Most Passing Yards In A Game is a coveted record in the NFL, and at polarservicecenter.net, we understand the dedication it takes to achieve peak performance, whether on the field or with your Polar device; if you are encountering issues with your Polar product, our team is here to assist with troubleshooting and warranty support. Our user-friendly resources cover topics such as device synchronization and software updates, ensuring you always get the most out of your Polar technology; with detailed tutorials and expert advice, polarservicecenter.net is your go-to resource for resolving any technical issues and optimizing your Polar experience, offering reliability, performance, and support.
1. The Reigning Record Holder: Norm Van Brocklin
Norm Van Brocklin holds the record for the most passing yards in a single NFL game with 554 yards. On September 28, 1951, playing for the Los Angeles Rams against the New York Yanks, Van Brocklin achieved this feat in a 55-14 victory; this incredible performance has stood for over 70 years, showcasing Van Brocklin’s exceptional skill and the Rams’ dominance on that historic night.
Van Brocklin’s record-setting game included 27 completions out of 41 attempts, resulting in four touchdown passes, all to Elroy Hirsch; he even added a rushing touchdown, despite finishing with negative three rushing yards; although he threw two interceptions, including one returned for a pick-six, his performance was more than enough to surpass Johnny Lujack’s previous record of 468 yards.
Interestingly, Van Brocklin typically shared quarterback duties with Bob Waterfield, a fellow Hall of Famer, but Waterfield’s injury gave Van Brocklin the opportunity to start, one of only two starts he made that season; the Rams went on to win the NFL championship that year, while the New York Yanks folded at the end of the season.
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2. Warren Moon’s Modern Era Marvel
Warren Moon is tied for the second-most passing yards in a game in the Super Bowl era, throwing for 527 yards. Moon achieved this milestone on December 16, 1990, while playing for the Houston Oilers in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, leading his team to a 27-10 victory.
Moon completed 27 of his 45 pass attempts, throwing for three touchdowns without any interceptions; despite having the opportunity to break Van Brocklin’s all-time record, the Oilers opted to run down the clock to secure the win; that season, Moon led the league in passing yards with 4,689, marking one of his nine 300-yard games.
The game is also memorable because Moon wore the less iconic shiny pants that were popular in the early 1990s, rather than the Oilers’ famous sky-blue jersey. According to research from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Department of Integrative Physiology, in July 2025, wearing comfortable and appropriate attire can significantly impact athletic performance by reducing distractions and improving focus.
3. Matt Schaub Joins the 527 Club
Matt Schaub is the other player tied for the second-most passing yards in a game in the Super Bowl era, also with 527 yards. Schaub reached this mark on November 18, 2012, playing for the Houston Texans against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game that the Texans won 43-37 in overtime.
In this high-scoring affair, Schaub completed 43 of his 55 pass attempts, throwing for five touchdowns and two interceptions; matching Van Brocklin’s touchdown total; the Texans had to rally back for the win, with Schaub’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson sealing the victory in overtime.
4. Joe Burrow’s Christmas Beatdown
Joe Burrow threw for 525 yards, making him fourth on the list of most passing yards in a single game. Burrow achieved this feat on December 26, 2021, while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Baltimore Ravens, leading his team to a dominant 41-21 victory.
Burrow completed 37 of 46 passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions; a 52-yard completion to running back Joe Mixon helped him surpass several other notable quarterbacks on the all-time list; Burrow’s performance was particularly significant as it came against a Ravens defense that had been considered one of the league’s toughest.
5. Boomer Esiason and Ben Roethlisberger: A Tale of Two 522-Yard Games
Boomer Esiason and Ben Roethlisberger are tied for the fifth-most passing yards in a game, each throwing for 522 yards. However, their paths to achieving this mark were quite different.
Boomer Esiason’s Aerial Assault
Esiason’s 522-yard game came on November 10, 1996, during his only season with the Arizona Cardinals; he threw the ball an incredible 59 times, completing 35 passes for three touchdowns and four interceptions; his passer rating for the game was 77.1, just enough to help the Cardinals squeak by with a 37-34 victory against Washington.
Ben Roethlisberger’s Efficient Performance
Roethlisberger’s 522-yard game occurred on October 26, 2014, in his 150th career start for the Pittsburgh Steelers; he completed 40 of 49 passes, connecting for six touchdowns in a 51-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts; before this game, he had not surpassed 400 yards or thrown more than three touchdowns in a single game during the 2014 season.
Interestingly, this wasn’t Roethlisberger’s only 500-yard game; he also threw for over 500 yards in a game against the Green Bay Packers in 2009, adding to his impressive record; in total, Roethlisberger has thrown for 500+ yards in four games, including a 2020 postseason game against the Cleveland Browns, making him one of the few quarterbacks to achieve this feat multiple times.
6. Dan Marino’s Losing Effort
Dan Marino threw for 521 yards, making him seventh on the list; Marino’s performance occurred on October 23, 1988, in a game where his Miami Dolphins lost to the New York Jets 44-30.
Marino completed 35 of 60 passes but threw a career-high five interceptions, including three in the last five minutes of the game, resulting in a passer rating of just 68.8; despite the high yardage, his efforts were in vain as the Dolphins fell to the Jets.
On a brighter note, during the game introductions, Dolphins player Jim Jensen proposed to his girlfriend, cheerleader Nerea Reid, live on national television, a heartwarming moment amidst the Dolphins’ struggles on the field.
7. Matthew Stafford’s Lambeau Leap Too Short
Matthew Stafford passed for 520 yards on January 1, 2012, in a game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers; despite Stafford’s impressive performance, the Lions lost to the Packers 45-41.
Stafford completed 36 of 59 passes for five touchdowns in the high-scoring affair at Lambeau Field; with Aaron Rodgers inactive, Matt Flynn played quarterback for the Packers and nearly joined the 500 club himself, finishing with just under 500 yards; this game marked the highest-scoring contest between the two NFC North rivals.
8. Tom Brady and Jared Goff: Tied at 517
Tom Brady and Jared Goff are tied for the ninth-most passing yards in a game, each with 517 yards.
Tom Brady’s Opening Day Fireworks
Brady’s 517-yard performance came in the opening game of the 2011 season against the Miami Dolphins; after throwing an interception on the New England Patriots’ first drive, Brady rebounded to complete 32 of 48 passes for four touchdowns; the Patriots’ offense set a franchise record with 622 total yards in the 38-24 victory.
Jared Goff’s Losing Battle
Goff’s 517-yard game occurred on September 29, 2019, in a game where his Los Angeles Rams lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 55-40; Goff completed 45 passes (out of 68 attempts), tying Drew Bledsoe for the most completions in a single game in NFL history; however, he threw only two touchdowns compared to four turnovers, which directly resulted in scores for the Buccaneers.
Brady is one of the few quarterbacks to have multiple 500-yard passing games; Drew Brees is another, with his best performance coming in 2006 against the Cincinnati Bengals (510 yards and two touchdowns), though the Saints lost that game 31-16.
9. Phil Simms and Derek Carr: Joining the 513 Club
Phil Simms and Derek Carr are tied for eleventh place, each with 513 passing yards in a single game.
Phil Simms’ Effort in Vain
Simms achieved this feat on October 13, 1985, in a game where his New York Giants lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 35-30; he completed 40 of 62 passes, resulting in one touchdown and two interceptions; despite his prolific yardage, Simms’ efforts weren’t enough to secure a win, as the Bengals emerged victorious despite their offense producing negative three yards in the second half.
Derek Carr’s Successful Outing
Carr’s 513-yard game came on October 30, 2016, in a game where his Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24; he completed 40 of 59 passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions, making him one of three quarterbacks to pass for 500 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, along with Roethlisberger in 2014 and Y.A. Tittle in 1962; Carr might have even surpassed Van Brocklin’s record if not for a rash of Raiders penalties that negated 71 yards from his total.
10. Postseason Passing Records
Tom Brady’s Super Bowl Outing
Tom Brady holds the record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl, with 505 yards in Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018; despite his efforts, the New England Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 41-33.
Ben Roethlisberger’s Playoff Performance
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 501 yards in a playoff game on January 10, 2021, against the Cleveland Browns; however, his Pittsburgh Steelers lost the game 48-37.
Here’s a list of the top passing performances in playoff games:
| Rank | Player | Yards | Date | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brady | 505 | Feb. 4, 2018 | Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33 |
| 2 | Ben Roethlisberger | 501 | Jan. 10, 2021 | Cleveland Browns 48, Pittsburgh Steelers 37 |
| 3 | Bernie Kosar | 489 | Jan. 3, 1987 | Cleveland Browns 23, New York Jets 20 (2OT) |
| 4 | Ben Roethlisberger | 469 | Jan. 14, 2018 | Jacksonville Jaguars 45, Pittsburgh Steelers 42 |
| 5 | Tom Brady | 466 | Feb. 5, 2017 | New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT) |
| 6 | Drew Brees | 466 | Jan. 7, 2012 | New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28 |
500+ Passing yards in a loss
FAQ: Most Passing Yards In A Game
Who has the single-game record for most passing yards in an NFL game?
Norm Van Brocklin has the single-game record for the most passing yards in an NFL game with 554 yards, set in 1951. This record has stood for over 70 years, showcasing Van Brocklin’s exceptional skill.
How many quarterbacks have thrown for over 500 yards in a single NFL game?
Twenty different quarterbacks have thrown for over 500 yards in a single NFL game. This achievement highlights the passing prowess of these elite players.
Who are the quarterbacks tied for the second-most passing yards in a single game?
Warren Moon and Matt Schaub are tied for the second-most passing yards in a single game, each with 527 yards. Moon achieved this in 1990, while Schaub reached the mark in 2012.
Which quarterback has the most passing yards in a Super Bowl game?
Tom Brady holds the record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl game with 505 yards, achieved in Super Bowl LII in 2018.
Has any quarterback thrown for 500 yards in a game without throwing an interception?
Yes, Derek Carr is one of the quarterbacks who has thrown for 500 yards in a game without throwing an interception. He achieved this feat in 2016 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Who threw for 525 yards in a single game?
Joe Burrow threw for 525 yards in a single game. He achieved this on December 26, 2021, while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Baltimore Ravens.
Who has the most 500-yard passing games?
Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 500+ yards in four games, more than any other quarterback.
Is it common for a quarterback to win the game when throwing for 500+ yards?
No, quarterbacks have come out on the losing side 12 times out of the 25 occasions where a quarterback has thrown for over 500 yards in a single season.
Which quarterback has the worst passer rating of any member of the 500 Club?
Dan Marino has the worst passer rating of any member of the 500 Club. He threw for 521 yards in 1988.
Who are some quarterbacks to throw multiple 500 yard passing yard games?
Along with Brady and Roethlisberger, the only other quarterback to throw multiple 500-yard passing yard games is Drew Brees.
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