Highest Scoring NFL Game Ever: Redskins vs Giants (1966)

What is the highest scoring NFL game of all time? In a legendary Sunday afternoon on November 27, 1966, the Washington Redskins and New York Giants combined for an astonishing 113 points – a record score that still stands today. In that shootout, Washington piled up 72 points (the most ever by one team in a game) while New York managed 41.

This 72–41 final score remains the highest scoring game in NFL history, with 16 total touchdowns (10 by Washington, 6 by the Giants). No other NFL game has matched this feat – even the highest modern scoring affairs (e.g. a 52–49 game in 2015) fall short of the 113-point mark.

Football scoreboard at Milwaukee Lutheran Red Knights’ stadium . In the 1966 Redskins–Giants game, the scoreboard would have been overwhelmed by 113 total points. The final score – 72 to 41 – shattered expectations. For perspective, the 113 combined points came from 16 touchdowns, nine of which were long scoring plays over 30 yards.

Washington’s offense exploded, and even the extra-point kicking game was prolific. (Notably, the Redskins lost 14 footballs into the stands on PAT attempts – at 22¢ each in 1966 – a $315 loss stemming from this one game.)

Date: November 27, 1966 (Week 12 of the NFL season)
Teams: Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
Final Score: Washington 72, New York 41
Total Points: 113 (NFL record)
Touchdowns: 16 (10 by Washington, 6 by NYG)
Notable Feat: Nine touchdowns of 30+ yards
Records: Washington’s 72 points are the most scored by one NFL team in any game.

These bullets capture the key facts of that historic highest scoring NFL game. Hall of Fame sources confirm that on Nov. 27, 1966 the Redskins “downed the New York Giants by a score of 72–41” – a combined 113 points – “witnessing the highest scoring game in National Football League history”. Sports historians and the NFL record books agree that no contest has combined for more points.

Historic 113-Point Shootout (1966)

On that chilly November day at D.C. Stadium, future Hall-of-Famer quarterback Sonny Jurgensen led Washington’s offense, throwing multiple touchdown passes (he threw three TDs, in fact, including a 74-yard bomb). The Giants, coached by Allie Sherman, simply couldn’t stop the Redskins. Entering the game, New York was a struggling 1–8–1 team and Washington was 7–7 – hardly a clash of powerhouses.

Yet as CBS Sports recounts, in that “titillating” contest the offenses outgunned the defenses at every turn, with 16 total touchdowns and nine plays of 30+ yards.

Fans and media alike were stunned. The Washington Post later described how Sherman’s “rag-tag platoons were bombed, boomed and doomed” by the Redskins, noting the teams were “newly implicated in NFL history” by the 113-point onslaught. Even coach Otto Graham – a Hall of Fame quarterback who was Washington’s coach then – couldn’t help but joke about the absurdity.

After the game he quipped, “It was a great defensive battle”, winking at the irony of his offense’s output. Graham later admitted he sent out placekicker Charlie Gogolak for one more field goal “just for practice” in the blowout’s final seconds – saying “In a crazy game like this, what’s another three points?”. That extra kick made the score 72–41 instead of 69–41 and cemented the record total.

These details underline why the 1966 Redskins–Giants game is so unforgettable. It set multiple NFL scoring records at once: highest combined score (113 points), most points by one team (72 points by Washington), and (for many years) the most touchdowns in a game. (Only the 1940 NFL Championship Game – Chicago Bears 73, Redskins 0 – had a single team score more points, but that was a playoff game, not a regular-season contest.) In fact, this game stood as the only time any NFL team scored 70+ points in a regular season until the Miami Dolphins scored 70 in 2023, a span of 57 years. It truly was a record to remember.

Other High-Scoring NFL Games

While the 1966 game holds the top spot, several other contests rank among the highest scoring in NFL history. According to NFL records, the next highest-scoring regular-season games are:

Nov 28, 2004: Cincinnati Bengals 58–48 Cleveland Browns – 106 total points.
Nov 19, 2018: Los Angeles Rams 54–51 Kansas City Chiefs – 105 total points (this Monday Night Football thriller is the highest-scoring game of the 21st century).
Nov 21, 1948: San Francisco 49ers 63–40 Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) – 103 points.
Other 100+ point games: New Orleans Saints 52–49 NY Giants (2015) and Oakland Raiders 52–49 Houston Oilers (1963) each totaled 101 points.

These games also feature dazzling offense, but all fall short of the 113-point mark. In the NFL playoffs, the record is lower – a 51–45 Cardinals–Packers game in 2010 (96 points). And in the Super Bowl, the most combined points is 75 (49ers 49, Chargers 26 in 1995). No postseason game has ever beaten 100 combined points.

Statistically, even in recent seasons teams rarely breach 60 points: for instance, StatMuse notes that as of 2024 the most points scored by any team in a game is 52 (achieved by the Detroit Lions in multiple 2024 games). This shows how extraordinary Washington’s 72-point explosion was. In short, the highest scoring games in NFL history are concentrated in a few shootouts, with the 1966 Redskins–Giants game still reigning supreme by a wide margin.

Factors Behind the High Score

Why did so many points come so quickly? Several factors contributed to the 1966 scoring bonanza. First, both teams employed offensive firepower that day. Washington’s Sonny Jurgensen was an elite passer, and the Giants’ defense was leaky against big plays. Second, the era’s rules favored scoring more than modern NFL (passing rules were relatively new, and defenses were generally less scheme-driven). Third, the game simply got out of hand early – as one source notes, the Redskins were essentially in “practice” mode by late in the fourth quarter. With a 28-point lead and seconds left, Washington kicked a meaningless field goal without shame, a sportsmanship move that inflates the total.

Of course, no defensive adjustments were made to stop the bleeding. The Giants continued to play aggressive defense even when far behind, allowing the points to mount. Weather was not a major issue (it was a clear 42°F day), so conditions were good for offense. In summary, a confluence of potent offense, weak defense, and endgame chasing led to the record highest scoring NFL game ever.

Legacy and Records

The 113-point record still stands in 2025 – nearly six decades later. It’s considered an NFL milestone that might never be broken. Teams today rarely even reach 50 points, let alone 70. For perspective, only once since 1966 has a team scored more than 65 in a regular game (the 2023 Dolphins’ 70), and no game has eclipsed 113 combined. The NFL record books still list Washington vs. New York (Nov. 27, 1966) at the top for combined points and Washington’s 72 as the single-team mark.

This game has become a part of NFL lore. Fantasy football and trivia lovers often cite it when discussing the most explosive offenses or craziest games. It also serves as a cautionary tale that even a mediocre team can explode for a record one day. Every time a team approaches a 100-point game (like when the Chiefs and Rams almost hit 100), commentators note the Redskins–Giants game as the unsurpassed benchmark.

If you enjoy NFL history, this record-breaking game is a fun fact to share. Whether you’re a fan of the Washington franchise (now Commanders) or just a football history buff, the highest scoring NFL game ever is a “record to remember.” Bookmark this page, share it with fellow fans, and drop a comment below with your own memories of high-scoring NFL matchups!

(FAQs)

What is the highest scoring NFL game?

The highest scoring NFL game ever was the Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants game on November 27, 1966. The Redskins won 72–41, for a combined 113 points. No other NFL game has reached that total.

Who scored the most points in a single NFL game?

The most points scored by one team in any NFL game is 72, achieved by the 1966 Washington Redskins in the same record game. This is an NFL team record that still stands.

Has any NFL game come close to that record?

A few games have approached it but none have surpassed 113 combined points. The second-highest scoring game was Bengals–Browns in 2004 (106 points), and the third was Rams–Chiefs in 2018 (105 points). These are the closest modern examples.

What was the combined score of the 1966 game?

The combined score was 113 points (72 + 41). At the time, this set an NFL record for most points in a game.

What factors led to the high scoring?

Factors included potent offenses (Washington’s Sonny Jurgensen led multiple scoring drives), weaker defenses, and even strategic decisions (e.g. Washington kicking an extra field goal for practice). The game simply got away from the Giants early, and the Redskins kept scoring unabated.

Conclusion for Highest Scoring NFL Game

To this day, the 1966 Redskins-Giants shootout remains the highest scoring NFL game ever. In that legendary contest, the two teams lit up the scoreboard for a staggering 113 total points – a combined tally no game has ever reached. This offensive frenzy produced 16 touchdowns (10 by Washington, 6 by New York), and Washington’s 72 points stands as the most ever by one team in a single game. It truly remains a game for the ages.

For fans, the memory is that it was the highest scoring nfl game in NFL history. Even after decades, 113 combined points and 72 by one team still look untouchable. No modern contest has come close to those marks, making that 1966 shootout a legendary chapter unmatched in NFL lore.

Have thoughts on this record-breaking game? Drop a comment below and share your memories – we can’t wait to hear from you! If you enjoyed this blast-from-the-past, share it with other fans or explore our other stories on highest scoring nfl games to relive more epic NFL moments. Join the conversation and keep the football passion alive.

Highest Scoring NFL Game – A Record to Remember in 1966