Most Boring Super Bowls of All Time

The Super Bowl is one of the greatest American spectacles in sports. It’s a game that everyone eagerly anticipates and enjoys watching every year. However, not every Super Bowl is entertaining and full of exciting moments. In fact, we’ve seen several major snoozefests.

You have to be an excellent team to make it to the Super Bowl. However, the quality of the game can suffer for different reasons. It could weather related, or a lopsided matchup. It’s also not uncommon for good teams to have bad games.

This article includes my list of the most boring Super Bowls of all time. I’m talking about the matchups that disappointed everyone (unless you’re a fan of the winning team, of course). Here are some biggest stinkers that we’ve ever witnessed:

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams

• Year: 2019
• Score: 13-3
• Winner: New England Patriots
• Super Bowl MVP: Julian Edelman

Tom Brady and the Patriots are the epitome of greatness. Their epic reign includes six Super Bowl championships over a period of two decades. It really doesn’t get much better than that. Unfortunately, the Patriots played in one of the most boring Super Bowls in history back in 2019.

This game was neither fun nor entertaining to watch because it was extremely low-scoring. It was 0-0 after the first quarter, then the score was only 3-3 after the first half. Neither offense could get anything going, and there was only one touchdown in the entire game.

I will say that the game was competitive, even though nothing really happened. Tom Brady was also a non-factor, throwing for 262 yards and an interception. Todd Gurley, who was the highest-paid running back at the time, had 11 touches for only 34 total yards.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman would snag MVP honors with 10 receptions and 141 receiving yards. He was one of the few difference-makers in the game. Ultimately, what we got was a lot of bad playcalling, and we sat through a total snoozefest.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos

• Year: 2014
• Score: 43-8
• Winner: Seattle Seahawks
• Super Bowl MVP: Malcolm Smith

Payton Manning, fresh off another MVP season, struggled mightily against the Seattle defense. He and the Broncos would play in what was one of the ugliest Super Bowl mismatches ever. It was an embarrassing defeat that Broncos fans don’t want to remember.

The Broncos were actually a two-point favorite entering the game. However, the team fell behind after a costly mistake during the first play from scrimmage and couldn’t recover. Seattle would dominate Denver, and we saw one of the most boring Super Bowl matches in history.

Demarius Thomas caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Manning during the third quarter. It was Denver’s only score in the game. The Broncos also trailed the Seahawks by as much as 36 points at one point. Seattle linebacker Malcolm Smith would capture MVP honors.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders

• Year: 2003
• Score: 48-21
• Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Super Bowl MVP: Dexter Jackson

It’s another brutal beatdown and lopsided victory that earns a spot on my list of the most boring Super Bowls of all time. On paper, the Raiders vs. the Buccaneers appeared to be a solid matchup. However, fate would prove that one team was much better than the other.

The regular-season MVP, QB Rich Gannon, had a total meltdown during the game. He threw five interceptions and was sacked five times. It was evident that the Buccaneers had a solid game plan to neutralize the Raiders’ offense.

The Buccaneers also physically overwhelmed the Raiders. They scored three touchdowns on defense and never let their foot off the gas pedal. An aging Tim Brown and Jerry Rice simply couldn’t muster up enough support for Oakland’s offense.

Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

• Year: 1986
• Score: 46-10
• Winner: Chicago Bears
• Super Bowl MVP: Richard Dent

When people ask, “What was the most boring Super Bowl?” – this one certainly comes to mind. It’s also the only Super Bowl that the Bears have ever won. Chicago had a dominant campaign throughout 1985, and everyone knew this one would be lopsided.

The Chicago defense wreaked havoc on New England, forcing six turnovers in the game. It was well-known that the Bears had one of the most aggressive schemes, which was a nightmare for opposing offenses. The Patriots finished the game with only 123 total net yards.

Perhaps the greatest irony is that the Patriots held a 3-0 lead to begin the game. Chicago would go on to score 44 unanswered points, with touchdowns from Matt Suhey, Jim McMahon, William Perry, and Reggie Phillips. The Bears then suffered a Super Bowl drought spanning 20 years.

San Fransisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos

• Year: 1990
• Score: 55-10
• Winner: San Fransisco 49ers
• Super Bowl MVP: Joe Montana

Everyone remembers the 49ers dynasty that took place during the 1980s and 90s. The franchise won five Super Bowls within a 14-year period. In 1990, the 49ers would also trounce the Broncos in one of the most lopsided victories ever.

Let’s be honest – Denver had no business playing in the Super Bowl. Joe Montana was red-hot that season and had control of arguably the most unstoppable offense in history. San Fransisco went on to score at least 13 points in every quarter of the Super Bowl in 1990.

The 49ers finished the game with 461 total net yards and 28 first downs. Montana threw for 297 yards to go along with five touchdowns. San Fransisco’s defense also limited Hall of Fame QB John Elway to only 108 passing yards.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

• Year: 1993
• Score: 52-17
• Winner: Dallas Cowboys
• Super Bowl MVP: Troy Aikman

The match between Dallas and Buffalo in 1993 was also one of the most boring Super Bowls in history. The Bills just couldn’t get anything going on offense or defense, and the game was over before it began. This was also the third of four consecutive Super Bowl losses by Buffalo.

Dallas was always in control and never in danger of losing. The roster that year also included Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and Charles Haley – four future Hall of Famers. It was just the beginning of the Cowboys dynasty.

Can You Predict the Next Boring Super Bowl?

You never know when the most boring Super Bowls of all time are going to happen. However, you can also win money by accurately predicting the outcomes. The best Super Bowl betting sites offer numerous markets and great prices on the big game every year.