The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), played annually between the champions of the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC). As the culmination of the NFL season, the Super Bowl is one of the most watched sporting events in the United States, with over 100 million viewers tuning in to watch the big game. Naturally, with so much attention and excitement around the Super Bowl, there is a lot of interest in records related to the game. One of the most discussed Super Bowl records is which matchup holds the title of the highest scoring Super Bowl ever.
Background on Super Bowl Scoring
To determine which Super Bowl was the highest scoring ever, we first need some background context on scoring in the big game. During a typical NFL game, both teams have opportunities to score points through touchdowns (worth 6 or 7 points depending on extra point kick), field goals (worth 3 points), and safeties (worth 2 points). The combined score of the two teams makes up the total score for the game.
Looking at the 58 Super Bowls played so far, the total combined scores have ranged from a low of 21 points (Super Bowl LIII in 2019) to a high of 75 points (keep reading to find out which Super Bowl this was). The average combined score of all Super Bowls is around 44 points. So a game with a total score in the 50s or 60s can be considered high-scoring compared to the average. Anything above 70 points is exceptionally high-scoring for a Super Bowl.
The Highest Scoring Super Bowl Ever
Now that we understand the scoring landscape, which Super Bowl stands above the rest with the highest combined score ever?
That distinction belongs to Super Bowl XXIX, played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. The AFC champion San Diego Chargers took on the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers utterly dominated the game, racking up an enormous 49 points. The Chargers managed 26 points in a losing effort. The combined score of the two teams was 75 points, making Super Bowl XXIX the highest scoring Super Bowl game in NFL history.
Let’s take a closer look at how this game managed to produce so many points:
49ers Offense Was Unstoppable
The San Francisco 49ers were led by legendary quarterback Steve Young, who had taken over as starter after succeeding Joe Montana. Young was at the peak of his powers during the 1994 season and won the NFL MVP award. In Super Bowl XXIX, Young put on a dazzling performance, throwing a Super Bowl record 6 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 49 yards, gaining a total of 325 yards through the air and ground. The 49ers offense scored touchdowns on their first 3 drives of the game, setting the tone for their utter domination. The 49ers offense gained 455 total yards and scored 49 points, the most ever by one team in a Super Bowl.
Chargers Defense Overmatched
While the 49ers offense was operating at an elite level, the Chargers defense simply had no answers. They could not slow down Young’s aerial assault nor contain the San Francisco ground game. The Chargers gave up 455 yards to the 49ers, the 2nd most yards allowed by a team in Super Bowl history. With little resistance, the 49ers put up 35 points by halftime. The Chargers defense was overmatched against the versatile 49ers offense.
Shootout in Second Half
One might have expected the scoring pace to slow down in the second half with the game out of reach. However, both offenses continued lighting up the scoreboard after halftime. The teams combined for 38 points in the second half, only slightly below the 42 points scored in the first half. Steve Young threw 2 more touchdown passes in the 4th quarter to set the Super Bowl record. Stan Humphries of the Chargers threw a touchdown and running back Natrone Means rushed for a touchdown in the 4th quarter. Despite the lopsided score, neither defense could halt the other team’s offense. The shootout continued until the final whistle.
Game Statistics
Here are some key statistics that capture the offensive explosion in Super Bowl XXIX:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Points | 75 |
| 49ers Points | 49 |
| Chargers Points | 26 |
| 49ers Total Yards | 455 |
| Chargers Total Yards | 329 |
| Steve Young Passing TDs | 6 |
| Steve Young Passing Yards | 325 |
| Stan Humphries Passing TDs | 1 |
| Natrone Means Rushing TDs | 1 |
Other High Scoring Super Bowls
While no other Super Bowl has surpassed the scoring explosion of Super Bowl XXIX, there have been some other high-scoring affairs in the big game’s history:
Super Bowl XXXVII – Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21 (69 Total Points)
This Super Bowl played in January 2003 featured 48 points from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the most scored by a team since the 49ers in SB XXIX. Raiders QB Rich Gannon threw a Super Bowl record 5 interceptions as the Bucs dominated.
Super Bowl XIII – Steelers 35, Cowboys 31 (66 Total Points)
In January 1979, Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers edged out Roger Staubach’s Cowboys in a back-and-forth thriller. Both teams scored over 30 points, a rare feat.
Super Bowl XXIV – 49ers 55, Broncos 10 (65 Total Points)
Joe Montana led the 49ers to another huge offensive showing in January 1990, beating John Elway’s Broncos by 45 points, still the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history.
Conclusion
In summary, with 75 combined points between the two teams, Super Bowl XXIX stands above all other Super Bowls as the highest scoring edition of the big game. Led by Steve Young, the 49ers fielded an unstoppable offense that set records en route to a 49-26 blowout of the Chargers. This game featured a level of offensive dominance and scoring production unmatched in any other Super Bowl. While a few others have come close, none have matched the fireworks and point totals seen when the 49ers and Chargers battled it out in 1995 for the highest scoring Super Bowl ever.