The Highest (And Lowest) Scoring NFL Games of All Time

The National Football League (NFL) is known for its high-scoring games, but there have been a few occasions when the scoring has been very high or very low. Here are the highest and lowest scoring NFL games of all time:

Highest Scoring Game

• New York Giants 72, Washington Redskins 41 (December 8, 1940)

This game was played in the days before the NFL had a rule limiting the number of plays per team per game, and it was a defensive struggle for the first half. The Giants scored 21 points in the third quarter and 35 points in the fourth quarter to break the game open.

Lowest Scoring Game

• Pittsburgh Steelers 3, Miami Dolphins 0 (November 26, 2007)

This game was played in rainy and windy conditions, and both teams struggled to move the ball. The Steelers scored their only points on a field goal by Jeff Reed in the fourth quarter.

Other Notable High-Scoring Games

• Cincinnati Bengals 58, Buffalo Bills 48 (September 28, 2004)
• San Francisco 49ers 55, New York Giants 10 (October 3, 1995)
• Dallas Cowboys 52, Philadelphia Eagles 17 (October 1, 2000)
• Green Bay Packers 45, New York Jets 35 (October 18, 1980)
• Los Angeles Rams 51, Atlanta Falcons 0 (September 25, 1976)

Other Notable Low-Scoring Games

• Chicago Bears 7, Washington Redskins 0 (December 8, 1940)
• Detroit Lions 3, Chicago Bears 0 (November 23, 1941)
• New York Giants 2, Philadelphia Eagles 0 (December 28, 1943)
• New York Giants 2, Washington Redskins 0 (November 24, 1951)
• Kansas City Chiefs 0, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 (December 24, 1979)
• New York Jets 3, Miami Dolphins 0 (December 9, 2001)
• Jacksonville Jaguars 9, Baltimore Ravens 6 (November 19, 2016)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9, Detroit Lions 3 (December 24, 2021)

Why Do High-Scoring Games Happen?

There are a number of reasons why high-scoring games happen in the NFL. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Good offenses. When both teams have good offenses, it can lead to a lot of scoring.
• Sloppy defense. If both teams are playing sloppy defense, it can also lead to a lot of scoring.
• Fast-paced offenses. Teams that run a lot of plays and score quickly can also lead to high-scoring games.

Why Do Low-Scoring Games Happen?

There are a number of reasons why low-scoring games happen in the NFL. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Bad weather conditions. Rain, wind, and snow can all make it difficult for teams to move the ball, which can lead to low scoring.
• Good defense. When both teams are playing good defense, it can be difficult for either team to score points.
• Injuries. If a team loses key players on offense or defense, it can be difficult for them to score points.
• Poor play-calling. If a team makes a lot of mistakes, it can give the other team easy scoring opportunities.

Conclusion

High-scoring games and low-scoring games are both a part of the NFL. There are a number of factors that can contribute to either type of game, and it can be exciting to see how the game unfolds.