The NFL is a passing league. That adage has never been more true as we see stars like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and others dominate with their arms. As the league becomes more and more pass-heavy, that obviously correlates with more scoring. However, surprisingly enough, we need to go back all the way to 1995 to find the highest-scoring Super Bowl in NFL history.
What Is the Highest-Scoring Super Bowl in NFL History?
Super Bowl 29 is the highest-scoring Super Bowl in NFL history. The then-San Diego Chargers went up against legendary quarterback Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers.
Back in the ’90s, two NFL organizations dominated the rest of the league: the Dallas Cowboys and the above-mentioned 49ers. In this high-scoring affair, the 49ers really flexed their muscles by piling up 49 points on the Chargers.
QB Stan Humphries put up a valiant effort in the loss, but the team’s 26 points weren’t enough to keep it competitive. They were enough, however, to make this the highest-scoring Super Bowl in history, with a combined score of 75 points.
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The 49ers controlled most of the game, with Young completing touchdown passes in each of the 49ers’ first two drives. The Chargers were able to cut the deficit late in the first quarter but could not slow down San Francisco’s dynamic offense.
Young was named the Super Bowl MVP, throwing a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes and completing 24 out of 36 passes for 325 yards. The game was widely considered as Young’s emergence from the shadow of Joe Montana, who had won four Super Bowls with the 49ers (in 1981, 1984, 1988, and 1989).
Speaking of Joe Montana…
Which Team Has Scored the Most Points in a Super Bowl?
The 49ers have a long history as one of the most storied organizations in the NFL. One record that they hold, besides winning the highest-scoring Super Bowl of all time, is having scored the most points in a Super Bowl.
As mentioned above, Montana was an absolute juggernaut in the NFL during the ’80s. He tore through his competition and truly emerged as a first-ballot Hall of Famer during that decade.
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Looking back at the 49ers’ offense, it almost wasn’t fair. The duo of Montana and Jerry Rice was unstoppable. And, in Super Bowl 24, they helped the 49ers put up a whopping 55 points en route to defeating the Denver Broncos 55-10. Not only does that score still represent the most points ever scored by one team in a Super Bowl, but it also remains the largest margin of victory.
Montana was nearly perfect that day, completing 22 of 29 passes for 297 passing yards, five touchdowns, and a 147.6 rating. Meanwhile, Rice set the record for receiving touchdowns in a Super Bowl with three. It’s a mark he would reach again in Super Bowl 29 five years later, this time catching passes from Young.