Vikings’ First Loss Reinforces NFL’s Parity-Driven Business Model
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Vikings’ First Loss Reinforces NFL’s Parity-Driven Business Model
The league is left with no undefeated teams this season, and the unbeaten 1972 Dolphins are safe for at least another year.
By Mark Maske | Nov 01, 2026 | 09:23 pm
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The NFL has no unbeaten teams left this season after the Vikings lost Sunday to the Lions. The 1972 Dolphins, who have the only undefeated season in league history, remain safe for at least another year. And the NFL’s business model, built in large part upon on-field parity and “any given Sunday” unpredictability, continues to reign supreme.
The league has soaring franchise values and viewership figures that dwarf all others in U.S. professional sports. Many factors contribute to that. But among the biggest are the league’s revenue-sharing model and salary cap system that keep the franchises, whether in larger or smaller markets, on relatively even financial footing and maintain competitive balance on the field.
Teams split their national broadcasting revenues evenly on the premise that if a franchise in tiny Green Bay can vie effectively with teams in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, that will keep more fans in more cities interested—and watching and spending—for longer. The salary cap is flexible enough that a team can exceed it, based on how it structures players’ contracts.