Most Points Scored In An NFL Game

When people talk about the most points scored in an NFL game, they are usually thinking about wild shootouts, record-breaking blowouts, and nights when it felt like the scoreboard could not keep up. This topic is exciting, but it can also be confusing if you are new to football. What exactly is the record? Which games are most famous? How do teams even reach such huge totals? In this beginner-friendly guide, we will break everything down clearly and walk through the biggest scoring explosions in NFL history.

How NFL Scoring Works

Before looking at records, it helps to understand how teams score. In the NFL, a touchdown is worth six points. After a touchdown, a team can add one more point by kicking an extra point, or they can try a two-point conversion from short distance for two points. A field goal is worth three points. A safety is worth two points and happens when the defense tackles an offensive player in their own end zone or forces a penalty there. On very rare plays, a defense can also score two points by returning a blocked or intercepted extra-point attempt the other way. Most scoring comes from touchdowns and field goals, but special teams and defensive plays can add quick points too.

When you see a box score like 54–51, that combined total is simply the sum of both teams’ points. Some of the biggest combined totals happen when both teams score fast and often, or when turnover-heavy games give offenses short fields. Let’s turn to the greatest examples.

The Highest-Scoring NFL Game Ever

Washington 72, New York Giants 41 (1966): 113 Combined Points

The highest combined score in NFL history is 113 points. It happened on November 27, 1966, when Washington (then known as the Redskins; the franchise is now the Commanders) beat the New York Giants 72–41 in Washington, D.C. This was a regular-season game that turned into a scoring avalanche. Washington found the end zone again and again, and the Giants put up a big number as well. Even with both teams scoring so much, Washington still won by 31 points—a rare mix of a shootout and a blowout at the same time.

Why did this game explode? Washington’s offense was sharp and explosive, and the Giants committed mistakes that led to short fields and more scoring chances. In football, once the momentum swings and a defense cannot get stops, points can pile up very fast. That is exactly what happened in this record-setting game.

The 113-point mark has stood for decades. Many modern games come close, but this one still sits alone on top. If you ever hear people talk about “the most points ever” in an NFL game, they are talking about this 72–41 classic from 1966.

Why This Record Is So Hard To Beat

To top 113 combined points, both teams need to score again and again with almost no empty drives. Games also have a limited number of possessions. If either defense forces multiple punts, the total drops. Penalties and turnovers can slow down pace too. Even overtime does not guarantee a record because overtime periods are short, and many overtime games end quickly with a single score.

That is why most would agree you need the perfect storm: two hot offenses, a few defensive breakdowns, perhaps a special teams score, and a game where neither side burns too much clock by running the ball. It is possible, but it takes a lot to go right for both teams in the same game.

Most Points by One Team in a Game

Overall Record (Including Playoffs): Chicago Bears 73, Washington 0 (1940)

The most points scored by one team in a single NFL game is 73, set by the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. The Bears defeated Washington 73–0, a record margin and a jaw-dropping final score for a title game. This was not just a high-scoring day; it was total domination. Chicago’s innovative offense shredded Washington’s defense, and the breaks kept going the Bears’ way.

It can be surprising to learn that the single-team record comes from a championship and not a random regular-season afternoon. The 1940 Bears did more than score a lot; they changed how people thought about football strategy at the time. Even today, that 73–0 number is hard to imagine in a title setting.

This is the highest single-team point total in any NFL game, regular season or playoffs. No one has matched it since, and in today’s balanced league with salary cap rules and deep scouting, it remains one of the safest records in the books.

Regular-Season Record: Washington 72 vs. Giants (1966)

The most points by one team in a regular-season game is 72, from the same matchup that produced the highest combined total. Washington’s 72 points in 1966 remains the regular-season standard, and it came with a mix of offensive firepower and defensive takeaways. For a long time, this felt like a record that would never be tested in the modern era—until a 2023 game brought a new wave of attention to big scoring days.

Modern Benchmark: Dolphins Score 70 in 2023

On September 24, 2023, the Miami Dolphins scored 70 points in a 70–20 win over the Denver Broncos. No team had reached 70 points in an NFL game since the 1960s, and Miami’s total instantly became one of the most talked-about regular-season performances in years. The Dolphins featured speed everywhere on offense, scheme creativity, and strong execution in the red zone. They scored in many ways and never needed to force deep shots late because their play design and speed produced chunk gains.

Miami’s 70 is the most by any team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 and sits just two points shy of the all-time regular-season record of 72. It showed that even in today’s league, where defenses are fast and coaching is sophisticated, a rare combination of pace, efficiency, and explosive plays can still lead to a number that looks like a video game.

If you are new to football, the takeaway is simple: yes, 70 is as incredible as it sounds. It does not happen often, and it took one of the league’s fastest, most creative offenses to get there.

Other Monster Scorelines Worth Knowing

Cleveland Browns 58, Cincinnati Bengals 48 (2004): 106 Combined Points

The Browns and Bengals combined for 106 points on November 28, 2004, in one of the craziest back-and-forth games you will ever see. Both offenses lit up the scoreboard, and the game stayed close enough that neither team slowed down. This is the highest combined total in the post-merger era (since 1970) and still feels wild even by today’s standards.

What made this memorable was not only the final number but the pace. Times you thought the game would settle down, another big play struck. It is a great example of how two offenses trading scores for four quarters can push the total into record territory.

Los Angeles Rams 54, Kansas City Chiefs 51 (2018): 105 Combined Points

This Monday night classic on November 19, 2018, delivered 105 combined points and became the first game in NFL history where both teams scored 50 or more. It also had star power: two high-octane offenses, creative play-callers, and elite quarterbacks. The game went through huge momentum swings, including defensive scores. It was not just offense, but also timely defense and special teams that created short fields and sudden touchdowns.

Although it fell eight points short of the all-time combined record, many fans call it the greatest regular-season game they have ever watched because it paired massive scoring with late drama. It showed modern football at its most explosive: spread formations, motion, quick reads, yards after catch, and defensive touchdown swings.

If you want to see what a modern shootout looks like, this game is the perfect example. Both teams had the talent and the tempo to keep pushing, and neither side blinked until the final minute.

New Orleans Saints 52, New York Giants 49 (2015): 101 Combined Points

On November 1, 2015, Drew Brees and the Saints edged Eli Manning and the Giants in a 52–49 thriller. It ended on a long field goal as time expired after a late penalty helped set up the kick. Brees threw for seven touchdowns, and the game is often remembered as a quarterback showcase with constant scoring and very little resistance.

This matchup is a great reminder that huge totals are not only about one team going crazy. Sometimes, both quarterbacks are in rhythm, both offensive lines protect well, and the secondaries simply have no answers. That is how you get 100-plus combined points without overtime.

Denver Broncos 51, Dallas Cowboys 48 (2013): 99 Combined Points

On October 6, 2013, Peyton Manning and Tony Romo went throw-for-throw in a game that felt like a track meet. Denver won 51–48 with a late field goal after an interception. This game is often used as a teaching example for how a single key turnover in the fourth quarter can decide a shootout. One defensive play at the right time can swing a 100-point game.

Games like this also show the value of clock management. With both teams scoring quickly, the fourth quarter becomes a battle of who gets the last meaningful possession and who avoids the final mistake.

High Scoring on the Biggest Stage

Super Bowl Records

The most points by one team in a Super Bowl is 55, set by the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV (a 55–10 win over the Denver Broncos). Scoring 50-plus on Super Bowl Sunday is rare because both teams are usually strong and well-prepared. The 49ers that day were at the top of their game and never slowed down.

The highest combined score in a Super Bowl is 75, set in Super Bowl XXIX when the 49ers beat the San Diego Chargers 49–26. Because Super Bowls feature longer halftime breaks and top defenses, totals do not always explode. But when they do, it usually involves a couple of quick strikes, short fields, and a quarterback who sees the field perfectly.

Another modern high-scoring Super Bowl came in February 2018 when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41–33. That 74-point total featured trick plays, fourth-down conversions, and creative designs that kept both defenses off balance.

Playoff Fireworks

The single-game playoff scoring record by one team remains the 73 put up by the 1940 Chicago Bears. The second-highest postseason total by one team is 62, set by the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 62–7 win over the Miami Dolphins during the 1999 playoffs (played in January 2000). That lopsided score ended the career of legendary quarterback Dan Marino and stands as one of the most shocking playoff blowouts ever.

The highest combined total in a playoff game is 96, from the Arizona Cardinals’ 51–45 overtime win against the Green Bay Packers in the 2009 postseason. That game had everything: deep shots, broken tackles, and an overtime defensive touchdown to end it. Playoff games with scores that high are rare because postseason defenses are usually strong and coaching is conservative late. But when both offenses stay hot, even the playoffs can produce a track meet.

The Most Points by One Player in a Game

Ernie Nevers’ 40 Points (1929)

The single-game scoring record by a player belongs to Ernie Nevers, who scored 40 points for the Chicago Cardinals in 1929. He did it by scoring six touchdowns and adding extra points. It is one of the oldest and most durable records in NFL history. The game was different in that era, but the feat remains incredible—no one has topped it despite modern offenses putting up huge totals.

Nevers’ record helps show how unique single-player scoring is. Most modern teams spread touchdowns across multiple players, and kickers handle extra points. For one player to stack up 40 points in one game requires a very unusual set of circumstances and a special performance.

Other Massive Individual Performances

Three players share the record with six touchdowns in a game: Ernie Nevers (1929), Dub Jones (1951), and Gale Sayers (1965). In the modern era, Alvin Kamara scored six touchdowns on Christmas Day in 2020, tying that six-touchdown mark. Six touchdowns equal 36 points when the same player does not kick extra points. That shows how close Kamara came to Nevers’ 40 but also how tough it is to get those last few points.

Huge individual totals can happen when a team controls the game and keeps feeding a hot hand, especially near the goal line. But even then, it takes great blocking, smart play-calling, and a little luck to tie or threaten the six-touchdown mark.

Why Do Some NFL Games Explode With Points?

Turnovers and Short Fields

The fastest way to increase scoring is to shorten the field. If a defense forces a turnover and returns it deep into enemy territory, or if a special teams return sets up a drive inside the red zone, it only takes a few plays to add points. In some high-scoring games, you will see several short fields for both teams. Each one puts stress on the defense and adds to the total in a hurry.

Defensive scores themselves can turbocharge the scoreboard. A pick-six or a fumble return touchdown adds points without burning much clock. Add two or three such plays in a single game and the combined total can soar.

Explosive Offenses and Pace

Some teams design their offenses around speed, motion, and spacing. These schemes create one-on-one matchups that favor the offense. If a quarterback is accurate and his receivers are winning, drives take two minutes instead of six. That faster pace means more possessions and more chances to score. The 2018 Rams and Chiefs showed how two quick-strike offenses can keep punching without slowing down.

Coaches who trust their quarterbacks on early downs also help increase totals. Throwing more on first and second down leads to bigger plays and fewer clock-draining runs. More first downs, more snaps, and more trips inside the 30-yard line all feed the scoreboard.

Special Teams and Defensive Points

Sometimes special teams spark the avalanche. A long kickoff return, a blocked punt, or a missed tackle on a punt coverage team sets up easy points. Even if the return does not go for a touchdown, the starting field position jump from a return into opponent territory can be worth several points by game’s end.

Defensive touchdowns are game-changers. They add points and swing momentum, and they put the other offense back on the field quickly, creating a chain reaction. In a few of the highest-scoring games on record, you will find a defensive touchdown or two mixed in with the offensive fireworks.

Rules, Eras, and Strategy

Over time, rules have adjusted to balance player safety and competitive fairness. Some changes help offenses, such as stricter enforcement on illegal contact and defenseless receiver rules, which promote passing. The two-point conversion, added to the NFL in 1994, also gives coaches a tool to add or chase points in dynamic ways.

Still, defense has not disappeared. The best defenses disguise coverages and rush with speed. That is why it is so rare to see records truly threatened; you need two offenses operating near perfection and a game flow that never slows down. The combination does not happen often.

Weather, Altitude, and Indoors vs. Outdoors

Weather can push totals down or up. Heavy wind and rain usually favor defense and the ground game, which cuts down on the explosive passing plays that drive massive totals. Cold alone does not always reduce scoring, but wind often does. When the ball is moving in the air, long field goals and deep passes become risky.

Playing indoors or in warm, calm conditions supports big numbers. Kicking is easier without wind, and receivers can run faster routes. Altitude can play a role too: the thin air in Denver can help the ball fly, though that does not automatically mean shootouts. The main point is that friendly conditions make it easier to sustain offense for four quarters.

How Likely Is a New Record?

Trends in Scoring

NFL scoring rises and falls in waves. Some seasons trend higher due to offensive innovation and quarterback depth; others trend lower as defenses catch up with new tactics. After 2020, offenses enjoyed a period of high efficiency, then defense adjusted. Even so, the league is full of elite quarterbacks, and coordinators are very creative. That keeps the door open for big totals any given week, especially in the regular season.

However, records like 113 combined points or 73 by one team have withstood many eras. That tells you how extreme those days were. To get there again, you would need two hot offenses, minimal penalties, a couple of defensive or special teams scores, and probably a game where both coaches keep pushing the gas until the final whistle.

What It Would Take to Top 113 or 73

To beat 113 combined points, think of a game like Rams–Chiefs in 2018, but with one or two extra touchdowns. That means quick drives, few punts, and at least a couple of short-field opportunities. Overtime could help, but only if both teams score in the extra period, which is uncommon. A penalty-aided drive or a late defensive touchdown could be the difference.

To top 73 by one team, a modern offense would need both execution and luck: explosive plays, multiple takeaways by the defense, and excellent red-zone efficiency. The 2023 Dolphins reached 70 and still could have added more points but took their foot off the gas late. That shows 70 is possible, but 74 or more in today’s parity-driven NFL would take a perfect storm.

Simple Tips for Spotting a Potential Shootout

If you enjoy tracking high-scoring trends, start with quarterback play. Two accurate passers with strong supporting casts usually mean points. Check offensive lines too; if both teams protect well, deep routes have time to develop. Look at injuries in the secondary; missing starting cornerbacks can open big passing windows.

Consider pace and philosophy. Teams that use no-huddle or snap quickly create more total plays. If both coaches are aggressive on fourth down and in the red zone, that can add an extra touchdown or two compared with conservative approaches. Finally, watch the weather and field conditions. Calm, indoor settings are friendlier for shootouts than windy outdoor stadiums in late fall.

Putting the Records in Perspective

The numbers are eye-popping, but they also tell stories about the sport. The 1940 Bears highlight innovation and dominance. The 1966 Washington–Giants game shows how scoring can snowball in the right circumstances. The 2018 Rams–Chiefs showdown captures the modern spread era with all its speed and creativity. The 2023 Dolphins’ 70 points prove that, even today, historical ceilings can be challenged.

For new fans, it is helpful to remember that most weeks do not look like these record games. Defenses usually get stops, and coaching staffs are skilled at adjusting mid-game. That is why the biggest totals remain rare and memorable. When they happen, everyone talks about them for years.

Conclusion

The most points scored in an NFL game is 113 combined, from Washington’s 72–41 win over the Giants in 1966. The most by one team in any game is 73, set by the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. Modern football has produced giant totals too, from the 2018 Rams–Chiefs 105-point epic to Miami’s 70-point eruption in 2023. Super Bowls and playoffs have their own marks as well, with the 49ers’ 55 in Super Bowl XXIV and the 96-point Cardinals–Packers playoff shootout standing out.

These records are not just numbers. They reflect how strategy, talent, speed, and game flow can combine to create something unforgettable. Even if the all-time marks stand for many more years, every season brings a few games with the ingredients for a shootout. That constant possibility is part of the fun. You never know when the next big number will hit the scoreboard—and that is why fans keep watching.