Highest scoring NFL games
The highest scoring National Football League (NFL) games are the NFL games with the highest number of combined points in history.[1]
Regular season
113 points (New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins, 1966)
The Washington Redskins and the New York Giants combined for a total of 113 points in one game on November 27, 1966, in Washington. The Redskins outscored the Giants 72–41. There were a total of 16 touchdowns, 10 by Washington and 6 by New York, and a field goal by Washington’s kicker Charlie Gogolak[2] with only 7 seconds left. The game was played before the introduction of nets behind the goal post causing the loss of fourteen footballs to the stands. Thirteen of the footballs were lost due to extra points, and one was lost by Brig Owens who threw the ball into the crowd after he returned a fumble 69 yards for a touchdown.[3]
106 points (Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 2004)
On November 28, 2004, Carson Palmer threw for 4 TDs and Rudi Johnson ran for 2 more along with a career-high 202 yards as the Bengals survived 413 passing yards and 5 TDs by Kelly Holcomb to defeat the Cleveland Browns 58-48, in the second-highest scoring game in NFL history. Deltha O'Neal returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in the final 2 minutes to end the Browns' comeback hopes and to cap the scoring.
101 points (Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Oilers, 1963)
This NFL game is tied for third-highest scoring game. It played on December 22, 1963. (The game took place in the American Football League, but has been absorbed into official National Football League records.) The Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Oilers 52-49, combining for a total of 101 points. It was Oakland's eighth win in a row.
Oakland placekicker Mike Mercer kicked a field goal with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter, breaking the 49–49 tie and giving Oakland the win. Raiders quarterback Tom Flores threw for 407 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Oilers quarterback and future Hall of Famer George Blanda passed for 342 yards and 5 touchdowns.[4] Oakland's wide receiver Art Powell caught 10 passes for a total of 247 yards and 4 touchdowns. Houston had their own offensive threat in Willard Dewveall who had seven catches adding up to a total amount of 137 yards and four touchdowns.[5]
101 points (New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints, 2015)
On November 1, 2015, the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints scored a combined 101 points. The Saints won 52-49. Notably, Giants QB Eli Manning threw 6 touchdown passes, along with Saints QB Drew Brees tying an NFL record with 7 touchdown passes. The game set a record with a combined 13 touchdown passes. (The previous record was 12, and it was set in Saints vs Cardinals, 1969). The only field goal was scored on the final play of the game, when the Saints' Kai Forbath successfully kicked a 50-yard field goal to win the game, the longest kick of his career at the time. This game score is tied for 3rd place.
99 points (Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1983)
On November 27, 1983, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the visiting Kansas City Chiefs 51-48 in overtime. The 99 points scored is tied for fifth-highest scoring game in NFL history. Seahawks running back Curt Warner rushed for 207 yards on thirty-two carries. Chiefs receiver Carlos Carson had seven catches for 149 yards and one touchdown. The game ended when placekicker Norm Johnson converted a 42-yard field goal with 1:46 left in overtime.[5]
99 points (Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys, 2013)
On October 6, 2013, the Dallas Cowboys hosted the Denver Broncos for a game in which 99 total points were scored, tied for fifth-highest in NFL history. Near the end of the fourth quarter the game was tied, 48-48. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (who achieved more than 500 passing yards for the first time in franchise history) threw a critical interception to Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan at his own 24-yard line with 2 minutes remaining in the game. Denver placekicker Matt Prater kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired to give the Broncos a 51-48 win.
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning went 33-42 for 414 yards, throwing 4 touchdown passes and 1 interception in a winning effort. This performance prompted KCNC-TV to report, "After 5 games and 5 big wins, the Broncos are on pace to become the first team in the history of the NFL to exceed 600, maybe even 700 points, in a season. It is the most remarkable five-game stretch in the history of professional football. The numbers don’t lie. What Manning has done in his first five games — his "assault" on the record books — is simply unprecedented."[6]
98 points (Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers, 1985)
On December 8, 1985, the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers combined for 98 points in a 54–44 Chargers victory. [7]
96 points (Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 2007)
On September 16, 2007, Ohio intrastate rivals Cleveland and Cincinnati battled to combine for 96 points, with the Browns defeating the Bengals 51-45.
96 points (Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets, 1986)
In a September 21, 1986 AFC East showdown at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the New York Jets hosted the Miami Dolphins, combining for 96 points, with the Jets defeating the Dolphins in overtime, 51-45.
The contest featured 1,066 yards of combined offense, 59 first downs and 93 total pass attempts. Dolphins' quarterback Dan Marino had 448 yards through the air and a personal best six touchdown passes, while Jets signal-caller Ken O'Brien threw for 479 yards and 4 TD passes. The shootout came to an end when Jets wide receiver Wesley Walker caught a 43-yard bomb touchdown from O'Brien in overtime, his fourth of the game. Walker finished with 6 catches for 179 yards, a staggering 29.8 yds per reception average. The Dolphins receiving corps was led by the "Marks Brothers", Mark Duper and Mark Clayton, combining for 328 yards receiving and 3 TD receptions.
95 points (Washington Redskins vs. Green Bay Packers, 1983)
On October 17, 1983 the Redskins and Packers played on a Monday night with the Packers winning 48-47, a combined 95-point total.[8] Redskins kicker Mark Moseley missed a field goal in the final seconds, securing the win for the Packers.
91 points (Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets, 2008)
On September 28th, 2008, the New York Jets beat the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals, 56-35. This 91-point game was a battle of the quarterbacks; Brett Favre for the Jets, and Kurt Warner of the Cardinals.[9]
Playoffs
96 points (Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 2009 playoffs)
In the 2009-10 playoffs, the Cardinals and Packers combined for 96 points in a 51-45 overtime Arizona win.
95 points (Detroit Lions vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1995 playoffs)
In a December 30, 1995 Wild Card playoff game, the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions combined for 95 points in what was the NFL's highest scoring postseason game until the 2009-10 playoffs.
The Eagles dominated the game on seven Detroit turnovers, winning 58-37. The Eagles scored 31 points in the second quarter alone, and led 38-7 at halftime. They extended their lead to 51-7 with nine minutes left in the third quarter. After that, Detroit scored four touchdowns while the Eagles added another.
89 points (Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 2013 playoffs)
On January 4, 2014, the Colts and the Chiefs played in a Saturday evening 2014 NFL Wild Card playoff game. The teams combined for 89 points, with the Colts winning 45-44. Following an early second half Chiefs touchdown, the Colts rallied back for a 28-point comeback, the second largest comeback in NFL playoff history.[10] [11]
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_scores.cgi
- ↑ "Highest Scoring NFL Game". Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ↑ "Inside the Numbers" (PDF). Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ↑ "The Half of It". Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- 1 2 "NFL Shootouts". Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ↑ "Super Bowl Or Bust: If NFL-Leading Broncos Don't Win It All, Will Season Be 'Utter Failure?'". KCNC-TV. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ Pittsburgh vs. San Diego, 1985 at Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310170gnb.htm
- ↑ http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280928020
- ↑ Behind only "The Comeback"
- ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20140104_KC@IND/luck-rallies-colts-to-wildcard-win-over-chiefs