Has There Ever Been a Super Bowl Without a Touchdown?
It’s a question that often pops up around Super Bowl time: could a game end without a single touchdown? You might be surprised to learn that despite some incredibly low-scoring affairs, every single Super Bowl in NFL history has featured at least one touchdown.
How Close Have We Come to a Touchdown-Less Super Bowl?
While no Super Bowl has gone entirely without a touchdown, some have certainly flirted with the idea. The closest we've ever come to this anomaly was Super Bowl LIII, played on February 3, 2019. In that game, the New England Patriots faced off against the Los Angeles Rams. It was a defensive slugfest, with the score tied at 3-3 heading into the fourth quarter.
For a significant portion of the game, it truly felt like we might witness history without a trip to the end zone. However, the Patriots ultimately broke the deadlock, scoring the game's only touchdown in the final quarter. New England secured a 13-3 victory, preserving the streak of at least one touchdown in every Super Bowl. The Rams, unfortunately for them, joined a short list of teams to not score a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Which Teams Failed to Score a Touchdown in a Super Bowl?
While every Super Bowl has had at least one touchdown, a few teams have failed to cross the goal line themselves. It’s a tough statistic to be on the wrong side of, especially in the biggest game of the year. Here's a look at those instances:
| Super Bowl | Date | Winning Team | Losing Team | Score | Touchdowns Scored by Losing Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl VI | January 16, 1972 | Dallas Cowboys | Miami Dolphins | 24-3 | 0 |
| Super Bowl LIII | February 3, 2019 | New England Patriots | Los Angeles Rams | 13-3 | 0 |
As you can see, the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, losing 24-3 to the Dallas Cowboys, were the first to experience this. The Rams' performance in Super Bowl LIII simply added them to this exclusive, and unwanted, club.
Why Do Touchdowns Seem Inevitable in the Super Bowl?
The NFL is an offense-driven league, and rule changes over the years have generally favored scoring. A Super Bowl decided purely by field goals and safeties would require an extraordinary series of events: offenses repeatedly stalling within scoring range, and defenses executing perfectly to prevent any red-zone breakthroughs for an entire 60 minutes. While theoretically possible, the dynamic nature of the game and the elite talent on display usually ensure at least one moment of offensive brilliance.