7, a break from games that gave the offense extra time to rest and prepare.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is back on the field after tearing his ACL, a knee ligament, in 2025. He returned for the 2026 season. Pairing a healthy quarterback with a running game that can break runs open is a hard combination for defenses to plan against. Opponents have to pick between stacking the line to stop Walker and dropping extra defenders deep to protect against big plays, and both choices carry a cost.

San Francisco's start has come with more strain. The 49ers held a three-game lead in the NFC West, the four-team division they play in, as of Oct. 22. But they are doing it without four wide receivers, who are on injured reserve (a list for players sidelined for an extended stretch). Brandon Aiyuk is also away from the team.

The injuries were on display in Monday's win over the Washington Commanders. Mike Evans caught three passes for 94 yards before leaving with Achilles pain, a tendon injury that can keep players out for weeks or longer. After he exited, San Francisco's offense went three-and-out three times, meaning it failed to earn a first down on three separate possessions.

Both teams now move into Week 7 with the same goal: keep the streak alive. The Chiefs have shown they can win with a rushing attack that goes long, while the 49ers have shown they can win with a healthy receiving corps. How long each formula holds up is the question to watch.