The Super Bowl is the biggest game in American football, where the two best NFL teams compete for the famous Lombardi Trophy. Some games are close and full of exciting moments, while others are completely one-sided, with one team dominating the entire game.
So, which Super Bowl had the biggest blowout in NFL history? Let’s look back at the most lopsided title games, see where the Super Bowl LIX matchup ranks, and check out the greatest comeback ever.
Top 3 Biggest Super Bowl Blowout Losses
3. Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys 52-17 Buffalo Bills (35-Point Margin)
On January 31, 1993, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the Dallas Cowboys demolished the Buffalo Bills 52-17, marking the beginning of their 1990s dynasty. Quarterback Troy Aikman led the way with an MVP performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Michael Irvin caught two touchdown passes, and running back Emmitt Smith added 108 rushing yards with a touchdown.
January 31, 1993
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) February 1, 2025
Super Bowl XXVII #Cowboys #Bills@TroyAikman (22-30-273-4) is MVP
52-17 #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/SNHAFwTSBM
The Cowboys’ defense, featuring stars like Charles Haley and Ken Norton Jr., forced a record-setting nine turnovers, including four interceptions and five fumbles. The Bills, who were playing in their third straight Super Bowl, never found their rhythm. Buffalo’s nightmare was capped off when defensive lineman Leon Lett famously fumbled the ball just before crossing the goal line on a defensive touchdown return. Despite Buffalo’s strong offensive season, they were overwhelmed by Dallas’s defensive onslaught, setting the stage for the Cowboys’ dynasty in the early 1990s.
Also Read: Ranking The 5 Highest Scoring NFL Games Of All-Time
2. Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears 46-10 New England Patriots (36-Point Margin)
Played on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome, Super Bowl XX saw the Chicago Bears cap off a historic season with one of the most dominant defensive performances ever. The Bears finished the regular season with a 15-1 record, boasting Buddy Ryan’s famous “46 Defense.” In the playoffs, they recorded back-to-back shutouts before dismantling the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
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39 years ago today, the Bears won Super Bowl XX! pic.twitter.com/Adt6PUrr90
— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) January 26, 2025
Chicago’s defense overwhelmed New England, forcing six turnovers and sacking quarterback Tony Eason seven times. Eason failed to complete a single pass before being benched. The Bears held the Patriots to just seven rushing yards for the entire game, the lowest total in Super Bowl history. Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent led the charge with 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. On offense, the Bears racked up 408 yards, including four rushing touchdowns. The Bears’ 46-10 victory secured their first and only Super Bowl title, and their defense remains one of the most feared in NFL history.
1. Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers 55-10 Denver Broncos (45-Point Margin)
The most lopsided Super Bowl in NFL history took place on January 28, 1990, at the Louisiana Superdome, where the San Francisco 49ers humiliated the Denver Broncos with a crushing 55-10 victory. Led by legendary quarterback Joe Montana, the 49ers dominated from the opening kickoff, scoring on their first six possessions. Montana put on a clinic, completing 24 of 32 passes for 317 yards and a then-record five touchdown passes. His favorite target, Jerry Rice, hauled in three touchdowns and finished with 148 receiving yards.
#OnThisDay
— hoopsjunky (@hoopsjunky54491) January 28, 2025
January 28, 1990
Super Bowl XXIV
The biggest blowout in Super Bowl history
Joe Montana 22/29, 297 yards, 5 touchdowns
Jerry Rice: 7 catches, 148 yards, 3 touchdowns https://t.co/T25waBBX7v pic.twitter.com/H9jMEZKnMX
On the defensive side, San Francisco completely shut down the Broncos. Denver quarterback John Elway struggled under relentless pressure, completing only 11 of 29 passes for 136 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The 49ers’ defense sacked him six times and forced four turnovers. Denver, which had one of the league’s best defenses during the regular season, allowed 55 points, the most ever scored by a Super Bowl team.
Also Read: Why Has The NFL’s High-Scoring Passing Game Dissappeared?
Where Does Super Bowl LIX Rank?
Super Bowl LIX featured the Philadelphia Eagles delivering a commanding 40-22 victory over the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. The game was essentially over by halftime, as the Eagles built a 24-0 lead, the largest halftime deficit in Patrick Mahomes’ career. The Eagles’ defense completely shut down the Chiefs’ offense in the first half, allowing only 23 total yards and one first down. Philadelphia sacked Mahomes six times and forced three turnovers. The Eagles extended their lead to 34-0 before the Chiefs finally scored late in the third quarter.
Chiefs 22-40 Eagles
— Mundo NFL (@MundoNFL) February 10, 2025
Los de Philadelphia aplastan a sus rivales para quedarse con el Trofeo Lombardi. Mira el resumen del #SBLIX.#MundoNFL #FlyEaglesFly #SuperBowlLIX pic.twitter.com/6D5tWSlBCW
Despite being a dominant win, Super Bowl LIX does not rank among the top five biggest blowouts in history. The 18-point margin was significantly lower than the record 45-point blowout in the 1989 title game. However, it was still the second-largest victory in the past decade, behind Tampa Bay’s 31-9 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. With 95 total points scored in the conference championship and title game, the Eagles also set the record for the most combined points in a postseason run since the 1970 merger.
Also Read: 5 Worst Super Bowls In NFL History…And The 5 Absolute Best
Which Super Bowl Game Had The Best-Ever Comeback Story In The NFL?
The greatest comeback in Super Bowl history occurred in Super Bowl LI when the New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady, overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons. With 8:31 left in the third quarter, the Falcons led 28-3 and had a 99.5% win probability. But what followed was the most astonishing turnaround in NFL history. Brady and the Patriots responded with five consecutive scoring drives, including two touchdowns with successful two-point conversions to tie the game at 28-28. The Patriots’ defense also stepped up, shutting out the Falcons in the fourth quarter and forcing crucial mistakes.
28-3
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2025
Can’t believe it’s been 8 years since Super Bowl LI. (Feb. 5, 2017) pic.twitter.com/7woyB4q5vy
In overtime, New England won the coin toss, marched down the field, and secured the victory with a two-yard touchdown run by James White. Brady finished with a Super Bowl record of 466 passing yards and was named the MVP for the fourth time. The Patriots ran 93 offensive plays compared to Atlanta’s 46, wearing down the Falcons’ defense. The 28-3 comeback remains the greatest rally in Super Bowl history and is both a legendary comeback and a historic collapse by the Falcons.
