Photo by FMT, CC by 4.0
Below, we look at the six shortest games in NFL history, where the action was fast, forceful, and dominated by one team.
NFL fans are used to seeing teams battling tooth and nail for bragging rights. Even teams that have fallen out of postseason contention often fight until the end to salvage some honour.
But, that’s not always the case.
Sometimes the scales tip dramatically in one team’s favour. Sometimes weather plays a part and makes the action wrap up faster than expected – so much so that the game gets finished before you get the barbeque off the grill.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars 7 New England Patriots 35 – 2 Hours 36 Minutes
A brilliant Tom Brady show in 2009 helped the New England Patriots to a much-needed 35-7 victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Brady produced four touchdown passes as the Patriots dismantled the struggling Jaguars.
The match went down in history as one of the shortest ones in NFL history. It took the Patriots only two hours and 36 minutes to settle the game.
The San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins would play a game of the same length 10 years later as well.
4=. Miami Dolphins 0 Pittsburgh Steelers 3 – 2 hours 35 minutes
The 2007 Monday Night clash between the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium is remembered for many reasons, including the fact it only lasted two hours 35 minutes.
Kick-off was delayed by 25 minutes due to bad weather, and the pitch turned into a mud bath in certain sections, which was a major factor as to why there were just three points scored in total.
The game’s only points came from a 24-yard field goal by Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed, with just 17 seconds remaining on the clock.
4=. Tennessee Titans 7 Pittsburgh Steelers 34 – 2 hours 35 minutes
Clocking in at precisely the same time of two hours 35 minutes is the 2005 contest between, once again, the Steelers and the Tennessee Titans.
This was on the opening week of the NFL season, and it proved to be the perfect start for Pittsburgh, who would eventually go all the way to Super Bowl XL and beat Seattle 21-10.
3. Atlanta Falcons 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37 – 2 hours 34 minutes
Coming in at number three is the 2007 meeting between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium, which lasted two hours and 34 minutes.
It was a dominant performance from the Bucs, and it also proved to be a record-breaking night for them. Micheal Spurlock returned a kick-off for a touchdown, breaking a streak of 32 seasons without achieving this feat.
2. Tennessee Titans 0 Indianapolis Colts 23 – 2 hours 33 minutes
Just falling shy of the all-time record of the shortest-ever game is the 2008 contest between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts ended their regular season in fine fashion, shutting out the Titans in a game where Peyton Manning reached 4,000 yards for the campaign, and Marvin Harrison became the NFL’s No. 2 all-time receiver at the time.
1. San Diego Chargers 26 Indianapolis Colts 19 – 2 hours 29 minutes
You have to go back to 1996 to find the shortest game in NFL history, with the San Diego Chargers’ trip to the Indianapolis Colts lasting just two hours and 29 minutes.
It was not a game to remember for Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who was intercepted four times and sacked six times. At least he didn’t have to endure this for a long time.
This match is also the highest-scoring of the shortest NFL games.
