Why a 74 could outperform a larger ship of the line

What advantage did a 74-gun ship have over a 90- or 98-gun ship?

A 74 was usually more maneuverable and handled more evenly before the wind than a larger 90- or 98-gun ship.

More guns did not automatically produce the more useful warship. The 74's maneuverability and comparatively even sailing qualities could offset the heavier armament of a larger multi-decked ship. A follow-up adds that going beyond the 74 often required a third gun deck, increasing the tendency to lose maneuverability and work the hull structure. The comparison captures an age-of-sail design tradeoff between firepower, structural demands, and practical performance.