List of highest-scoring NFL games
This is a list of the highest-scoring games in the history of the National Football League, by number of combined points. It includes both regular season and postseason games. The highest-scoring game overall was a 1966 game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, which produced a combined 113 points with a score of 72–41. The most points scored by one team in a single game is the 73 the Chicago Bears scored in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, which is not included on this list, as their opponents scored zero additional points. It also serves as the game with the largest margin of victory in NFL history.
Scoring can be achieved through touchdowns, point after touchdown, two-point conversion, a safety or a field goal. In the event of a tie after four quarters, the overtime period allows scores to increase further as teams try to win it out of regulation.
Game notes
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, D.C. The Redskins outscored the Giants 72–41. There were a total of 16 touchdowns: 10 by the Redskins and 6 by the Giants, plus a field goal by the Redskins' kicker Charlie Gogolak 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 70 yards for a touchdown.106 points (Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 2004)
On November 28, 2004, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 4 touchdowns and Rudi Johnson ran for 2 more along with a career-high 202 rushing yards as the Bengals survived 413 passing yards and 5 touchdowns 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.105 points [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs–Los Angeles Rams game|(Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams, 2018)]]
On November 19, 2018, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff threw for 413 yards and accounted for five touchdowns, including a game-winning 40 yard strike to tight end Gerald Everett with under 2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as the Rams outlasted the [2018 2022 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs] 54–51 in the highest-scoring Monday Night Football game in NFL history. In a losing effort, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 478 yards and 6 touchdowns, but threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. The game was sealed for the Rams when Mahomes threw a desperation pass that was intercepted by Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner. Both teams combined for 14 touchdowns and 1,001 yards. It is the only NFL game in which both teams have scored 50 points.101 points (Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Oilers, 1963)
Played on December 22, 1963, the game took place in the American Football League, but it was absorbed into official NFL records after the NFL–AFL merger. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Oilers 52–49, combining for a total of 101 points. It was the Raiders' eighth win in a row.Raiders placekicker Mike Mercer kicked a field goal with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter, breaking the 49–49 tie and giving the Raiders 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. Raiders wide receiver Art Powell caught 10 passes for a total of 247 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Oilers had their own offensive threat in Willard Dewveall who had seven catches adding up to a total amount of 137 yards and four touchdowns.
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, Saints quarterback Drew Brees tied an NFL record by throwing seven touchdown passes, and Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw six touchdown passes. The 13 touchdown passes between the two quarterbacks set an NFL record. 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.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. Seahawks running back Curt Warner rushed for 207 yards on 32 carries. Chiefs wide 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.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 threw a critical interception to Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan at his own 24-yard line with 2 minutes remaining in the game. Broncos placekicker Matt Prater kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired to give the Broncos a 51–48 win.Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning completed 33 of 42 passes 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." This would prove to be true, as the Broncos stormed all the way to score 606 points and set the NFL record for points scored in a single season.
97 points (Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Colts, 1950)
The 1950 Los Angeles Rams, the best offensive team in NFL history in terms of average points, scored 70 points, one of only three teams to ever do so. The following week, they beat the [1950 1950 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions] 65–24, including a shared NFL record with 41 points in one quarter. They are the only team in NFL history to score 60-or-more points twice in a season, let alone in consecutive games.96 points (Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 2007)
On September 16, 2007, Ohio intrastate rivals, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals battled to combine for 96 points, with the Browns defeating the Bengals 51–45. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson and Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer set or tied franchise records with 5 and 6 touchdown passes, respectively.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 touchdown 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. The Dolphins receiving corps was led by the "Marks Brothers", Mark Duper and Mark Clayton, combining for 328 yards receiving and 3 touchdown receptions.