In an unexpected twist during Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers made history, not just with their victory over the New York Jets, but with the final score—one that had never appeared in NFL history before: 32-13.
At first glance, a 32-13 score may seem ordinary, but the NFL has a long history of games and scores, and after thousands of games, achieving a unique final tally is increasingly rare. This quirky statistical achievement is referred to as a scorigami, a term coined by NFL fans to describe a final score that has never occurred before in the league’s 100-plus-year history.
The game itself was dominated by the 49ers from the start. San Francisco’s offense, led by their star quarterback Brock Purdy, was efficient and methodical. Purdy threw two touchdown passes, while their dynamic running back Christian McCaffrey continued his strong season, rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown.
San Francisco’s defense, one of the league’s best, shut down the Jets’ offensive efforts, which were plagued by turnovers and missed opportunities. Jets quarterback Zach Wilson struggled to find his rhythm, tossing two interceptions and being sacked three times.
As the game progressed, the scoreline built in unusual increments. The 49ers scored four touchdowns but opted for a two-point conversion after their third score, which led to a less common number. In the fourth quarter, kicker Jake Moody added to the uniqueness of the score by nailing three field goals, bringing the final tally to 32 points.
On the Jets’ side, their only touchdown came in the third quarter, accompanied by a pair of field goals earlier in the game. The oddity of the 13 points, coupled with the way San Francisco scored their points, ensured that 32-13 was a final score the NFL had never seen before.
The concept of scorigami has taken on a life of its own in recent years, with fans keeping close tabs on possible score combinations that haven’t yet appeared in NFL history. Created by sportswriter and football enthusiast Jon Bois, the idea of scorigami highlights the endless possibilities of final score outcomes due to the NFL’s scoring system, which allows for a wide variety of ways to accumulate points.
For decades, the most common scores in the NFL have been 20-17, 24-21, and 27-24, as teams often score touchdowns worth 6 points (plus an extra point or two-point conversion) and field goals worth 3 points. But as teams become more aggressive with unconventional strategies, like going for two-point conversions or scoring safeties, previously unseen scores become possible.
The 49ers’ 32-13 victory marks yet another chapter in the NFL’s unpredictable nature. The scorigami phenomenon has become so popular that there are dedicated Twitter accounts, websites, and fans who track the possibility of unique scores happening in real-time, making every point count even more exciting for the fanbase.