The Highest Scoring NFL Game, Plus 4 Runner-Ups

July 7, 2023 by

You aren’t alone if you can’t remember any particularly high-scoring NFL games in recent history. While games ranging from 35 to 60 points are the norm, there have been a few spectacular matchups throughout history that saw far higher point totals.

Occasionally, conditions come together perfectly and make for a match that can reach 100 points between the two teams. This has only happened five times total in the history of the National Football League, making it an incredibly memorable event for all in attendance.

Seeing a Sunday or Monday night football game at home is fun, but seeing it in person is an entirely different ballgame (or football game, in this case). Be sure to check out our budget-friendly tickets on TickPick.

Without further ado, let’s get into the highest-scoring NFL football game of all time, as well as some other matches with extraordinarily high point totals.

Contents

1 The Highest Scoring Football Game in NFL History
2 1st Runner-Up: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns
3 2nd Runner-Up: Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs
4 3rd/4th Runner-Up: New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants
5 3rd/4th Runner-Up: Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Oilers
6 How To See a High-Scoring NFL Game for Yourself
7 What Is TickPick’s BestPrice Guarantee?
8 What Is TickPick’s BuyerTrust Guarantee?
9 A Game for the Ages

The Highest Scoring Football Game in NFL History

When we said that you might not remember some of the highest-scoring football games, we meant it. The number one highest scorer took place way back in 1966. On a brisk fall day in late November, the New York Giants and the NFL team now known as the Washington Commanders took to the field.

While the Giants did lose out in the end, they still scored an impressive 41 points over four quarters. That would be a feat worth celebrating in any other game, but Washington came to play. They saw the Giants’ 41 points and scored an incredible 72 of their own. Ultimately, both teams cumulatively scored a total point value of 113 – the highest of all time.

This game has the highest cumulative score in NFL history, and Washington also had the highest score as a team in a single game. They completed 10 touchdowns during the game, which is a feat that’s nearly unheard of. Emphasis on “nearly,” though, since one other team has managed it. The only time a team came even close to scoring 72 points took place even earlier on, in 1950.

Whereas the New York Giants at least put up a good fight in 1966, the same can’t necessarily be said for when the Los Angeles Rams faced off against the Baltimore Colts (now known as the Indianapolis Colts). The Rams managed to score 70 points over ten touchdowns during the game, but the Colts only managed 27 points.

You can see the Giants, the Rams, the Commanders, and the Colts face-off with competitors new and old this season when you get tickets with TickPick. Don’t miss a chance to see the next big scorers for yourself!

While no other games since have quite reached the heights that the NFL saw on November 27th, 1966, more matches still deserve their time in the sun.

1st Runner-Up: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns

Bringing it back to this millennium, the second highest-scoring football game in history occurred in 2004. The top matchup on our list saw one team making significantly more headway than the other, but that wasn’t the case in 2004.

The stakes are high during any football game, but since both teams were from the same state, it meant much more. This game wasn’t just a battle for who would be a higher seed in the playoffs. It was a war to determine who was Ohio’s best AFC football team, once and for all.

Whether or not you think the results determine which team is unilaterally better is up to you, but eventually, one team did win out. The Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns were locked in a close battle until the end.

The final score was Bengals 58, Browns 48, and the total point value from both teams was 106. While Cincinnati did end up taking home the victory, Cleveland put up an admirable fight at only ten points behind.

If you want to see the Bengals vs Browns in live action this year, grab your NFL tickets on TickPick.

2nd Runner-Up: Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs

If you thought the 2004 Bengals vs. Browns match was close, this 2018 game will blow your mind. 68 years after their last high-scoring game that shattered records in 1950, it was time to take the field by storm yet again. When the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs faced off on November 19th, 2018, only three points separated them.

The Rams finally won with a score of 54, while the Chiefs had 51. The overall point value of the game was 105, cementing it as one of the most high-octane games in NFL history.

Both the Rams and the Chiefs had some serious power on their side during this game. Even though it was only his first year as a starter for the Chiefs, 2018 was the beginning of Patrick Mahomes’ first MVP season. He went on to throw 50 TDs over the next few months, but he made real headway on his total with this game.

Meanwhile, the Rams had a powerhouse quarterback of their own in the form of Jared Goff. Goff completed 32 touchdowns and 4,688 passing yards during that season, leading his team to face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

3rd/4th Runner-Up: New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants

This is the second time the New York Giants played in one of the highest-scoring NFL games ever. Not to rub salt in the wound, but this is also the second time that they lost one of the highest-scoring NFL games of all time.

Unlike last time, in November of 2015, the New York Giants instead lost to the New Orleans Saints. This game between the NFC South’s Saints and the NFC East’s Giants was also a nail-bitingly close match. As much as this was a fight between two teams, it was even more a competition between their quarterbacks. At the time, the Saints had Drew Brees at the helm, while the Giants had Eli Manning.

Both quarterbacks performed well throughout the game, but a single field goal eventually decided the winner. The final score was Saints 52, Giants 49, for a total point value of 101.

3rd/4th Runner-Up: Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Oilers

First, we have to point out that our 3rd and 4th place runner-ups are tied. In both games, the teams reached a cumulative final score of 101 points.

As you might have guessed from the fact that the Houston Oilers have since been relocated and renamed, and the Oakland Raiders are now the Las Vegas Raiders, this match took place quite a while ago.

In 1963, the Raiders and the Oilers fought hard to score 52 and 49 points, respectively. Just like with the Saints and the Giants 52 years later, this game also reached a total score of 101.

How To See a High-Scoring NFL Game for Yourself

Though we can’t guarantee the NFL game you see in person will be as high-scoring as some of the matchups we listed above, we can promise you a fantastic experience. We understand the appeal of watching a football game from the comfort of your home, but being at the stadium is an unmatched experience.

You can get there before the game to tailgate with friends, new and old, or you can dive straight into the action when the game starts. Either way, there’s nothing quite like the energy from the crowd after a fourth-quarter interception or a touchdown pass in the second half.

What Is TickPick’s BestPrice Guarantee?

With TickPick, you’re always getting the lowest prices on the best seats in the house. BestPrice Guarantee, you’ll save money with us every time, or we’ll make it right. Whether you are seeing a playoff game, a regular season matchup, or the Super Bowl itself, the price you see listed on our site is the price you’ll pay. Plus, new users can save an additional $10 off the face value of their first purchase. Just sign up here to get started.

What Is TickPick’s BuyerTrust Guarantee?

If reliably lower prices weren’t exciting enough, TickPick is also proud to offer customers our BuyerTrust Guarantee. This guarantee means that your tickets will always be completely authentic, you’ll get your tickets as far in advance as possible, and you’ll receive a refund if the event is canceled.

From the moment you purchase your tickets to arriving at the venue, TickPick wants everything to go smoothly. That’s why we also have top-notch customer service to help you along the way.

A Game for the Ages

If you’re seeing a record-breaking spectacle, a playoff matchup, or even a regular season game, the experience is always better when you watch it in person. With TickPick, you can make it to more games every season.

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