After a tough outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Wild Card Weekend, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s turnover bug followed him into the Divisional Round matchup against the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium.
With Stroud throwing four interceptions and the Texans having five total turnovers, what team has the record for the most turnovers in an NFL game?
What Is the Record for Most Turnovers in an NFL Game?
The NFL record for most turnovers by a single team in one game is 12, a mark shared by three franchises: the Detroit Lions (vs. Chicago Bears, November 22, 1942), the Chicago Cardinals (vs. Philadelphia Eagles, September 24, 1950), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles, December 12, 1965).
In 2000, Titans won a regular-season game 24-10 with seven turnovers (vs. Cleveland). The following teams have won regular-season games with six turnovers:
- Falcons 23-19 vs. Cardinals 2012
- Jaguars 24-20 vs. Browns 2010
- Cowboys 25-24 vs. Bills 2007
- Bears 24-23 vs. Cardinals 2006
However, the Texans are not alone in their giveaways during the Divisional Round, as Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has also thrown an interception and fumbled twice. Through the first three quarters, the Texans and Patriots combined for eight turnovers.
This defense 🔥
📺 : @nflonespn pic.twitter.com/aj7bvDUj1u
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 18, 2026
For combined turnovers by both teams, the record is 17, which has also occurred twice: the Lions-Bears game in 1942 (12-5) and a 1946 matchup between the Boston Yanks and Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) on December 8, 1946.
At the individual level, nine players are tied for the most turnovers in a single game with six. The most recent members of this dubious club include Jameis Winston (October 13, 2019), Ryan Fitzpatrick (September 25, 2016), and Philip Rivers (October 15, 2012).
MORE: 2026 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
While running back Woody Marks was the last Texan to cough the ball up, Stroud is in danger of joining the list if the Patriots are able to force him into two more bad decisions. He should be thankful he hasn’t wound up as the next player to have six turnovers, as New England’s defense has dropped quite a few interceptions in the Divisional Round matchup, along with the four they’ve already snagged.
In Super Bowl history, the record belongs to the Buffalo Bills, who committed nine turnovers in Super Bowl XXVII on January 31, 1993, a performance that contributed to their 52-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Since 2000, only two teams have won playoff games with 5+ turnovers:
- Jaguars vs. Chargers in 2023 (31-30), five
- Seahawks vs. Packers 2015 (28-22), five
No team has won a playoff game with six or more turnovers. Another giveaway by the Texans would put them in the six-or-more category.
While the Texans had the second-overall defense, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, to fall back on, when the offense put them on the field an extra five times, they were going to start breaking down at some point. They held on till the fourth quarter, but New England pushing the lead to 12 points in the fourth could be the nail in the coffin for Houston, given their offensive struggles.
