Sports deep dive

The Greatest NFL Games

The best NFL games, ranked by Game Score, with a clip where one exists.

Top 50 games by Game Score · MetroAreas workbook

Ranked by Game Score

Playoffs and Super Bowls, ranked by Game Score. Filter to a decade.

How this is measured

Every postseason game earns a Game Score that blends how much was at stake (round and seeding), how good the two teams were (rating), and how close and consequential the game itself turned out to be. The result is a single number that lets a first-round upset and a Game 7 classic sit on the same ladder. Methodology.

Featured games

Super Bowl XXXII#1

NFL

Broncos 31-24 Packers

Elway finally wins the big one.

Full game - NFL

Super Bowl XLIX#2

NFL

Patriots 28-24 Seahawks

Butler's goal-line interception.

Official highlightsFull game ↗

Super Bowl XLII#8

NFL

Giants 17-14 Patriots

The Helmet Catch ends the perfect season.

Official highlightsFull game ↗

Top games of all-time

Ranked by the site's Game Score (ELO) metric, which combines hype, quality, stakes, and matchup rank. Switch the filter for the top 10 of any decade.Methodology.

#1 · 1998-01-252.155

1997 SB XXXII

Denver Broncos 31-24 Green Bay Packers

Qualcomm Stadium· San Diego, CA

#2 · 2015-02-012.139

2014 SB XLIX

New England Patriots 28-24 Seattle Seahawks

University of Phoenix Stadium· Glendale, AZ

Full game ↗

#3 · 1979-01-212.114

1978 SB XIII

Pittsburgh Steelers 35-31 Dallas Cowboys

Orange Bowl· Miami, FL

#4 · 2018-02-042.085

2017 SB LII

Philadelphia Eagles 41-33 New England Patriots

U.S. Bank Stadium· Minneapolis, MN

#5 · 1999-01-172.055

1998 NFC Champ · OT

Atlanta Falcons 30-27 Minnesota Vikings

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome· Minneapolis, MN

#6 · 1993-01-172.044

1992 NFC Champ

Dallas Cowboys 30-20 San Francisco 49ers

Candlestick Park· San Francisco, CA

#7 · 2024-02-112.016

2023 SB LVIII · OT

Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 San Francisco 49ers

Allegiant Stadium· Paradise, NV

#8 · 2008-02-032.006

2007 SB XLII

New York Giants 17-14 New England Patriots

University of Phoenix Stadium· Glendale, AZ

Full game ↗

#9 · 1970-01-042.001

1969 AFL Champ

Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 Oakland Raiders

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum· Oakland, CA

#10 · 2017-02-051.995

2016 SB LI · OT

New England Patriots 34-28 Atlanta Falcons

NRG Stadium· Houston, TX

#11 · 1969-01-121.962

1968 SB III

New York Jets 16-7 Baltimore Colts

Orange Bowl· Miami, FL

#12 · 2012-02-051.937

2011 SB XLVI

New York Giants 21-17 New England Patriots

Lucas Oil Stadium· Indianapolis, IN

#13 · 1976-01-181.923

1975 SB X

Pittsburgh Steelers 21-17 Dallas Cowboys

Orange Bowl· Miami, FL

#14 · 1962-12-301.903

1962 NFL Champ

Green Bay Packers 16-7 New York Giants

Yankee Stadium· New York, NY

#15 · 2007-01-141.899

2006 Div. Playoff

New England Patriots 24-21 San Diego Chargers

Qualcomm Stadium· San Diego, CA

#16 · 2000-01-301.895

1999 SB XXXIV

St. Louis Rams 23-16 Tennessee Titans

Georgia Dome· Atlanta, GA

#17 · 2013-02-031.892

2012 SB XLVII

Baltimore Ravens 34-31 San Francisco 49ers

Mercedes-Benz Superdome· New Orleans, LA

#18 · 1991-01-201.887

1990 NFC Champ

New York Giants 15-13 San Francisco 49ers

Candlestick Park· San Francisco, CA

#19 · 2019-01-201.880

2018 AFC Champ · OT

New England Patriots 37-31 Kansas City Chiefs

Arrowhead Stadium· Kansas City, MO

#20 · 1974-12-291.873

1974 AFC Champ

Pittsburgh Steelers 24-13 Oakland Raiders

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum· Oakland, CA

#21 · 1958-12-281.872

1958 NFL Champ · OT

Baltimore Colts 23-17 New York Giants

Yankee Stadium· New York, NY

#22 · 2005-01-231.870

2004 AFC Champ

New England Patriots 41-27 Pittsburgh Steelers

Heinz Field· Pittsburgh, PA

#23 · 2014-01-191.864

2013 NFC Champ

Seattle Seahawks 23-17 San Francisco 49ers

CenturyLink Field· Seattle, WA

#24 · 2011-02-061.863

2010 SB XLV

Green Bay Packers 31-25 Pittsburgh Steelers

Cowboys Stadium· Arlington, TX

#25 · 2024-01-281.862

2023 AFC Champ

Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 Baltimore Ravens

M&T Bank Stadium· Baltimore, MD

#26 · 2023-01-291.862

2022 AFC Champ

Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 Cincinnati Bengals

Arrowhead Stadium· Kansas City, MO

#27 · 2021-01-241.851

2020 NFC Champ

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 Green Bay Packers

Lambeau Field· Green Bay, WI

#28 · 1992-01-261.848

1991 SB XXVI

Washington Redskins 37-24 Buffalo Bills

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome· Minneapolis, MN

#29 · 2019-01-201.844

2018 NFC Champ · OT

Los Angeles Rams 26-23 New Orleans Saints

Mercedes-Benz Superdome· New Orleans, LA

#30 · 2008-01-131.841

2007 Div. Playoff

San Diego Chargers 28-24 Indianapolis Colts

RCA Dome· Indianapolis, IN

#31 · 1987-01-031.839

1986 Div. Playoff

Washington Redskins 27-13 Chicago Bears

Soldier Field· Chicago, IL

#32 · 1973-01-141.839

1972 SB VII

Miami Dolphins 14-7 Washington Redskins

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum· Los Angeles, CA

#33 · 2002-02-031.836

2001 SB XXXVI

New England Patriots 20-17 St. Louis Rams

Louisiana Superdome· New Orleans, LA

#34 · 1983-01-301.835

1982 SB XVII

Washington Redskins 27-17 Miami Dolphins

Rose Bowl· Pasadena, CA

#35 · 1995-01-151.834

1994 NFC Champ

San Francisco 49ers 38-28 Dallas Cowboys

Candlestick Park· San Francisco, CA

#36 · 2006-01-151.829

2005 Div. Playoff

Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18 Indianapolis Colts

RCA Dome· Indianapolis, IN

#37 · 2016-02-071.817

2015 SB 50

Denver Broncos 24-10 Carolina Panthers

Levi's Stadium· Santa Clara, CA

#38 · 2023-01-221.812

2022 Div. Playoff

Cincinnati Bengals 27-10 Buffalo Bills

Highmark Stadium· Orchard Park, NY

#39 · 1991-01-271.812

1990 SB XXV

New York Giants 20-19 Buffalo Bills

Tampa Stadium· Tampa, FL

#40 · 2023-02-121.812

2022 SB LVII

Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 Philadelphia Eagles

State Farm Stadium· Glendale, AZ

#41 · 2011-01-161.812

2010 Div. Playoff

New York Jets 28-21 New England Patriots

Gillette Stadium· Foxboro, MA

#42 · 1970-01-111.809

1969 SB IV

Kansas City Chiefs 23-7 Minnesota Vikings

Tulane Stadium· New Orleans, LA

#43 · 1996-01-061.806

1995 Div. Playoff

Green Bay Packers 27-17 San Francisco 49ers

3Com Park· San Francisco, CA

#44 · 2020-02-021.805

2019 SB LIV

Kansas City Chiefs 31-20 San Francisco 49ers

Hard Rock Stadium· Miami Gardens, FL

#45 · 2019-02-031.803

2018 SB LIII

New England Patriots 13-3 Los Angeles Rams

Mercedes-Benz Stadium· Atlanta, GA

#46 · 1978-01-011.802

1977 AFC Champ

Denver Broncos 20-17 Oakland Raiders

Mile High Stadium· Denver, CO

#47 · 1982-01-241.801

1981 SB XVI

San Francisco 49ers 26-21 Cincinnati Bengals

Pontiac Silverdome· Pontiac, MI

#48 · 2006-01-221.799

2005 AFC Champ

Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 Denver Broncos

Invesco Field· Denver, CO

#49 · 2007-01-211.798

2006 AFC Champ

Indianapolis Colts 38-34 New England Patriots

RCA Dome· Indianapolis, IN

#50 · 2025-01-261.794

2024 AFC Champ

Kansas City Chiefs 32-29 Buffalo Bills

Arrowhead Stadium· Kansas City, MO

#	Date	Round	Match	Game Score
1	1998-01-25	1997 SB XXXII	Denver Broncos 31-24 Green Bay Packers Qualcomm Stadium· San Diego, CA	game score 2.155
2	2015-02-01	2014 SB XLIX	New England Patriots 28-24 Seattle Seahawks University of Phoenix Stadium· Glendale, AZ Full game ↗	game score 2.139
3	1979-01-21	1978 SB XIII	Pittsburgh Steelers 35-31 Dallas Cowboys Orange Bowl· Miami, FL	game score 2.114
4	2018-02-04	2017 SB LII	Philadelphia Eagles 41-33 New England Patriots U.S. Bank Stadium· Minneapolis, MN	game score 2.085
5	1999-01-17	1998 NFC Champ · OT	Atlanta Falcons 30-27 Minnesota Vikings Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome· Minneapolis, MN	game score 2.055
6	1993-01-17	1992 NFC Champ	Dallas Cowboys 30-20 San Francisco 49ers Candlestick Park· San Francisco, CA	game score 2.044
7	2024-02-11	2023 SB LVIII · OT	Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 San Francisco 49ers Allegiant Stadium· Paradise, NV	game score 2.016
8	2008-02-03	2007 SB XLII	New York Giants 17-14 New England Patriots University of Phoenix Stadium· Glendale, AZ Full game ↗	game score 2.006
9	1970-01-04	1969 AFL Champ	Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 Oakland Raiders Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum· Oakland, CA	game score 2.001
10	2017-02-05	2016 SB LI · OT	New England Patriots 34-28 Atlanta Falcons NRG Stadium· Houston, TX	game score 1.995
11	1969-01-12	1968 SB III	New York Jets 16-7 Baltimore Colts Orange Bowl· Miami, FL	game score 1.962
12	2012-02-05	2011 SB XLVI	New York Giants 21-17 New England Patriots Lucas Oil Stadium· Indianapolis, IN	game score 1.937
13	1976-01-18	1975 SB X	Pittsburgh Steelers 21-17 Dallas Cowboys Orange Bowl· Miami, FL	game score 1.923
14	1962-12-30	1962 NFL Champ	Green Bay Packers 16-7 New York Giants Yankee Stadium· New York, NY	game score 1.903
15	2007-01-14	2006 Div. Playoff	New England Patriots 24-21 San Diego Chargers Qualcomm Stadium· San Diego, CA	game score 1.899
16	2000-01-30	1999 SB XXXIV	St. Louis Rams 23-16 Tennessee Titans Georgia Dome· Atlanta, GA	game score 1.895
17	2013-02-03	2012 SB XLVII	Baltimore Ravens 34-31 San Francisco 49ers Mercedes-Benz Superdome· New Orleans, LA	game score 1.892
18	1991-01-20	1990 NFC Champ	New York Giants 15-13 San Francisco 49ers Candlestick Park· San Francisco, CA	game score 1.887
19	2019-01-20	2018 AFC Champ · OT	New England Patriots 37-31 Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium· Kansas City, MO	game score 1.880
20	1974-12-29	1974 AFC Champ	Pittsburgh Steelers 24-13 Oakland Raiders Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum· Oakland, CA	game score 1.873
21	1958-12-28	1958 NFL Champ · OT	Baltimore Colts 23-17 New York Giants Yankee Stadium· New York, NY	game score 1.872
22	2005-01-23	2004 AFC Champ	New England Patriots 41-27 Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field· Pittsburgh, PA	game score 1.870
23	2014-01-19	2013 NFC Champ	Seattle Seahawks 23-17 San Francisco 49ers CenturyLink Field· Seattle, WA	game score 1.864
24	2011-02-06	2010 SB XLV	Green Bay Packers 31-25 Pittsburgh Steelers Cowboys Stadium· Arlington, TX	game score 1.863
25	2024-01-28	2023 AFC Champ	Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium· Baltimore, MD	game score 1.862
26	2023-01-29	2022 AFC Champ	Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 Cincinnati Bengals Arrowhead Stadium· Kansas City, MO	game score 1.862
27	2021-01-24	2020 NFC Champ	Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field· Green Bay, WI	game score 1.851
28	1992-01-26	1991 SB XXVI	Washington Redskins 37-24 Buffalo Bills Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome· Minneapolis, MN	game score 1.848
29	2019-01-20	2018 NFC Champ · OT	Los Angeles Rams 26-23 New Orleans Saints Mercedes-Benz Superdome· New Orleans, LA	game score 1.844
30	2008-01-13	2007 Div. Playoff	San Diego Chargers 28-24 Indianapolis Colts RCA Dome· Indianapolis, IN	game score 1.841
31	1987-01-03	1986 Div. Playoff	Washington Redskins 27-13 Chicago Bears Soldier Field· Chicago, IL	game score 1.839
32	1973-01-14	1972 SB VII	Miami Dolphins 14-7 Washington Redskins Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum· Los Angeles, CA	game score 1.839
33	2002-02-03	2001 SB XXXVI	New England Patriots 20-17 St. Louis Rams Louisiana Superdome· New Orleans, LA	game score 1.836
34	1983-01-30	1982 SB XVII	Washington Redskins 27-17 Miami Dolphins Rose Bowl· Pasadena, CA	game score 1.835
35	1995-01-15	1994 NFC Champ	San Francisco 49ers 38-28 Dallas Cowboys Candlestick Park· San Francisco, CA	game score 1.834
36	2006-01-15	2005 Div. Playoff	Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18 Indianapolis Colts RCA Dome· Indianapolis, IN	game score 1.829
37	2016-02-07	2015 SB 50	Denver Broncos 24-10 Carolina Panthers Levi's Stadium· Santa Clara, CA	game score 1.817
38	2023-01-22	2022 Div. Playoff	Cincinnati Bengals 27-10 Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium· Orchard Park, NY	game score 1.812
39	1991-01-27	1990 SB XXV	New York Giants 20-19 Buffalo Bills Tampa Stadium· Tampa, FL	game score 1.812
40	2023-02-12	2022 SB LVII	Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 Philadelphia Eagles State Farm Stadium· Glendale, AZ	game score 1.812
41	2011-01-16	2010 Div. Playoff	New York Jets 28-21 New England Patriots Gillette Stadium· Foxboro, MA	game score 1.812
42	1970-01-11	1969 SB IV	Kansas City Chiefs 23-7 Minnesota Vikings Tulane Stadium· New Orleans, LA	game score 1.809
43	1996-01-06	1995 Div. Playoff	Green Bay Packers 27-17 San Francisco 49ers 3Com Park· San Francisco, CA	game score 1.806
44	2020-02-02	2019 SB LIV	Kansas City Chiefs 31-20 San Francisco 49ers Hard Rock Stadium· Miami Gardens, FL	game score 1.805
45	2019-02-03	2018 SB LIII	New England Patriots 13-3 Los Angeles Rams Mercedes-Benz Stadium· Atlanta, GA	game score 1.803
46	1978-01-01	1977 AFC Champ	Denver Broncos 20-17 Oakland Raiders Mile High Stadium· Denver, CO	game score 1.802
47	1982-01-24	1981 SB XVI	San Francisco 49ers 26-21 Cincinnati Bengals Pontiac Silverdome· Pontiac, MI	game score 1.801
48	2006-01-22	2005 AFC Champ	Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 Denver Broncos Invesco Field· Denver, CO	game score 1.799
49	2007-01-21	2006 AFC Champ	Indianapolis Colts 38-34 New England Patriots RCA Dome· Indianapolis, IN	game score 1.798
50	2025-01-26	2024 AFC Champ	Kansas City Chiefs 32-29 Buffalo Bills Arrowhead Stadium· Kansas City, MO	game score 1.794

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Where these numbers come from

Game Score and game data are maintained per league in the MetroAreas workbook and emitted to the sport's data files at build time. Scores are calibrated per sport, so a 3.6 in baseball is not a 3.6 in basketball. A cross-sport scale is a future build, not a claim this page makes.