Reader Mail: Most Plays In A Quarter (Updated 12/22/16)

The Bears ran 35 plays in the 4th quarter in last week's game against the Titans.  Is this a record?

No, but it's close.  Most of the following, like the Bears, were failed comebacks from large deficits.

Most plays in a quarter, 1983-2016:
(all 4th quarters unless noted)

Team	Date	Plays*	Opponent	Non-plays**	Notes
St. Louis Rams	12/10/1995	40	BUF	3
San Diego Chargers	11/30/1997	40	DEN	8	began with final 23 plays of record 25-play drive
New England Patriots	11/12/1989	38	NO	4
Minnesota Vikings	10/14/2012	38	WAS	3
Washington Redskins	11/4/1990	37	DET	1	Redskins came back from 38-21 down entering 4Q; record 112 plays and then-record 39 first downs for game
Pittsburgh Steelers	11/19/2006	37	CLE	1	Steelers came back from 13-3 down to win 24-20
Cincinnati Bengals	1/5/2014	37	SD	1	AFC Wild Card Game
Buffalo Bills	11/14/1994	36	PIT	2
Green Bay Packers	10/14/1996	36	SF	2	twice rallied from 3-point deficits; won in OT
Baltimore Ravens	9/23/2001	36	CIN	3
San Francisco 49ers	11/25/2002	36	PHI	0
Indianapolis Colts	1/18/2004	36	NE	0	AFC Championship Game
Denver Broncos	10/31/2004	36	ATL	2	Jake Plummer 499 passing yards for the game
New Orleans Saints	11/9/2008	36	ATL	3
Indianapolis Colts	11/2/2015	36	CAR	1	came back from 23-6 down to force OT at 23-all; lost 29-26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	10/28/1984	35	KC	7
Kansas City Chiefs	11/24/1991	35	CLE	4
Chicago Bears	11/16/1997	35	NYJ	2
Miami Dolphins	11/23/1997	35	NE	3
St. Louis Rams	12/11/2006	35	CHI	5
Detroit Lions	9/23/2012	35	TEN	3	recovered onside with 0:16 left; tied game on Hail Mary; lost in OT
Tennessee Titans	10/7/2012	35	MIN	2	Titans called timeouts while the Vikings were attempting to kneel out the clock with 2:00 left up 30-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	9/25/2016	35	LA Rams	4	70-minute lightning delay with 2:00 left
Chicago Bears	11/27/2016	35	TEN	2
New York Giants	12/22/2016	35	PHI	1

* "Plays" by NFL definition include runs, passes (including sacks), and field goals.  Punts, kickoffs, and plays nullified by penalty are not included.
** "Non-plays" as used here includes punts and plays nullified by penalty.

Other records:
Most plays in a first quarter: 33, Dallas Cowboys, 10/16/1983 vs. Eagles
Most plays in a second quarter: 33, five teams (Denver Broncos, 10/20/1985 vs. Seahawks; Dallas Cowboys, 10/17/1993 vs. 49ers; Houston Oilers, 9/17/1995 vs. Browns; Indianapolis Colts, 12/7/2003 vs. Titans; Arizona Cardinals, 10/7/2007 vs. Rams)
Most plays in a third quarter: 33, Cleveland Browns, 10/4/1987 vs. Patriots (replacement game)
Most plays in an overtime: 29, St. Louis Cardinals, 10/24/1983 vs. Giants (missed 3 field goals in 10-10 tie)
Most plays in a double overtime: 4, Cleveland Browns, 1/3/1987 vs. Jets (AFC Divisional Round)
[Pre-1983 record: 9, Miami Dolphins, 12/25/1971 vs. Chiefs (AFC Divisional Round)]
Most plays in a game: 112, Washington Redskins, 11/4/1990 vs. Lions
Most plays in a regulation game: 98, three teams (San Diego Chargers, 10/19/1986 vs. Chiefs; Green Bay Packers, 10/26/1986 vs. 49ers; Pittsburgh Steelers, 12/8/2002 vs. Texans)

Fewest plays in a quarter: 1, San Diego Chargers, 1/11/2009 vs. Steelers (3rd quarter, AFC Divisional Round) (intercepted on only play from scrimmage and muffed a punt)
Fewest plays in a first quarter: 3, many teams
Fewest plays in a second quarter: 2, New York Jets, 11/20/2005 vs. Broncos (fumbled on second play of only drive; also punted to open quarter and later fumbled kickoff)
Fewest plays in a third quarter (regular season): 2, Denver Broncos, 9/9/2012 vs. Steelers (71-yard TD pass on only drive)
Fewest plays in a fourth quarter: 2, Pittsburgh Steelers, 12/26/1987 vs. Browns (field goal on first play of quarter, intercepted on only other play)
Fewest plays in a game: 28, Cleveland Browns, 9/12/1999 vs. Steelers (first game for expansion Browns; lost 43-0)