The Super Bowl is one of the most popular sporting events around the world. In the U.S., Super Bowl LVII was the most-watched program in the country’s television history. Yeah, the commercials and halftime show might pique people’s interest but what people want to see when they tune into the actual game is offense. That’s what makes the big game even more special and there’s been plenty of that throughout the years. As of now, the highest overall point total in a Super Bowl was set at 75 back in the 1990’s. With today’s game geared toward offense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that be broken sometime soon. While not all of the highest-scoring Super Bowls have been close, there have been a few that were some of the most exciting football games ever played.
Top 5 Highest-Scoring Super Bowls in NFL History
5. Super Bowl XXXVII – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21; January 26, 2003 (69 Points)
Super Bowl XXXVII between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the then-Oakland Raiders got off to a slow start, ending the first quarter tied 3-3. After that, points started to show up on the board but mainly for Tampa Bay. They scored 17 in the second quarter and 14 in each of the last two quarters while the Raiders’ next score wouldn’t be until the third quarter when they put just six on the board. By the time they got things going in the fourth and scored 12, it was too late as it ended in a 48-21 Bucs win.
Defense played the biggest part in this game. The Buccaneers intercepted Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon five times, three of them returned for touchdowns. One of Oakland’s touchdowns was scored via a block punt return. With the defensive/special teams scoring, the offenses didn’t get a chance to do much. The biggest day on that side of the ball was from Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman who had 124 yards on the ground but no touchdowns.
4. Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17; January 31, 1993 (69 Points)
Just like the game above, Super Bowl XXVII also had a combined point total of 69. This time it was a matchup that saw the Dallas Cowboys run through the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in one of the biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history. Buffalo scored a touchdown for a 7-0 lead until the Cowboys tied it later and then took a 14-7 lead on a fumble returned for a touchdown. Dallas never looked back after that and scored two more touchdowns before the half to take a 28-10 lead at the break. The Bills scored seven in the third to only three for Dallas but after that is when it really got ugly.
The Bills wouldn’t score again after that but the Cowboys weren’t done. They scored three touchdowns in the fourth to seal the blowout win. The big three for Dallas had an outstanding game. Troy Aikman went 22 of 30 for 273 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, Emmitt Smith rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Michael Irvin went for 114 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys would go on to win back-to-back Super Bowls as they faced the Bills yet again the following season.
3. Super Bowl LVII – Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35; February 12, 2023 (73 Points)
Recently in 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs put on one of the most entertaining Super Bowls in NFL history. While it was one of the highest-scoring Super Bowls, the game was also decided by just a field goal. In the Chiefs’ 38-35 victory, Patrick Mahomes threw for just 182 yards but tossed three touchdowns with no interceptions. 81 of those yards and one of those touchdowns went to old reliable Travis Kelce. Isiah Pacheco also added 76 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Kicker Harrison Butker iced the game with just 11 seconds left on a 27-yard field goal after the Eagles scored a touchdown to tie it before that.
Jalen Hurts had a historic night under center for the Eagles despite the loss as he threw for 304 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 70 yards a three touchdowns. His three touchdowns on the ground and 20 points scored both tied the Super Bowl record for any player. The Eagles’ 35 points is the highest scored by any Super Bowl-losing team in NFL history.
2. Super Bowl LII – Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33; February 4, 2018 (74 Points)
The Eagles are the participant in another high-scoring classic in the Super Bowl and this time it’s against none other than Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. This game saw history as Brady threw for 505 yards, which set a record for most passing yards in a Super Bowl. He also tossed three touchdowns. Brady had three 100-yard receivers in Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, and Rob Gronkowski.
With all of that, it wasn’t enough to knock off the story of Nick Foles. He had 373 passing yards and three touchdowns while also catching a touchdown on “the Philly Special” from tight end Trey Burton, which became one of the most famous plays in league history. The wealth was spread all around on offense, as four different players caught touchdowns and five had 49 yards or more in the game. Like the game above, there’s not much more you can ask for than a one-score affair in the Super Bowl.
1. Super Bowl XXIX – San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26; January 29, 1995 (75 Points)
January 19, 1995, was the date of the highest-scoring Super Bowl contest in NFL history as both teams combined for 75 points with the San Francisco 49ers blowing out then-San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX. Steve Young and Jerry Rice had a field day against the Chargers’ defense as they connected for a 44-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and that was just the beginning. Young went on to throw for 325 yards and a Super Bowl-record six touchdowns while Rice caught ten passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Ricky Watters added a touchdown on the ground and two through the air.
San Francisco led 28-10 at half then went up 42-10 early in the second half. The Chargers made it seem just a little more closer than it actually was (not really) with a couple more touchdowns but it was pretty much over in the first quarter.
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