The NFL’s Parity Problem: Our Study of 10 Seasons Finds Over 1 in 5 Games Are Blowouts
by Nathan Whelan,
June 09, 2025
The NFL promises parity. But the data tells a different story.
At Betting.us, we analyzed every regular-season NFL game from 2015 to 2024 — all 2,753 matchups — to understand how often games truly stay competitive.
Here’s what we found:
- 1 in 5 games ended in a blowout, defined as a win by 17 points or more.
- The 2024 season alone featured 71 blowouts, the second-highest total in the decade.
Despite mechanisms like the draft and salary cap designed to keep the league balanced, our findings suggest the opposite is happening.
The gap between the NFL’s best and the rest isn’t shrinking — it’s growing.
Read on for the full breakdown of trends, team performances, and the most lopsided seasons across the last 10 years.
Key Findings
- 594 NFL games ended in blowouts from 2015 to 2024.
- Blowouts make up 21.6% of all games during that span.
- 2021, 2023, and 2024 had the highest blowout totals.
- New England Patriots had the most blowout wins (38).
- New York Jets suffered the most blowout losses (36).
- The Dolphins’ 50-point win in 2023 was the decade’s biggest blowout.
Top Seasons for Blowouts
| Rank | Season | Blowouts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 | 75 |
| 2 | 2024 | 71 |
| 3 | 2023 | 65 |
| 4 | 2019 | 61 |
| 5 | 2017 | 60 |
| 6 | 2020 | 55 |
| 7 | 2016 | 56 |
| 8 | 2015 | 54 |
| 9 | 2018 | 52 |
| 10 | 2022 | 45 |
Three of the four most blowout-heavy seasons occurred since 2021, reflecting a widening gap between elite teams and struggling franchises.
10-Year Blowout Trends
- Total games analyzed: 2,753
- Total blowouts: 594
- Blowout rate: 21.6%
- Average margin of victory in blowouts: 25.3 points
- Most common blowout margin: 18 points
More than 1 in 5 games over the past decade has been decided well before the final quarter.
Offensive Firepower: Most and Least Points Scored (2015 to 2024)
Most Points Scored:
| Team | Points Scored |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5,133 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4,510 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4,437 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4,387 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4,362 |
Fewest Points Scored:
| Team | Points Scored |
|---|---|
| New York Jets | 3,024 |
| New York Giants | 3,179 |
| Chicago Bears | 3,282 |
| Carolina Panthers | 3,299 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 3,318 |
The Chiefs far outpaced the league in offensive output. Meanwhile, the New York teams struggled to find the end zone.
Defensive Extremes: Most and Least Points Conceded (2015 to 2024)
Most Points Conceded:
| Team | Points Allowed |
|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 4,218 |
| Raiders (combined) | 4,196 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4,151 |
| Washington Commanders | 4,131 |
| Carolina Panthers | 4,113 |
Fewest Points Conceded:
| Team | Points Allowed |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 3,418 |
| New England Patriots | 3,502 |
| Denver Broncos | 3,566 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3,567 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3,601 |
Baltimore, New England, and Pittsburgh have maintained defensive strength across the decade. The Lions and Raiders have struggled to keep opponents off the board.
Top Teams in Blowout Wins and Losses
Most Blowout Wins:
| Team | Blowout Wins |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 38 |
| Buffalo Bills | 33 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 32 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 29 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 28 |
Most Blowout Losses:
| Team | Blowout Losses |
|---|---|
| New York Jets | 36 |
| New York Giants | 32 |
| Miami Dolphins | 30 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 29 |
| Carolina Panthers | 28 |
The same teams that struggled offensively often struggled defensively too. The Jets, Giants, and Panthers show up on both lists.
2024 Season Breakdown
The 2024 season featured 71 blowouts, continuing the trend toward more uncompetitive matchups.
Biggest Blowout of 2024
- Detroit Lions 52, Jacksonville Jaguars 6
- Margin: 46 points
Most Blowout Wins in 2024
- Buffalo Bills – 7
- Philadelphia Eagles – 6
- Detroit Lions – 5
Most Blowout Losses in 2024
- Carolina Panthers – 6
- Dallas Cowboys – 5
- New York Giants – 5
Historic Blowout: Dolphins Drop 50 in 2023
In 2023, the Miami Dolphins recorded the most dominant performance of the decade.
Final Score
- Miami Dolphins 70, Denver Broncos 20
- Margin of Victory: 50 points
This game was not just a statistical anomaly. It underscored the growing gap between top-tier teams and those still rebuilding.
Why This Matters
Blowouts affect more than the final score. They shape how fans experience the game and how teams are judged.
- Fans tune out early when games become unwatchable
- Fantasy and betting engagement drops
- Support erodes for franchises that can’t stay competitive
Despite structural efforts to maintain balance, the data shows that some teams are consistently falling behind.
Methodology
This study was conducted by Betting.us using publicly available data from SportsReference. It includes all regular-season games from 2015 through 2024. Blowouts are defined as games decided by 17 points or more, a benchmark supported by industry standards for engagement and betting analysis.