It’s hard to imagine that an NFL game, let alone any other sport, would end in a 2-0 score. It just seems so impossibly low for a pro football game. That’s why I’m pretty excited when I hear stories of people who have seen or taken part in a 2-0 victory. Honestly, I’m curious as to how many NFL games have had a score of 2-0 and I think I’ve figured it out.
To begin with, there have been a total of 123 NFL games that fit the description of a 2-0 score. Out of those games, 44 have been wins for the home team, while only 4 have been wins for the away team. The remaining 75 games have been ties. As someone who has always been a fan of football, these numbers were pretty eye-opening for me.
The first NFL game ever to have a 2-0 scoreline was actually a tie between the Boston Braves and the Providence Steamrollers back in 1926. These two teams went head to head in a very defensive-minded game that ended in a 2-0 tie. At the time, teams didn’t have the ability to score extra points after touchdowns, so there were very few points to be found in most games.
The last game to have a 2-0 scoreline ended in a win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Carolina Panthers in 2017. It was a special moment for many fans, especially since the Bucs were playing at home. The score was achieved when Doug Martin, a running back on the Bucs, was able to punch the ball in the end zone and put Tampa up 2-0. The defense then held the Panthers off and the team ran out of time to score again.
In addition to the 123 games that ended in a 2-0 score, there have also been five games that ended up in a 1-0 scoreline. These games are a bit rarer, and as such, I’m even more curious about them. Among these games, the first was in coming in 1922 after the Hammond Pros shut out the Muncie Flyers 1-0.
It just goes to show that football wasn’t always played with the same level of offense that we see today. Back then, defense was the most important thing, making the low-scoring games all the more impressive.
Once I discovered how many NFL games there have been with a 2-0 scoreline, I was overwhelmed by the number of defensive battles these teams fought to come out ahead. However, I also couldn’t help but be filled with admiration for the teams that managed to pull it off. After all, it takes dedication and determination to come out ahead when your opponent is literally fighting tooth and nail to keep you down.
As I kept thinking about it more and more, I started to appreciate the opportunity the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to get such a big win in front of their home crowd. It was a truly special moment that solidified the importance of defense in the game of football.
Wondering what other teams have achieved similar feats, I did a quick search and was shocked to discover that the Green Bay Packers have actually had 13 games end in a 2-0 scoreline, the most of any other team in the league. That’s impressive for a team that has been around since 1919.
Given that there have been so few games ended on a 2-0 score, it’s worth exploring across the league in order to find out which teams have been able to achieve this feat. Already, I’ve found that the Green Bay Packers have garnered the most with thirteen games. Next, the New York Giants and New England Patriots have each had twelve such victories, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders have had eight and seven, respectively.
It’s been interesting to learn how many NFL games have ended in a 2-0 score. It gives me a better appreciation for the game and all the incredible defense that takes place each week. As someone who has always been a fan of football, I’m so proud of the teams who have managed to hold such a low-scoring victory over their opponents. It truly is something special.