A Historic Shootout That Left Punters Watching From The Sidelines

Published on June 12th, 2025 3:10 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


When the Buffalo Bills faced off against the San Francisco 49ers on September 13, 1992, nobody knew they were about to witness history.

What unfolded that Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park wasn't just a shootout. It was the first game in NFL history without a single punt.

That's right - zero punts. None. Not one.

Both offenses were relentless. The Bills, led by Jim Kelly, racked up 536 total yards. The 49ers, behind the cool hand of Steve Young, posted 598. Combined: 1,134 yards of offense. A fireworks show from start to finish.

Final score? Bills 34, 49ers 31.

It wasn't just high-octane football. It was clinical execution. The two teams combined for 56 first downs. Kelly threw for 403 yards and three touchdowns. Young responded with 449 yards and three of his own. Neither QB threw a pick.

That's rare air.

No punts also meant no defensive breathing room. Each drive felt like a must-score situation. The Bills scored on their first four possessions. The 49ers answered with three straight TDs of their own.

The punters? They might as well have stayed in the locker room. Chris Mohr (Buffalo) and Klaus Wilmsmeyer (San Francisco) recorded zero attempts. That stat line is still jaw-dropping today.

It was the kind of game that felt like a turning point-fast, offensive, unapologetically aggressive. While defensive battles still had their place, this one tilted the scale toward the high-scoring spectacles we see regularly today.

Want more context? The average NFL game that season featured just over 39 total points. This game had 65. In a league still finding balance between ground-and-pound and aerial assaults, the Bills and Niners went full throttle.

Thirty years later, it still stands out. The first No Punt Game wasn't just a statistical quirk. It was a signal.

Offense was here to stay.