One of the most common trivia questions around the NFL’s biggest game is whether a Super Bowl has ever been decided entirely by field goals, with no touchdowns scored at all. Given how defensive some championship games have been, it’s a fair question.
The short answer: No — it has never happened.
No Super Bowl Has Ever Ended Without a Touchdown
Through nearly six decades of Super Bowl history, every Super Bowl has featured at least one touchdown. Even the lowest-scoring games eventually saw a team cross the goal line.
Despite changes in rules, offensive philosophies, and defensive dominance over the years, a touchdown has always found its way onto the scoreboard.
The Closest Example: Super Bowl LIII (2019)
The game that came closest to being “field goals only” was Super Bowl LIII (2019), played between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.
- Final score: Patriots 13, Rams 3
- First three quarters: Only field goals
- Touchdowns: Just one — a late fourth-quarter touchdown by New England
For much of the game, the score was locked at 3–3, leading many viewers to wonder if history was about to be made. However, a fourth-quarter touchdown ensured the long-standing Super Bowl trend remained intact.
Why a Touchdown Always Seems to Happen
Several factors make a touchdown-less Super Bowl extremely unlikely:
- Elite offenses eventually break through, even against top defenses
- Rule changes favor scoring, especially in the passing game
- Late-game situations force teams to take risks
- Turnovers and short fields often lead to red-zone opportunities
Even in defensive slugfests, one mistake or explosive play is usually enough to produce a touchdown.
Lowest-Scoring Super Bowls Ever
While no Super Bowl has gone without a touchdown, several rank among the lowest-scoring in history:
- Super Bowl LIII (2019) – 16 total points
- Super Bowl VII (1973) – 21 total points
- Super Bowl VIII (1974) – 31 total points
These games highlight how defense can dominate — but never completely shut down scoring.
Final Verdict
Despite decades of Super Bowl history and some famously low-scoring matchups, there has never been a Super Bowl with no touchdowns and only field goals.
It’s one of the NFL’s most interesting statistical streaks — and one that continues to survive, even in the most defensive championship games.