Betting On Sunday Night Football

+41 points – New Orleans Saints (-14) vs. Indianapolis Colts – October 23, 2011

#1

Final Score: Saints 62, Colts 7With Peyton Manning out for the season with the neck injury that would send him all over the world for experimental medical procedures, the Colts had one of their worst seasons ever. That terrible season hit its low point in an October trip to New Orleans. Drew Brees threw more touchdown passes than incompletions for the Saints as they became the first team since the 2000 Jaguars to score 60 points in a game.

+40 points – Philadelphia Eagles (-3) vs. Chicago Bears – December 22, 2013

#2

Final Score: Eagles 54, Bears 11Eagles running backs LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown ran for a combined 248 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. The Bears looked completely gassed and overwhelmed trying to defend Chip Kelly’s spread option offense and the Eagles rolled up 514 total yards. The Bears’ only touchdown came on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall on the final play of the third quarter.

+38.5 points – San Francisco 49ers (-9.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams – December 27, 1987

#3

Final Score: 49ers 48, Rams 0Under Bill Walsh’s west coast offense and behind a smothering defense, the 1987 San Francisco 49ers were far and away the NFL’s best team in 1987 according to advanced metrics. They looked the part in a 48-point demolition of the middling Rams. Jerry Rice scored caught two touchdown passes and quarterbacks Steve Young and Joe Montana diced the Ram defense for five total touchdowns. The Rams averaged only 2.9 yards per play and gained only nine first downs in the entire game.

+37.5 points – Washington Redskins (-7.5) vs. Detroit Lions – September 1, 1991

#4

Final Score: Redskins 45, Lions 0Washington opened up its eventual Super Bowl winning season with a bang, obliterating the hapless Lions in a 45-point shutout at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. The Lions turned the ball over four times and the Mark Rypien-led Washington offense was brutally efficient all game. Darrell Greene picked off two Rodney Peete passes and Redskins return man Brian Mitchell added a 69-yard punt return for a score.

+37 points – Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) at Cleveland Browns – September 12, 1999

#5

Final Score: Steelers 43, Browns 0It was the first game of the new era Cleveland Browns, after owner Art Modell moved the beloved original franchise to Baltimore to become the Ravens in 1996. It was also an omen of things to come The Browns offense totaled just 40 (!!!) yards of offense, turned the ball over seven times, and the Factory of Sadness was christened with a devastating shutout loss to a hated division rival.

+40 points – New England Patriots (+2) at San Diego Chargers – December 1, 1996

#1

Final Score: Patriots 45, Chargers 7 A case study in how much sportsbooks used to overvalue home field advantage. The Chargers were a middling team with a better record than their stats indicated they should have had. The Patriots came in having won five of their last six games behind the budding arm of quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe threw three first-half touchdown passes and the Patriots forced six total turnovers, returning two fumble recoveries for touchdowns. The Pats would go on to win the AFC in 1996.

+37.5 points – Denver Broncos (+3.5) at New England Patriots – October 8, 1995

#2

Final Score: Broncos 37, Patriots 3The Broncos, led by Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis, made quick work of the overmatched Patriots, jumping out to a 20-point halftime lead and scoring on a 60-yard bomb to receiver Anthony Miller early in the third quarter to push their lead to 30-3. Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe completed a woeful 24 of 56 passing attempts and the Broncos cruised to their first road win of the 1995 season.

+36.5 points – Seattle Seahawks (+3.5) vs. Oakland Raiders – December 17, 1995

#3

Final Score: Seahawks 44, Raiders 10The Seahawks were slight home underdogs because of an injury to starting quarterback Rick Mirer, but backup John Friesz proved to be more than adequate against the Raiders, who struggled both with first and second down efficiency and with field position throughout the night. The “highlight” of the night came just two minutes into the third quarter, when a Raiders fumble was recovered by Corey Harris and returned for a Seahawks touchdown.

+35 points – Washington Redskins (+5) at New Orleans Saints – December 30, 2001

#4

Final Score: Redskins 40, Saints 10The Saints scored 10 points on their first two drives and had a good field goal opportunity on their third drive. From there, it was all Washington. In the late second and early third quarters, Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks threw interceptions on three consecutive drives and the Saints lost any momentum they might have had. Washington scored the game’s final 40 points.

+32.5 points – Pittsburgh Steelers (+8.5) at Kansas City Chiefs – October 25, 1992

#5

Final Score: Steelers 27, Chiefs 3The Chiefs were heavy home favorites despite Pittsburgh’s 4-2 record, but the Steelers quickly proved to be the better team. The Steelers used a blitz-heavy scheme that had Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg out of rhythm for the entire game. Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson scored the game’s first points on an 80-yard punt return touchdown and it proved to be the only points Pittsburgh would need as the Chiefs failed to muster any offensive threat.

14 points – Dallas Cowboys (+14) at Washington Redskins – November 5, 1989

#1

Final Score: Cowboys 13, Redskins 3The Cowboys entered this rivalry game with a pathetic 0-8 record. Their legendary 1989 draft class was still learning the ropes and they were still two years away from adding franchise cornerstones like Russell Maryland and Leon Lett. Washington was a good, not great team playing without quarterback Mark Rypien. Backup Doug Williams performed admirably but threw two crucial interceptions. Washington was also sunk by eight penalties while the Cowboys had none.

13.5 points – Carolina Panthers (+13.5) at St. Louis Rams – November 5, 2000

#2

Final Score: Panthers 27, Rams 24The “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams were expected to easily dispatch a middling Panthers team even without All-Pro quarterback Kurt Warner in the lineup. Backup Trent Green played well, but the Panthers defense completely neutralized the running game. The Panthers scored off an Isaac Bruce fumble in the fourth quarter then Joe Nedney drilled a 46-yard field goal in the final minute to seal the win.

13.5 points – New York Giants (+13.5) at Denver Broncos – October 15, 2017

#3

Final Score: Giants 23, Broncos 10The Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl winning defense was a shadow of its former self, but they played well enough to get a win against the lowly 0-5 Giants. Unfortunately, Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian didn’t hold up his end of that bargain, taking four sacks and throwing two interceptions, including a 43-yard Janoris Jenkins pick-six in the final minute of the first half. Giants running back Orleans Darkwa totaled 130 yards and had a 47-yard run to set up the Giants’ lone offensive touchdown.

12.5 points – St. Louis Rams (+12.5) at Dallas Cowboys – January 1, 2006

#4

Final Score: Rams 20, Cowboys 10In an ugly, defensive struggle, the Cowboys turned the ball over four times, including two Drew Bledsoe interceptions on the final two drives of the game. Rams defensive end Leonard Little had a monster game with three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a strip-sack on the Cowboys’ first drive of the fourth quarter. Tony Romo would take over at quarterback in 2007 and the Cowboys would never meltdown in the fourth quarter again.

11.5 points – Oakland Raiders (+11.5) at Denver Broncos – November 28, 2004

#5

Final Score: Raiders 25, Broncos 24In icy weather at Mile High Stadium, the Broncos were heavy favorites over the Raiders, a division rival. The game was a back-and-forth affair through the first three quarters before Broncos defensive lineman Ellis Johnson seemed to seal the win with a 32-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. Instead, Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins threw two late touchdown passes as Oakland rallied from an 11-point deficit to win.

98 points (O/U 49) – Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers – December 8, 1985

#1

Final Score: Chargers 54, Steelers 44These two forgettable teams combined for nearly 900 yards of offense and seven turnovers in a wild matchup. Both teams got scoring contributions from players named Gary Anderson. The LA Times recap of the game mocked the Steelers’ defense by calling them “The Lace Curtain”. The point total topped the over/under before halftime. Chargers football in the 1980s wasn’t always great, but it was always entertaining.

83 points (O/U 59.5) – Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – October 14, 2018

#2

Final Score: Patriots 43, Chiefs 40One of the all-time great quarterback duels of Sunday Night Football came in recent memory. The Patriots’ Tom Brady and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes each put on a show, throwing for a combined 692 yards and scoring six total touchdowns. Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill and running back Kareem Hunt each balled out, but in the end, the Patriots machine was too much to overcome as Brady led a 65-yard drive to set up a game-winning field goal as time expired. Those betting on Sunday Night Football were in for an instant classic.

83 points (O/U 42.5) – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants – December 13, 2009

#3

Final Score: Eagles 45, Giants 38Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson captured headlines with a 60-yard touchdown catch and a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, tying an NFL record for 50-yard touchdown plays in a season. Eli Manning threw for nearly 400 yards for the Giants, who scored on several long plays of their own. The Giants outgained the Eagles but lost four fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The turnovers and special teams breakdowns proved to be too much to overcome.

80 points (O/U 44.5) – New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – September 9, 2007

#4

Final Score: Cowboys 45, Giants 35Eli Manning and Tony Romo each threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. Pro Bowl receivers Plaxico Burress (Giants) and Terrell Owens (Cowboys) combined for 260 yards and five touchdowns. The Giants lost sack leader Osi Umenyiora and starting running back Brandon Jacobs to knee injuries over the course of the game, but Manning led a frantic fourth quarter comeback that was only undone by a clutch Tony Romo drive in the final minutes.

78 points (O/U 46) – Los Angeles Raiders at Dallas Cowboys – October 23, 1983

#5

Final Score: Raiders 40, Cowboys 38Back in the days before Sunday Night Football was a weekly occurrence, ABC would air one Cowboys game on national TV as part of their Monday Night Football package. In 1983, they happened to choose the best Cowboys game. Raiders running backs Marcus Allen and Frank Hawkins combined for 260 yards from scrimmage while the Cowboys defense forced six Raider turnovers, including a scoop and score midway through the fourth quarter to take a 38-34 lead. The Raiders would answer that with consecutive field goal drives to win the game.

9 points (O/U 41) – New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – November 20, 1988

#1

Final Score: Patriots 6, Dolphins 3Just two weeks after their previous matchup in New England (a 21-10 Patriots win), Dolphins fans anticipated a vintage Dan Marino performance in the return to Miami. Instead, the Dolphins offense failed to get any consistent drives together and kicker Tony Franklin missed three field goals. The Patriots didn’t fare much better offensively behind Doug Flutie, but Patriots kicker Jason Staurovsky hit both of his attempts. A sluggish performance on both ends, but those betting on Sunday Night Football at least got to see a winner, unlike some of the other teams on this list.

12 points (O/U 35) – Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots November 16, 2003

#2

Final Score: Patriots 12, Cowboys 0Tom Brady had not yet established himself as the transcendent talent he would later become, and the Patriots were instead powered by Coach Bill Belichick’s dominating defense. Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter threw three interceptions and struggled to cope with the constant pressure Belichick sent his way. The game’s lone touchdown came on an Antowain Smith 2-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.

12 points (O/U 43) – Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – October 23, 2016

#3

Final Score: Cardinals 6, Seahawks 6Fans were excited for a matchup between the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom defense and the revamped Cardinals offense under Bruce Arians. Instead the two teams combined for 15 punt, 22 failed third-down conversions, and three missed field goals (including two inside 30 yards). The game drew the ire of sports media and fans across the country, who panned the lack of offense and special teams blunders. It was the first time two teams had tied with no touchdowns scored since 1972, making it a rough night for player props at legal SNF betting sites.

14 points – New York Giants at Washington Redskins – November 23, 1997

#4

Final Score: Giants 7, Redskins 7Yes, two ties, really. This game was an even worse offensive display than the Seahawks-Cardinals tie because it featured six total turnovers and seven fumbles. Washington and New York combined to go 12 for 41 on third downs. Both Giants kicker Brad Daluiso and Redskins kicker Scott Blanton missed field goal attempts in the fourth quarter and overtime. The game’s only points came on a Gus Frerotte run in the second quarter and a Danny Kanell touchdown pass in the third.

15 points – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – December 29, 2002

#5

Final Score: Buccaneers 15, Bears 0Thankfully, we get some resolution to round out this list. The 2002 Bucs defense, one of the greatest in NFL history, completely stifled the Bears offense and picked off four Henry Burriss passes. Only 11 of the Bears’ 51 plays came in Tampa Bay territory, and four of those were on the game’s final drive against prevent defense. The Bucs would go on to win the Super Bowl, while the Bears would go on to draft Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft.