Ever watched a game where the scoreboard just couldn't keep up? Most modern NFL fans think they’ve seen it all with the high-flying offenses of today. But honestly, the record for the most points scored in a game NFL history belongs to an era of leather helmets and ground-and-pound grit.
Football is weird. Sometimes, two defenses just decide to stay on the bus. That's how you end up with 113 points in a single afternoon. Other times, one team is so perfectly dominant that they basically break the sport.
The Day the Bears Broke the Scoreboard
If we’re talking about a single team’s dominance, we have to go back to 1940. The Chicago Bears faced the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders) in the NFL Championship. Just three weeks earlier, Washington had beaten Chicago 7-3. Washington’s owner, George Preston Marshall, called the Bears "crybabies."
Bad move.
The Bears showed up and hung 73 points on them. 73 to nothing. It remains the most points scored in a game NFL by one team, and it’s the largest margin of victory in league history. By the end of the game, the officials literally asked the Bears not to kick any more extra points because they were running out of footballs. They’d kicked them all into the stands. Chicago just started running scrimmage plays for the conversions instead.
Sammy Baugh, Washington’s legendary quarterback, was asked after the game if things would’ve been different if his receiver hadn't dropped a touchdown early on. His response? "Yeah, it would have been 73-6."
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The 113-Point Shootout (1966)
While the Bears hold the "single team" record, the title for the most combined points in a game is a different story. In 1966, Washington and the New York Giants combined for 113 points. Final score: 72-41.
Imagine being a Giants fan that day. You score 41 points—a number that wins you the game 99% of the time—and you still lose by 31. It’s madness. There were 16 touchdowns in total. This game was so chaotic that it featured a 70-yard fumble return for a TD and multiple interceptions returned for scores.
People forget that this wasn't just "bad defense." It was a perfect storm of turnovers and short fields.
Modern Mayhem: Rams vs. Chiefs (2018)
You probably remember this one. It’s basically the "Greatest Show on Surf" meets the "Legion of Zoom." On a Monday night in November, the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs put on a clinic.
It was the first time in NFL history that both teams scored at least 50 points.
The Rams won 54-51.
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Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes were basically playing a video game. It felt like every single drive was going to end in a touchdown. We saw 1,001 total yards. What makes this one special compared to the 1966 game is the sheer talent on the field. You had future Hall of Famers in their prime trading haymakers. It wasn't sloppy; it was just unstoppable offense.
Ranking the Highest Scoring NFL Games
If you're looking for the raw data, the "100-point club" is a very exclusive group. Honestly, it’s rare to see these numbers even in college ball, let alone the pros where the talent gap is supposed to be smaller.
- 113 Points: Washington 72, NY Giants 41 (Nov 27, 1966)
- 106 Points: Cincinnati Bengals 58, Cleveland Browns 48 (Nov 28, 2004)
- 105 Points: LA Rams 54, Kansas City Chiefs 51 (Nov 19, 2018)
- 101 Points: Oakland Raiders 52, Houston Oilers 49 (Dec 22, 1963)
- 101 Points: New Orleans Saints 52, NY Giants 49 (Nov 1, 2015)
The 2015 Saints-Giants game was particularly wild because Drew Brees threw seven touchdowns, and Eli Manning threw six. That’s 13 passing touchdowns in one game. My arm hurts just thinking about it.
Why Do These Blowouts Happen?
Usually, it’s a snowball effect. In the Bears’ 73-0 win, they were using the "T-formation," which was basically high-tech weaponry compared to what everyone else was running. Washington didn't have an answer.
In the 1966 game, Washington’s kicker, Charlie Gogolak, kicked a field goal with almost no time left just to run up the score. Why? Because the Giants had beaten them earlier in the season and bragged about it. NFL players have long memories.
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In 2023, we almost saw the record fall again. The Miami Dolphins put up 70 points against the Denver Broncos. Mike McDaniel actually decided to kneel at the end rather than kick a field goal that would have broken the 73-point record. He said it was out of respect for the game, but some fans were heated that he didn't go for the history books.
Postseason and Super Bowl Records
Playoff football is usually tighter, but not always.
The record for the most points in an NFL playoff game is 96. That happened in 2010 when the Arizona Cardinals beat the Green Bay Packers 51-45 in overtime. Kurt Warner was nearly perfect that day, throwing more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (4).
As for the "Big Game"?
Super Bowl XXIX holds the crown. The San Francisco 49ers beat the San Diego Chargers 49-26. That’s 75 total points. Steve Young threw six touchdowns, finally getting out of Joe Montana’s shadow.
Lessons from the Scoreboard
What does this tell us about the most points scored in a game NFL? First, records are often set by teams with a grudge. Second, weather matters—most of these shootouts happen in domes or perfect conditions.
If you're looking to track these stats in real-time, keep an eye on teams with high "Pace of Play" metrics and bottom-tier "Red Zone Defense." When a high-volume passing offense meets a secondary that can't tackle, history happens.
If you want to dive deeper into how these games affected the betting lines or the evolution of offensive schemes like the T-formation, you should look into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s archives on 1940s strategy. It’s fascinating stuff.
Go check out the highlights of that 2018 Rams-Chiefs game if you haven't seen it recently. It’s still the gold standard for modern offensive football.