Biggest Blowouts In NFL Playoff History

The Cleveland Browns entered its 2021 NFL Wild Card Round game against Pittsburgh as 6-point underdogs. The online sports betting community jumped on this line with the Steelers struggling down the final stretch of the regular season.

Not many could have predicted what was about to happen, though.

Cleveland jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and took a 35-10 advantage into halftime. It was blowout city, which led us to wonder if we could be witnessing the biggest blowout in NFL playoff history.

To Pittsburgh’s credit, the Steelers climbed back into the game in the second half and lost by a respectable score of 48-37.

But that didn’t stop us from researching the most lopsided wins in playoff history (since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970):

10 Biggest NFL Playoff Blowouts

T9. Patriots 45, Colts 7 – 2015

The Patriots dominated the AFC Championship.

Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns while LeGarrette Blount ran for three more scores.

T9. Cowboys 38, Buccaneers 0 – 1982

Tampa Bay’s Doug Williams threw four interceptions, and four different Dallas players scored rushing touchdowns in this Divisional Round game.

T6. 49ers 44, Giants 3 – 1994

San Francisco held a 413-194 total yards advantage in its Divisional Round win.

New York’s Phil Simms threw four interceptions, and San Francisco’s Ricky Watters rushed for five touchdowns.

T6. Jets 41, Colts 0 –  2003

In the Wild Card round, Chad Pennington outplayed Peyton Manning, throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Manning had a 0:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

T6. Giants 41, Vikings 0 – 2001

This NFC Championship game was never close. Kerry Collins threw five touchdowns while Daunte Culpepper passed for just 78 yards with three interceptions.

5. Washington 51, Rams 7 – 1984

Washington held a 38-7 halftime lead in the Divisional Round en route to the 41-point win.

John Riggins rushed for three touchdowns, and Joe Theismann threw for 302 yards and two scores.

4. 49ers 55, Broncos 10 – 1990

There wasn’t a whole lot of suspense in this Super Bowl.

Jerry Rice was unstoppable, catching three of Joe Montana’s five touchdown passes.

3. Giants 49, 49ers 3 – 1987

In the Divisional Round, Phil Simms threw four touchdowns on just nine completed passes and 19 attempts.

2. Bills 51, Raiders 3 – 1991

This was the start of Buffalo’s four consecutive Super Bowl appearances, dominating the Raiders in the AFC Championship game.

Kenneth Davis led the way with three rushing touchdowns.

1. Jaguars 62, Dolphins 7 – 2000

In the Divisional Round, the Jaguars raced out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead and didn’t look back.

Jacksonville had 520 total yards to Miami’s 131. Mark Brunell and Jay Fiedler both threw two touchdowns, and three Jaguars rushed for one touchdown.