It’s no secret that the big game is as widely consumed as any singular event in our country. And while some fans appreciate the art of the game, most enjoy seeing the offenses light up the scoreboard and have enjoyed the highest-scoring Super Bowls.
This is why the betting space is flooded with money on “overs” and why the NFL has adjusted some of its rules to favor the team with the ball.
Which Super Bowl Was the Highest Scoring?
Super Bowl XXIX | San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26
It was good to get some new blood in the big game, as the Buffalo Bills had just rattled off four straight AFC titles, losing the Super Bowl in blowout fashion to the Dallas Cowboys in each of the past two seasons.
The favored San Francisco 49ers were flying high. They had their soon-to-be-named league MVP in Steve Young coming off of a career year (best completion percentage of his career and, at the time, his most touchdown passes in a season), leading the 49ers to their eighth division title in nine seasons.
San Francisco had won Super Bowls in 1988 and 1989, but with a four-year drought, the fan base was itching for another as a part of this dynastic run.
On the other side, this was the Chargers’ second playoff appearance in a 12-year stretch that involved way more losing than winning. They were led by Stan Humphries in just his third season as the team’s starter.
This game offered plenty of points, but it wasn’t an overly competitive matchup. Young threw six touchdown passes in the lopsided win, four of which came in the first half. San Francisco scored 28 of the first 35 points to remove all intrigue as to the result.
As you’d expect, Jerry Rice was on the receiving end of many of those passes — the GOAT finished with 10 catches for 149 yards and three scores.
Young became the seventh player in league history to take home both the regular season and Super Bowl MVP trophies. That season, he ran for a career-best seven scores, and many argue that he is largely responsible for the influx of athleticism that we see today at the quarterback position.
Highest-Scoring Super Bowls | 2-5
2) Super Bowl LII | Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33
The Philly Special has gone down as one of the best plays in Super Bowl history, but that was far from the only offensive excitement in this one. Tom Brady threw for a Super Bowl record 505 yards in the losing effort, as three of his pass catchers cleared 115 receiving yards (Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, and Rob Gronkowski).
MORE: List of Super Bowl Single-Game Record Holders
The MVP of the game was Nick Foles (373 passing yards and three touchdowns), not bad for a player who had four pass attempts for the season entering December.
3) Super Bowl LVII | Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35
Last year’s Super Bowl was a classic. The Eagles scored 17 points in the second quarter and led by 10 points at the half. They seemed in control of the game, but Patrick Mahomes and company did what they always seem to do.
Kansas City scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter and while a Jalen Hurts octopus (when a player is responsible for both the touchdown and two-point conversion) knotted the game with 5:15 left, this was destined to be a game that was decided by the team with the last score.
Harrison Butker converted a 27-yard field goal with just eight seconds left, giving the Chiefs the win in a game that saw 10+ points scored in every quarter.
T-4) Super Bowl XXXVII | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21
This game served as a reminder that “points” and “offensive success” aren’t always the same thing. The Buccaneers set a Super Bowl record with five interceptions off of Rich Gannon and returned not one, not two, but three of them for touchdowns.
Cornerback Dexter Jackson was on the receiving side of two interceptions in the first half as Tampa Bay essentially ended this game. That was enough to earn him MVP honors.
T-4) Super Bowl XXVII | Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
The Bills opened up the scoring with a Thurman Thomas touchdown and had Western New York thinking that this was the year they’d be crowned champions after losing in the final game of each of the past two seasons.
But that’s why the game is 60 minutes long.
Troy Aikman threw three quick TD passes, and by halftime, that 7-0 Bills lead had turned into an insurmountable 28-10 deficit.
Aikman finished with four touchdowns, earning him MVP honors. A late fumble return for a score got the total to 69 points, making it one of the five highest-scoring Super Bowls in history … for now.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
