Highest-scoring NFL playoff games: Breaking down the record for most points scored and in what matchup

Zac Al-Khateeb

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Highest-scoring NFL playoff games: Breaking down the record for most points scored and in what matchup image

No longer is the old adage "defense wins championships" a ubiquitous saying at the NFL level. That is due in no small part to the explosion of points the sport has seen in recent years.

Indeed, the advent of players such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and more have come at the direct cost of NFL defenses, many of which are still scrambling to figure out how to defend this newest wave of offensive wunderkinds.

That is also true at the NFL's most important stage: the playoffs, where there is no longer a "next time" or "next week" for the losing team. Indeed, some of the highest-scoring playoff games in NFL history have been played since the start of the new century: seven in total, including three in each of the last three postseasons.

MORE: What are the biggest upsets in NFL playoff history?

Will the 2023 playoffs produce another offensive explosion? With the way the game's young quarterbacks are playing, it wouldn't be a surprise. With that, The Sporting News looks at the highest-scoring games in NFL playoff history, as well as most points scored by a single team:

NFL record for most points scored in a playoff game

The record for most combined points scored in a playoff game is the 2010 NFC wild-card meeting between the Cardinals and Packers. That game yielded 96 points as Arizona, led by Kurt Warner, eked out a 51-45 overtime victory over Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter before eventually taking a 24-10 lead into halftime. Both teams scored 14 points in the third quarter, with Arizona still maintaining a two-touchdown lead heading into the fourth. There Green Bay outscored the Cardinals 21-7, sending the game to overtime.

The game ultimately ended on the fourth play from scrimmage, as a Michael Adams strip-sack of Rodgers allowed Karlos Dansby to return the ball for the game-winning touchdown.

MORE: Future Super Bowl locations

Highest-scoring NFL playoff games

The uptick in scoring at the NFL level has resulted in several recent games registering among the top 10 highest-scoring games in playoff history.

Indeed, six of the top 10 highest-scoring games have occurred since the 2010 NFL playoffs (2009 season). Four have occurred in the last five years, including one in each of the last three seasons.

Date Round Outcome Points scored
Jan. 10, 2010 Wild-card Cardinals 51, Packers 45 (OT) 96
Dec. 30, 1995 Wild-card Lions 58, Eagles 37 95
Jan. 4, 2014 Wild-card Chiefs 45, Colts 44 89
Jan. 14, 2018 Divisional Jaguars 45, Steelers 42 87
Jan. 16, 2000 Divisional Rams 49, Vikings 37 86
Jan. 10, 2021 Wild-card Browns 48, Steelers 37 85
Jan. 12, 2020 Divisional Chiefs 51, Texans 31 82
Jan. 3, 1993 Wild-card Bills 41, Oilers 38 79
Jan. 2, 1982 Divisional Chargers 41, Dolphins 38 79
Jan. 23, 2022 Divisional Chiefs 42, Bills 36 78

Most points scored by a single team in NFL playoff history

Surprisingly, only three of the NFL's highest-scoring playoff games coincide with the record for most points scored by a single team. None of those three games — 1995 Lions-Eagles, 2010 Cardinals-Packers game and 2020 Chiefs-Texans — feature the team that owns the NFL record.

That accolade belongs instead to the 1999 Jaguars, who in only their fifth year as a franchise broke the NFL record for most points scored in a playoff game in a 62-7 rout of the Dolphins.

Here are the rest of the top 10 highest-scoring teams in NFL single-game playoff history:

Date Round Outcome
Jan. 15, 2000 Divisional Jaguars 62, Dolphins 7
Dec. 30, 1995 Wild-card Lions 58, Eagles 37
Jan. 28, 1990 Super Bowl 49ers 55, Broncos 10
Jan. 31, 1993 Super Bowl Cowboys 52, Bills 17
Jan. 20, 1991 AFC championship Bills 51, Raiders 3
Jan. 1, 1984 Divisional Redskins 51, Rams 7
Jan. 12, 2020 Divisional Chiefs 51, Texans 31
Jan. 10, 2010 Wild-card Cardinals 51, Packers 45 (OT)
Jan. 4, 1987 Divisional Giants 49, 49ers 3
Jan. 24, 2016 NFC championship Panthers 49, Cardinals 15

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.