The biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history

Most casual fans tune in to the Super Bowl hoping for a compelling, down-to-the-wire game. The closer the score and the more nail-biting moments, the better. But every now and then, one team blows the doors off the opposition.

Join us now as we rank the top five biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history.

5. Super Bowl XXII: Washington 42, Denver Broncos 10

This was the infamous “Super Second Quarter,” where Washington put up 35 points in the second frame. Denver got off to a 10-0 start and could not have foreseen the haymaker Washington quarterback Doug Williams hit them with before they reached halftime. Eventual two-time Super Bowl winner John Elway had a miserable game (14-for-38 passing, 257 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions).

4. Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks 43, Denver Broncos 8

This one was 36-0 before Peyton Manning even got on the scoreboard. Seattle had one of the better defenses the league has seen. The Seahawks led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and most takeaways—the first team to lead the league in those three categories since the 1985 Chicago Bears.

3. Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17

This one got ugly because the Bills had a blatant disregard for ball security. They posted a ridiculous, Super Bowl-record nine turnovers. They had eight fumbles (lost five) and four interceptions. Despite all that, and the loss of starting quarterback Jim Kelly to a knee injury, the Bills were only down 31-17 entering the fourth quarter. But the Cowboys won the final stanza, 21-0, to make the final margin nice and ugly.

2. Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10

These weren’t the modern New England Patriots you’ve grown to come to know so well. But these were the 1985 Bears, one of the greatest teams in NFL history. They finished the regular season 15-1 and shut out both of their postseason opponents heading into this game. The Patriots drew first blood with a 36 yd field goal, but that was followed by 44 straight from the Bears. The last TD came on the famous 1-yard run by William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

1. Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10

Not Denver again! The largest margin in Super Bowl history was this 45-point laugher, where Joe Montana (22-for-29, 297 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions) outclassed John Elway (10-for-26, 108 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions). The 49ers played a clean game, with zero turnovers, and forced four from the Broncos. The 49ers also outgained the Broncos by almost 300 yards, had more than twice as many first downs, and possessed the ball for nearly 40 minutes.