The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, 41-35. The game was a shootout, with both teams putting together some of their strongest offensive performances of the season.
The Cowboys out-gained the Seahawks in total yards, 411 to 406. Dak Prescott passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns, while Geno Smith passed for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. DK Metcalf and CeeDee Lamb both had strong performances, accumulating 250 yards and four touchdowns combined.
Neither team punted the ball during the 60 minutes, marking just the fifth time that’s ever happened and the first since 2021. What were the four other games?
NFL Games With Zero Punts
Chiefs at Eagles (Week 4, 2021)
On Oct. 3, 2021, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. The Chiefs went on to win that game, 42-30. Kansas City had 471 total yards and 31 first downs to the Eagles’ 461 total yards and 30 first downs.
The quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, both put on a show. Mahomes passed for 278 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, while Hurts passed for 387 yards and two touchdowns.
The game was close until the Chiefs separated themselves late in the fourth quarter, thanks to two touchdowns from Tyreek Hill.
Packers at Saints (Week 8, 2014)
On Oct. 27, 2014, the Green Bay Packers traveled to the New Orleans Saints. The game was tough early, but the Saints won big in the end, 44-23. New Orleans out-gained the Packers 495 to 491, with the teams gaining 28 and 23 first downs, respectively.
Drew Brees passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns, while Aaron Rodgers passed for 418 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Saints also had Mark Ingram rush for 172 yards and a touchdown off 24 carries.
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The Packers started hot, with a 70-yard Randall Cobb touchdown, having the game tied at half. However, the Saints separated themselves in the second half, outscoring Green Bay 28-7.
Packers at Bears (Week 4, 2014)
The 2014 Packers were responsible for two of the five no-punt games. On Nov. 9, 2014, Green Bay traveled to the Chicago Bears and dominated. The Packers won 55-14, advancing to 6-3 on the season. Green Bay had 451 total yards to Chicago’s 311. Both teams had 21 first downs.
Rodgers had another strong performance with 315 yards and six touchdowns, while the Bears’ Jay Cutler passed for 272 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Brandon Marshall caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, while Jordy Nelson caught six for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
The Packers led the entire game, with a 42-0 lead at halftime and the Bears not scoring until there was 7:44 left in the third quarter.
Bills at 49ers (Week 2, 1992)
The first ever no-punt game came Sept. 13, 1992, when the Buffalo Bills traveled to the San Francisco 49ers. The game was a battle to the end, with the Bills winning 34-31. San Francisco out-gained Buffalo 598 to 488 in total yards. They also had 26 first downs to Buffalo’s 25.
The game contained two Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Jim Kelly was leading Buffalo and passed for 403 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Steve Young was at the helm for the 49ers and passed for 449 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
The 49ers took their first lead of the game late in the third quarter, but the Bills took the lead and won the game with the only score of the fourth quarter — a Thurman Thomas rushing touchdown. The game had four 100-yard or better receivers, two for each team. Those four were Andre Reed, Pete Metzelaars, Mike Sherrard, and John Taylor.
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