The history of football often revolves around touchdowns, turnovers, and last-second heroics. But another aspect of the game, often overlooked, is the art of punting. Though punting might not generate highlight reels, it has played a crucial role in many games, shaping field position and momentum. On rare occasions, games evolve into punting duels that leave a unique impression in the record books.
A Historic Night Of Punting In Week 15
Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season brought an unusual twist to Thursday Night Football. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers started their game with a first quarter full of punts—seven in total. That tied the record for the most punts in a single quarter this season. While unusual for today’s NFL, where offenses dominate, this stat is far from the league’s most impressive punting records.
NFL Game Punt Records: A Complete Look At Punting History
Punting isn’t the flashiest part of football, but it reveals a lot about the game. From defensive slugfests to bad weather and poor offensive play, punts tell the story of a different kind of battle on the field. Here’s a closer look at some of the most remarkable punting records in NFL history.
Most Combined Punts In A Game
The record for the most combined punts in a single NFL game is 31, achieved on October 22, 1933, in two separate games:
- Chicago Bears (17) vs. Green Bay Packers (14)
- Cincinnati Reds (17) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (14)
Other notable combined punt records:
29 punts:
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- Chicago Cardinals (15) vs. Cincinnati Reds (14), Nov. 12, 1933
- Chicago Cardinals (16) vs. Chicago Bears (13), Nov. 30, 1933
- Chicago Cardinals (16) vs. Detroit Lions (13), Sept. 15, 1940
28 punts:
- Philadelphia Eagles (14) vs. Washington (14), Nov. 5, 1939
Also Read: 5 NFL Players With The Most Consecutive Games Played In The League’s History
Most Punts By A Single Team In A Game
The record for the most punts by a single team in a game is 17, achieved twice on the same day:
- Chicago Bears (17) vs. Green Bay Packers, Oct. 22, 1933
- Cincinnati Reds (17) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, Oct. 22, 1933
Other notable single-team performances:
16 punts:
- Cincinnati Reds vs. Portsmouth Spartans, Sept. 17, 1933
- Chicago Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears, Nov. 30, 1933
- Chicago Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions, Sept. 15, 1940
- Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers, Oct. 11, 1998
15 punts: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants, Dec. 6, 1987
14 punts: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sept. 28, 1951
Other performances with 12-13 punts include:
- New York Giants (13 punts), Oct. 29, 2023, vs. New York Jets
- Cleveland Browns (12 punts), Sept. 9, 2018, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Denver Broncos (12 punts), Sept. 10, 1967, vs. Oakland Raiders
Most Combined Punts In A Half (Since 2000)
Since modern data tracking began, the record for most combined punts in a half is 15, set during the New York Jets vs. New York Giants game on Oct. 29, 2023.
Other games with high combined punts in a half:
14 punts:
- Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills, Sept. 7, 2008
13 punts (examples):
- Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts, Oct. 19, 2014
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Oct. 20, 2013
- Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens, Oct. 13, 2013
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Oct. 24, 2011
Also Read: 5 NFL Records That Still Remain Unbroken
Most Combined Punts In A Quarter (Since 2000)
The record for most combined punts in a single quarter is 9, achieved in multiple games:
- Jets vs. Giants, Oct. 29, 2023
- Lions vs. Saints, Oct. 15, 2017
- 49ers vs. Cardinals, Oct. 1, 2017
- Cardinals vs. Saints, Sept. 22, 2013
- Other notable occurrences include:
- Seahawks vs. Bills, Sept. 7, 2008
- Bills vs. Cowboys, Nov. 9, 2003
Longest Punts And Other Records
Some games with unusually high punting totals in the modern era stand out:
- Raiders (16 punts), Oct. 11, 1998, vs. San Diego Chargers (W 7-6)
- Eagles (15 punts), Dec. 6, 1987, vs. New York Giants (L 20-23)
- Giants (13 punts), Oct. 29, 2023, vs. New York Jets (L 10-13)
Games featuring 12 punts:
- Cleveland Browns (12 punts), Sept. 9, 2018, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (T 21-21)
- Denver Broncos (12 punts), Oct. 25, 1981, vs. Buffalo Bills (L 7-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (12 punts), Dec. 10, 1978, vs. Washington Redskins (W 20-17)
Why Do These Records Matter?
Punting records often tell a story of defensive dominance, struggling offenses, or unusual weather. For example, the Raiders punted 16 times in a gritty 7-6 win over the Chargers in 1998. Many older records, like those from the 1930s, are an example of the low-scoring style of that era when punts were often unavoidable.
While punting doesn’t grab attention like touchdowns, it plays a critical role in shaping games. Whether it’s about pinning an opponent deep in their territory or simply surviving a difficult defensive battle, punting deserves more recognition as an essential part of football’s strategy and history.
Also Read: 5 Interesting NFL Records Of All Time
