All-time great shootouts in sports are becoming more common, as leagues have tweaked rules to favor the offense in recent years. One of the most exciting games in NFL history happened recently, when the Los Angeles Rams duked it out with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The Rams won the game 54-51, marking the first time two NFL teams scored at least 50 in the same game.
There is a saying that “defense wins championships.” That may be true to some extent, but fans without a rooting interest in a game want to see scoring. Whether it is a slam dunk, a long touchdown pass, or a home run, big scoring plays are the most exciting part of sports, and they are what keep fans coming back for more. These games, often known as “shootouts” go down in the annals of sports history as some of the most exciting matchups of all time.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed some of the most exciting, highest scoring games in the modern histories of the four major American sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB — to determine the greatest shootouts in sports history.
These games are not necessarily the absolute highest scoring matchups of all time. But they all have something in common — excitement. These are all games in which the scoring went back and forth. In many cases, the games are playoff games. The win-or-go-home nature of the matchups adds an extra level of intensity to each pitch, possession, or shot on goal.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed past scores of the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB on the Sports Reference family of sites to determine the most exciting shootouts in American sports history. Games were selected based on an index that included the amount of scoring, lead changes, overtimes, and the importance of the game.
Click here to see the greatest shootouts in sports history.
Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
23. Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
> League: NBA
> Score: 141-137
> Date: 5/10/2003
> Lead changes: 17
In game three of the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks battled back from a nine-point deficit against the Sacramento Kings after three quarters to force overtime. There were nine lead changes in the two OT periods, but Dallas finally won 141-137. Nick Van Exel led the Mavs with 40 points, and Dallas would go on to beat Sacramento 4-3 in the series.
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Source: Wikimedia Commons / The Sporting News Archives
22. Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies
> League: MLB
> Score: 26-23
> Date: 8/25/1922
> Lead changes: 2
What initially seemed to be a blowout turned into the highest scoring MLB game ever. On Aug. 25, 1922, the Chicago Cubs held a 25-6 lead after four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies stormed back, scoring three in the fifth, eight in the eighth, and six in the ninth, but their rally came up just short, and they fell 26-23.
Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images
21. New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants
> League: NFL
> Score: 52-49
> Date: 11/1/2015
> Lead changes: 3
The 2015 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants was the second game in modern NFL history in which two teams combined for over 100 points. Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for six touchdowns, but Saints QB Drew Brees threw for seven. The only field goal of the game came as time expired, when Kai Forbath drilled a 50-yard kick to win the game for the Saints.
Source: Tom Hauck / Allsport / Getty Images
20. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers
> League: NBA
> Score: 120-118
> Date: 6/14/2000
> Lead changes: n/a
Game four of the 2000 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers went to overtime, but L.A. was without star center Shaquille O’Neal after he fouled out. A young Kobe Bryant, however, had a key tip-in with 5.9 seconds left to seal the game for the Lakers. L.A. would go on to win the series in six games, giving Shaq and Kobe their first NBA titles.
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Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
19. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals
> League: NHL
> Score: 8-7
> Date: 1/16/2017
> Lead changes: 1
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals always seem to meet in the NHL playoffs, but their regular season games can be exciting affairs as well. The Caps jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period of the teams’ Jan. 16, 2017 matchup. The Pens answered back with five straight goals before Washington added two more to tie the game 5-5. After two more goals apiece, regulation ended with a 7-7 score. Just 34 seconds into overtime, Conor Sheary scored to win the game for the Penguins 8-7.
Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
18. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Texas Rangers
> League: MLB
> Score: 10-9
> Date: 10/27/2011
> Lead changes: 5
David Freese had one of the most heroic performances in baseball history in game six of the 2011 World Series. With the St. Louis Cardinals trailing the Texas Rangers 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Freese hit a two-run triple to send the game into extras. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning, but the Cardinals battled back to tie the game again. In the 11th, Freese came up to bat again and hit a walkoff homer to win the game and keep the Cardinals alive. They won the next game as well to capture the World Series title.
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Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
17. Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers
> League: NFL
> Score: 51-45
> Date: 1/10/2010
> Lead changes: 0
Though the Green Bay Packers faced a 21-point deficit in the second half of their 2010 wild card against the Arizona Cardinals, Aaron Rodgers’ spectacular performance turned this one into a great game. Green Bay stormed back, tying the game late 45-45 to send it into overtime. The Packers got the ball first, but Rodgers was sacked and fumbled. The Cardinals scooped up the ball and returned it for a game-ending touchdown.
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Source: Tim DeFrisco / Getty Images
16. Seattle SuperSonics vs. Golden State Warriors
> League: NBA
> Score: 129-128
> Date: 4/28/1992
> Lead changes: n/a
The Seattle SuperSonics and Golden State Warriors each had three players score at least 20 points in game three of their 1992 first round playoff bout. Billy Owens gave the Warriors a one-point lead with just 7.5 seconds left, but Seattle’s Shawn Kemp hit two clutch free throws to put the Sonics ahead for good.
Source: Mike Powell / Getty Images
15. Chicago Black Hawks vs. Edmonton Oilers
> League: NHL
> Score: 8-6
> Date: 5/12/1985
> Lead changes: 1
There was almost no defense in the 1985 Campbell Conference Finals between the Chicago Black Hawks and the Edmonton Oilers, as the two teams combined for 69 goals in the six games. The wildest game in the series was game four, when Chicago was able to come away with an 8-6 win. Edmonton, with the star power of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, and Paul Coffey, won the series 4-2 and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
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Source: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images
14. Anaheim Angels vs. San Francisco
> League: MLB
> Score: 11-10
> Date: 10/20/2002
> Lead changes: 2
After going down 5-0 in the first inning of game two of the 2002 World Series, the San Francisco Giants battled back to take a 9-7 lead over the Anaheim Angels. But the Angels would come back to tie the game, then take the lead for good on a Tim Salmon eighth inning two-run home run.
Source: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images
13. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
> League: NFL
> Score: 45-42
> Date: 1/14/2018
> Lead changes: 0
The 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars had one of the best defenses in the NFL, but it was their offense that carried them to a win in a divisional round matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Facing a 21-0 deficit, the Steelers stormed back to get within a touchdown, but the Jags answered each score and won the game 45-42.
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Source: Tim DeFrisco / Getty Images
12. Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
> League: NBA
> Score: 138-137
> Date: 5/10/1987
> Lead changes: n/a
Larry Bird scored 42 points, and Kevin McHale scored 34 in a double overtime shootout between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks were looking to tie the 1987 Eastern Conference semifinals at two games apiece, but they fell just short. Darren Daye hit two late free throws to give Boston the win.
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Source: Mike Powell / Allsport / Getty Images
11. Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
> League: NHL
> Score: 10-8
> Date: 4/7/1982
> Lead changes: 1
The playoff series between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers got off to a fast start in game one. Edmonton took a 4-1 lead before the Kings scored four unanswered goals. The game was knotted at eight goals each when Grant Fuhr of the Kings netted the game winner.
Source: Elsa / Getty Images
10. Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
> League: MLB
> Score: 13-12
> Date: 10/29/2017
> Lead changes: 1
The matchup of Cy Young winners Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel in game five of the 2017 World Series seemed destined to be a pitchers’ duel. But neither lasted until the fifth inning. Both the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers used seven pitchers in the game as neither team could seem to get opposing batters out. Alex Bregman hit a walkoff single off Kenley Jansen to give the Astros a 3-2 series lead.
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Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images
9. Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs
> League: NFL
> Score: 45-44
> Date: 1/4/2014
> Lead changes: 1
The 2014 AFC wild card matchup between the Colts and Chiefs certainly was wild. The Chiefs took an early lead and extended their margin to 28 points early in the second half. Andrew Luck and the Colts stormed back, taking their first lead of the day late in the fourth quarter on a 64-yard touchdown pass and winning the game 45-44.
Source: Stephen Dunn / ALLSPORT / Getty Images
8. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns
> League: NBA
> Score: 153-151
> Date: 5/11/1992
> Lead changes: n/a
Defense was at a premium when Portland and Phoenix faced off in the 1992 NBA playoffs. The teams combined for over 300 points in game four, which the Trail Blazers won 153-151 in double overtime. Thirteen players scored in double figures that night.
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
7. Chicago Black Hawks vs. Montreal Canadiens
> League: NHL
> Score: 8-7
> Date: 5/8/1973
> Lead changes: n/a
Game five of the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals set a record for the most goals scored in a Finals game. The Chicago Black Hawks were able to outscore the Montreal Canadiens 8-7 to stave off a Finals defeat. However, the Canadiens won game six to secure the Cup.
Source: Rick Stewart / Allsport / Getty Images
6. Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies
> League: MLB
> Score: 15-14
> Date: 10/20/1993
> Lead changes: 4
There were an astonishing four lead changes in the shootout World Series game between Toronto and Philadelphia in 1993. The Phillies led 14-9 after seven innings, but the Blue Jays scored six runs in the eighth to secure the lead for good and win the World Series.
Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
5. Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys
> League: NFL
> Score: 51-48
> Date: 10/6/2013
> Lead changes: 3
During their 2013 game, the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys couldn’t seem to stop scoring. There was just one punt all day. The Broncos were down seven points late in the fourth quarter, but Peyton Manning led them in a game-tying drive with 2:39 remaining. Then he led his team down the field again, setting up his kicker for an easy field goal as time expired.
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Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
4. Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs
> League: NFL
> Score: 54-51
> Date: 11/19/2018
> Lead changes: 6
The most recent entry on this list was an instant classic. The Rams and Chiefs squared off in a Monday night battle of two of the best teams in the NFL. Both offenses seemed to score at will, as this was the first game in NFL history in which both teams scored at least 50. The game was thrilling — there were four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. But, the Rams defense forced five turnovers, including a last-minute interception that sealed the victory.
Source: The Sporting News / Wikimedia Commons
3. Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns
> League: NBA
> Score: 128-126
> Date: 6/4/1976
> Lead changes: n/a
In game five of the 1976 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics jumped out in front with an 18-point lead after the first quarter. The Phoenix Suns battled back, sending the game into overtime. The game eventually went into three overtimes, and the Celtics won this nailbiter 128-126. This game is now often referred to as “The Greatest Game Ever.”
Source: Mike Powell / Getty Images
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2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Edmonton Oilers
> League: NHL
> Score: 11-9
> Date: 1/8/1986
> Lead changes: 2
A matchup between a powerhouse Oilers squad and a struggling Maple Leafs team in early 1986 turned into an all-time classic hockey game. Toronto jumped ahead with a 5-1 lead at the end of the first period. After a series of back and forth goals, Edmonton seized an 8-7 lead early in the third period with the help of a hat trick from Wayne Gretzky. Toronto then scored two straight goals before the Oilers tied the game 9-9. The Maple Leafs scored the final two goals of the 20-goal explosion, winning 11-9.
Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images
1. Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots
> League: NFL
> Score: 41-33
> Date: 2/4/2018
> Lead changes: 1
Super Bowl LII became an instant classic and one of the most memorable shootouts in sports history. After half time, the teams combined to score on seven consecutive drives. Tom Brady and the Pats, down by five with just over two minutes left, seemed poised for a game-winning drive, but Brady was sacked and fumbled. By the time New England got the ball back, they didn’t have time to march down the field. Brady’s hail mary pass failed, and the Eagles won their first Super Bowl.
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