5 Biggest Blowouts in Super Bowl History

While the Super Bowl is the pinnacle of every NFL season and features what are supposed to be the top two teams in the league, not every matchup for the Lombardi Trophy has delivered nail-biting suspense. In fact, several have ended in blowouts, with some even being decided by the end of the first half.

Just don’t tell that to Atlanta Falcons fans. What, too soon?

The lopsided outcomes aren’t what most football fans want, but that’s the way sports can sometimes go, even at the highest level. These Super Bowl blowouts serve as a reminder that, despite the hype and excitement surrounding the Big Game each and every year, the outcome isn’t always the closely contested battle people are looking for.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history, all of which featured a margin of victory of 32 points or more. As a heads-up, those who root for the Denver Broncos won’t be the biggest fans of this particular list.

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1

Super Bowl 24: San Francisco 55, Denver 10

Joe Montana threw five TDs in the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history

Held on January 28, 1990, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Super Bowl 24 served as the biggest blowout in the game’s storied history as the San Francisco 49ers capped off a remarkable decade with a resounding 45-point victory to win their fourth title in nine years.

Facing the Denver Broncos, who were just two years removed from another blowout loss in the title game (more on that in a moment), the defending champion 49ers dominated the game from start to finish to take an easy 55-10 win.

Led by Joe Montana, who’d won the first of two straight NFL MVP trophies during the regular season, the 49ers orchestrated an offensive showcase. Montana threw for a then-record five touchdowns, and the 49ers amassed a staggering 55 points, surpassing the previous record for the highest-scoring team in a Super Bowl by nine points.

The 49ers scored on each of their first six possessions, and Jerry Rice unsurprisingly played a pivotal role that night, catching three touchdown passes and amassing 148 receiving yards on just seven catches. What’s wild is that they did all this against a Broncos defense that had only surrendered 14.1 points per game during the regular season, the best mark in the league.

But despite all the offense, don’t discount what the San Francisco defense accomplished. John Elway and the Denver offense had scored the eighth-most points in the NFL in ’89 but were held to just 10 in the loss.

2

Super Bowl 20: Chicago 46, New England 10

The Bears shuffled their way to a Super Bowl win over the Patriots

Super Bowl 20, which was contested on January 26, 1986, also at the Superdome in New Orleans, saw the 1985 Chicago Bears finish off their dominant run in record-breaking fashion, with their stifling defense earning legendary status.

Boasting a regular-season record of 15-1 under the guidance of head coach Mike Ditka, defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, and the overall team leadership of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, the Bears faced the New England Patriots in what turned out to be a one-sided affair.

The Bears’ famed 46 defense featured Hall of Fame talents such as Richard Dent, Mike Singletary, and Dan Hampton. Throughout the regular season, Ryan’s unit allowed a mere 198 total points, an average of just over 12 points per game.

And their aggression was on full display during the postseason, as Chicago didn’t allow a single point in their first two playoff games, shutting out the New York Giants in the Divisional Round, 21-0, and then taking a 24-0 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game.

In Super Bowl 20, the Bears’ defense took center stage, forcing six turnovers and recording seven sacks in the 46-10 victory, the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history at the time. Richard Dent’s stellar performance, which included 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.

The 15-1 regular season, combined with the Super Bowl triumph, not only solidified the Chicago Bears as champions but also etched their defense into NFL lore as one of the greatest units in the history of the sport.

3

Super Bowl 27: Dallas 52, Buffalo 17

The Dallas dynasty began with this Super Bowl blowout of the Bills

Super Bowl 27 was a decisive turning point for the Dallas Cowboys and marked the beginning of their dominance in the early 1990s.

Facing off against the Buffalo Bills at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on January 31, 1993, the Cowboys, who had gone just 1-15 a few years earlier in 1989, walked away with a 52-17 victory to clinch the franchise’s third championship.

The famed “Triplets” trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin all showed out in the 35-point win, with Aikman taking MVP honors after completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Irvin. Smith, who ran for 108 yards, accounted for the Cowboys’ final offensive score with a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys’ defense, led by the likes of Charles Haley and Ken Norton Jr., also played a big role in the blowout, forcing a record-setting nine turnovers from a strong Bills offense. This defensive effort helped set the stage for the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl victories in four years, establishing them as a dynasty in the making.

Super Bowl 27 was a statement game for the Cowboys, showcasing their depth, skill, and ability to dominate on both sides of the ball. The victory not only secured their first championship since 1978 but lay the foundation for their subsequent triumphs in Super Bowls 28 and 30.

4

Super Bowl 48: Seattle 43, Denver 8

The Seahawks’ defense completely shut down Peyton Manning’s Broncos

Super Bowl 48, held on February 2, 2014, showcased a clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. This was a highly-anticipated matchup, but it turned into a lopsided contest with the Seahawks taking what turned out to be an easy 43-8 win.

The Broncos entered the game as the highest-scoring team in the NFL during the regular season (37.9 points per game), led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who set new NFL records for passing yards in a season (5,477) and touchdown passes in a season (55). However, the Seahawks’ top-ranked defense proved to be an insurmountable obstacle.

From the outset, Seattle’s defense dominated, setting the tone with a safety just 12 seconds into the game, marking the fastest score in Super Bowl history.

Seattle’s famed “Legion of Boom” secondary, anchored by the likes of Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, intercepted Manning twice and forced four turnovers overall. The relentless defensive performance stifled the Broncos’ high-octane offense, limiting them to a mere eight points.

Russell Wilson, one of the youngest starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl history, managed the game effectively for the Seahawks, while linebacker Malcolm Smith earned Super Bowl MVP honors for his impactful defensive plays, including a pick-six. Super Bowl 48 underscored the significance of a robust defense as the Seahawks convincingly claimed their first championship in franchise history.

5

Super Bowl 22: Washington 42, Denver 10

Doug Williams made all sorts of NFL history in this Super Bowl blowout

Super Bowl 22, held on January 31, 1988, at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium, is remembered for the Washington Commanders’ (yes, we know they went by another name then) sheer dominance and the historic performance of their quarterback, Doug Williams.

The game pitted Washington against the AFC champion Denver Broncos, who were appearing in their second straight Super Bowl, and it quickly turned into a blowout in the second quarter.

After falling behind 10-0 in the opening frame, Washington exploded in the second, scoring a record-breaking 35 points.

Williams, the first Black starting quarterback in Super Bowl history, threw four touchdown passes in that quarter alone, setting a new Super Bowl record. His remarkable feat included touchdown passes of 80, 27, 50, and eight yards.

Named Super Bowl MVP in the 42-10 rout, Williams shattered several records, including most touchdown passes in a single quarter, most touchdown passes in a half, and most passing yards in a Super Bowl, the last of which has since been broken.

Super Bowl 22 marked a watershed moment in NFL history as Williams not only guided his team to victory but also broke down racial barriers and paved the way for future generations of Black quarterbacks.

See, we told you Broncos fans wouldn’t like this list much.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated otherwise.

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