Ever stared at a Super Bowl squares grid and felt a wave of pure dread because you got stuck with a 2 and a 5? Honestly, we’ve all been there. You’re sitting at the party, wings in hand, looking at that "5" and realizing you need a scorigami or a missed extra point just to have a prayer.
But here’s the thing about the super bowl score per quarter: it doesn't follow the rules of a "normal" NFL game.
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The pressure is higher. The halftime shows are longer, which actually cools down the players and messes with third-quarter momentum. Even the referees tend to hold their whistles a bit more in the first fifteen minutes. If you want to actually understand how these games unfold—or if you're just trying to figure out if your 7-0 square has a chance in the second half—you have to look at the weird, non-linear way scoring actually happens on the biggest stage in sports.
The First Quarter: A Graveyard for Points
If you’re expecting fireworks right after the national anthem, you haven't been watching enough football history. The first quarter is usually a tentative, nervous mess. Coaches are trying to establish the run. Quarterbacks are over-throwing receivers because their adrenaline is red-lining.
Statistically, the 0-0 score is a massive favorite at the end of the first. In fact, over the last 58 Super Bowls, a zero on the home team line has hit over 53% of the time for the first quarter. That’s wild.
Think back to Super Bowl LVIII between the Chiefs and the 49ers. Zero points. Nothing. Both teams spent the first 15 minutes basically just punting and feeling each other out. It wasn't until the second quarter that Jake Moody finally knocked through a field goal. If you have a "0" or a "7" in your square for the first quarter, you’re basically the king of the party. If you have an "8" or a "2"? Well, maybe just focus on the dip for a while.
Why the Second Quarter Is the "Money" Period
Once those first-quarter jitters evaporate, the scoreboard starts moving. This is where the super bowl score per quarter starts to get interesting because of the "two-minute drill." Teams are desperate to get points before the long halftime break.
In the second quarter, the "0-0" dominance disappears completely. We saw this in Super Bowl LI—the infamous 28-3 game. The first quarter was scoreless. Then, the Falcons exploded for 21 points in the second. The "3" and "7" become your best friends here.
Why? Because 10, 13, 17, and 20 are the most common halftime scores.
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But keep an eye on the "4." It’s a bit of a "sneaky" winner. Because of 14-point halves (two touchdowns) or 24-point halves, that number pops up more often than you’d think. It's not as safe as a zero, but it beats a nine every day of the week.
The Halftime Hangover and Third Quarter Surprises
There is a real phenomenon where the long halftime show—sometimes 30 minutes or more—affects the game's rhythm. You’d think teams would come out with "halftime adjustments" and score immediately.
Sometimes they do. But often, the third quarter is a defensive struggle.
Historically, the number "7" is the absolute monster of the third quarter. It wins roughly 27% of the time for the home team. This is usually because a team that had 10 or 13 points at halftime finally cracks a touchdown and lands on 17 or 20.
The Most Common Ending Digits by Quarter
Instead of a boring chart, let's just talk about what actually happens.
- End of Q1: 0 is the god-tier number. 7 and 3 are the only other ones invited to the party.
- End of Q2: 0, 3, and 7 are still leading, but 4 starts to creep in.
- End of Q3: 7 is the king. If you have a 7 in the third quarter, you’re in the driver’s seat.
- Final Score: 1 and 7 are historically the luckiest numbers for the away and home teams respectively.
The Chaos of the Fourth Quarter and Overtime
This is where logic goes to die. In the fourth quarter, teams start going for two-point conversions. They take risks. They get safeties. They miss "chip shot" field goals because the pressure is enough to crush a car.
Super Bowl LVIII was a perfect example of this. We went into the fourth quarter with the Chiefs trailing 10-13. Then the scoring went: Field goal, Touchdown (with a missed PAT!), Field goal, Field goal, Field goal.
Wait, a missed PAT?
Yes. That’s what changes the super bowl score per quarter from a predictable math problem into a chaotic gamble. When Jake Moody’s extra point got blocked in the fourth quarter, it kept the score at 16-13 instead of 17-13. That single point changed every single square for the rest of the game and eventually sent us into overtime tied at 19-19.
Overtime is even rarer. We’ve only had two in history (LI and LVIII). In those cases, the "Final Score" square is usually the only one that pays out, and it’s almost always a "2" or a "5" or something equally bizarre because of the walk-off touchdown rules.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Numbers
Most people think a "1" is a bad number. They think "How do you get a 1?"
You don't get a 1 by scoring a single point. You get a 1 by scoring 11, 21, or 31. Since 21 and 31 are very common scores in the modern, high-scoring NFL, the "1" is actually a top-tier square for the final score.
On the flip side, people love the number "6" because touchdowns are 6 points. But nobody stays at 6. They almost always go to 7. Having a "6" on your square is actually one of the worst positions to be in, statistically speaking. It’s a "dead" number that only hits if a kicker is having the worst day of his life.
How to Use This Knowledge for Your Next Pool
If you're in a pool where you get to pick your numbers (which is rare, but lucky you), or if you're betting on quarter spreads, remember the "feeling out" period.
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- Don't bet on a high-scoring first quarter. The nerves are real. Take the under or look for the "0" ending.
- Value the 7 and 0 above all else. They are the backbone of NFL scoring.
- Watch the "1" for the final score. It’s the hidden gem of Super Bowl history.
- Ignore the "2" and "5." Unless there’s a safety or a total collapse of the kicking game, these are basically donations to the pot.
Understanding the super bowl score per quarter isn't just about knowing the rules of football; it's about knowing the psychology of the biggest game on earth. The way teams play in the first five minutes is fundamentally different from how they play in the last five.
Next time you’re looking at that grid, remember: the zero is your best friend early, but the seven is who you want to take home to meet your parents at the end of the night.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your local office or party pool rules to see if they pay out for "reverse" scores (where 7-3 and 3-7 both win). If they do, your odds of winning with a 0, 3, or 7 square effectively double in the first half. Before the game kicks off, look at the "Team Total" over/under for each quarter; if the first quarter total is under 7.5, the 0-0 square is an even stronger statistical bet than usual.