29th season in franchise history
The 1981 Baltimore Colts season was the 29th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). The Colts finished the NFL's 1981 season with a record of 2 wins and 14 losses, finishing in a tie with the New England Patriots for both last place in their division, the AFC East, and the worst record in the league. However, by virtue of beating the Patriots for their only two wins of the season, the Colts finished ahead of New England on a tiebreaker. Those wins came in the first and last weeks of the season, as the Colts lost their other fourteen games consecutively.
The Colts’ defense had one of the worst seasons in NFL history, setting records for points (533) and yards (6,793) allowed. (The yardage record was later surpassed by the 2012 New Orleans Saints, who allowed 7,042.) The Colts gave up more than twice as many points as they scored (259). Conversely, the Patriots, with whom they were tied in the AFC East, only gave up 48 more points than they scored. The Colts’ pass defense surrendered a staggering 8.19 yards-per-dropback, the most surrendered by any team in NFL history.[1]
The Colts’ -274 point differential (points scored vs. points allowed) is the second-worst since the 1970 merger, second only to the 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished 0–14 (ironically, the next year's Colts team went winless as well).[2] The 1981 Colts are the first of only two NFL teams since 1940 to suffer eleven losses in a season during which they never had a lead.[3][note 1] The Colts allowed 40 points in 4 separate games during the season (including 3 games in a row from weeks 6-8), which is still an NFL record.
The season included a bizarre incident in which, during the Colts’ 38–13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 15, team owner Bob Irsay called plays from the coaches’ booth. Quarterback Bert Jones told Sports Illustrated in 1986:
[Irsay] couldn’t have told you how many players there were on the field, never mind what plays we had. All he was trying to do was embarrass the coaches and the players. When he told me to run, I threw. When he told me to throw left, I ran right.[4]
Regular season
Schedule
| Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
| 1
|
September 6
|
at New England Patriots
|
W 29–28
|
1–0
|
Schaefer Stadium
|
49,572
|
| 2
|
September 13
|
Buffalo Bills
|
L 3–35
|
1–1
|
Memorial Stadium
|
45,772
|
| 3
|
September 20
|
at Denver Broncos
|
L 10–28
|
1–2
|
Mile High Stadium
|
74,804
|
| 4
|
September 27
|
Miami Dolphins
|
L 28–31
|
1–3
|
Memorial Stadium
|
41,630
|
| 5
|
October 4
|
at Buffalo Bills
|
L 17–23
|
1–4
|
Rich Stadium
|
77,811
|
| 6
|
October 11
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
L 19–41
|
1–5
|
Memorial Stadium
|
33,060
|
| 7
|
October 18
|
San Diego Chargers
|
L 14–43
|
1–6
|
Memorial Stadium
|
41,921
|
| 8
|
October 25
|
at Cleveland Browns
|
L 28–42
|
1–7
|
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
|
78,986
|
| 9
|
November 1
|
at Miami Dolphins
|
L 10–27
|
1–8
|
Miami Orange Bowl
|
46,061
|
| 10
|
November 8
|
New York Jets
|
L 14–41
|
1–9
|
Memorial Stadium
|
31,521
|
| 11
|
November 15
|
at Philadelphia Eagles
|
L 13–38
|
1–10
|
Veterans Stadium
|
68,618
|
| 12
|
November 22
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
L 24–35
|
1–11
|
Memorial Stadium
|
24,784
|
| 13
|
November 29
|
at New York Jets
|
L 0–25
|
1–12
|
Shea Stadium
|
53,593
|
| 14
|
December 6
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
L 13–37
|
1–13
|
Memorial Stadium
|
54,871
|
| 15
|
December 13
|
at Washington Redskins
|
L 14–38
|
1–14
|
RFK Stadium
|
46,706
|
| 16
|
December 20
|
New England Patriots
|
W 23–21
|
2–14
|
Memorial Stadium
|
17,073
|
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
|
Game summaries
Week 1: at New England Patriots
Week 1: Baltimore Colts at New England Patriots – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
10 |
3 |
3 | 13 | 29 |
| Patriots |
0 |
14 |
0 | 14 | 28 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,572
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- BAL – Mike Wood 35-yard field goal. Colts 16–14.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Randy McMillan 35-yard run (kick failed). Colts 22–14.
- NE – Don Calhoun 1-yard run (John Smith kick). Colts 22–21.
- BAL – Randy McMillan 2-yard run (Mike Wood kick). Colts 29–21.
- NE – Don Hasselbeck 4-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick). Colts 29–28.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
NE
|
| First downs |
21 |
22
|
| Total yards |
346 |
388
|
| Rushing yards |
249 |
114
|
| Net passing yards |
97 |
274
|
| Sacked–yards |
2–16 |
3–11
|
| Turnovers |
1 |
3
|
| Penalties–yards |
10–75 |
8–84
|
Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills |
7 |
14 |
7 | 7 | 35 |
| Colts |
0 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: September 13
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,772
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- BAL – Mike Wood 22-yard field goal. Bills 7–3.
- BUF – Jerry Butler 54-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 14–3.
- BUF – Mark Brammer 5-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 21–3.
Third quarter
- BUF – Buster Barnett 3-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 28–3.
Fourth quarter
- BUF – Roland Hooks 5-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 35–3.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
BUF |
BAL
|
| First downs |
26 |
11
|
| Total yards |
430 |
147
|
| Rushing yards |
169 |
73
|
| Net passing yards |
261 |
74
|
| Sacked–yards |
0–0 |
5–46
|
| Turnovers |
3 |
3
|
| Penalties–yards |
9–65 |
1–5
|
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Week 3: Baltimore Colts at Denver Broncos – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
0 |
10 | 0 | 10 |
| Broncos |
0 |
14 |
14 | 0 | 28 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: September 20
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 74,804
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- BAL – Mike Wood 21-yard field goal. Broncos 14–3.
- BAL – Curtis Dickey 63-yard run (Mike Wood kick). Broncos 14–10.
- DEN – Steve Watson 18-yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick). Broncos 21–10.
- DEN – Steve Watson 48-yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick). Broncos 28–10.
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
DEN
|
| First downs |
10 |
27
|
| Total yards |
209 |
442
|
| Rushing yards |
161 |
127
|
| Net passing yards |
48 |
315
|
| Sacked–yards |
2–17 |
3–26
|
| Turnovers |
3 |
4
|
| Penalties–yards |
8–63 |
9–65
|
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 4: Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins |
7 |
7 |
7 | 10 | 31 |
| Colts |
0 |
7 |
14 | 7 | 28 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,630
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- BAL – Ray Butler 19-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Tied 14–14.
- MIA – Nick Giaquinto 14-yard pass from David Woodley (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 21–14.
- BAL – Ray Butler 67-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Tied 21–21.
Fourth quarter
- MIA – Andra Franklin 1-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 28–21.
- BAL – Curtis Dickey 1-yard run (Mike Wood kick). Tied 28–28.
- MIA – Uwe von Schamann 27-yard field goal. Dolphins 31–28.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
MIA |
BAL
|
| First downs |
22 |
20
|
| Total yards |
428 |
514
|
| Rushing yards |
119 |
166
|
| Net passing yards |
309 |
348
|
| Sacked–yards |
0–0 |
1–9
|
| Turnovers |
0 |
1
|
| Penalties–yards |
4–35 |
6–52
|
Week 5: at Buffalo Bills
Week 5: Baltimore Colts at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
3 |
0 | 14 | 17 |
| Bills |
14 |
0 |
3 | 6 | 23 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 47 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,811
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- BAL – Mike Wood 32-yard field goal. Bills 14–3.
Third quarter
- BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 34-yard field goal. Bills 17–3.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Roger Carr 6-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Bills 17–10.
- BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 44-yard field goal. Bills 20–10.
- BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 45-yard field goal. Bills 23–10.
- BAL – Ray Butler 14-yard pass from Bert Jones (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 23–17.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
- BAL – Curtis Dickey – 3 receptions, 80 yards
- BUF – Jerry Butler – 4 receptions, 73 yards, TD
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
BUF
|
| First downs |
23 |
22
|
| Total yards |
378 |
366
|
| Rushing yards |
133 |
229
|
| Net passing yards |
245 |
137
|
| Sacked–yards |
4–30 |
1–11
|
| Turnovers |
2 |
1
|
| Penalties–yards |
10–55 |
7–49
|
Week 6: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals |
3 |
14 |
7 | 17 | 41 |
| Colts |
0 |
5 |
0 | 14 | 19 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: October 11
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 33,060
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV: NBC
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CIN – Dan Ross 2-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick). Bengals 24–5.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Cleveland Franklin 1-yard run (Mike Wood kick). Bengals 24–12.
- CIN – Jim Breech 24-yard field goal. Bengals 27–12.
- CIN – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick). Bengals 34–12.
- BAL – Reese McCall 65-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Bengals 34–19.
- CIN – Jimmy Hargrove 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick). Bengals 41–19.
|
Top passer
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
CIN |
BAL
|
| First downs |
24 |
22
|
| Total yards |
378 |
350
|
| Rushing yards |
121 |
56
|
| Net passing yards |
257 |
294
|
| Sacked–yards |
0–0 |
4–42
|
| Turnovers |
0 |
4
|
| Penalties–yards |
5–54 |
6–51
|
Week 7: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 7: San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers |
7 |
16 |
7 | 13 | 43 |
| Colts |
7 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
| Game information
|
|
Second quarter
- SD – John Cappelletti 12-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick field). Chargers 13–7.
- SD – Charlie Joiner 23-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 20–7.
- SD – Rolf Benirschke 30-yard field goal. Chargers 23–7.
Third quarter
- SD – Chuck Muncie 3-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 30–7.
- BAL – Curtis Dickey 5-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Chargers 30–14.
Fourth quarter
- SD – John Cappelletti 1-yard run (kick failed). Chargers 36–14.
- SD – Clarence Williams 7-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 43–14.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
SD |
BAL
|
| First downs |
30 |
18
|
| Total yards |
470 |
264
|
| Rushing yards |
172 |
68
|
| Net passing yards |
298 |
196
|
| Sacked–yards |
0–0 |
6–59
|
| Turnovers |
1 |
3
|
| Penalties–yards |
6–30 |
5–45
|
Week 8: at Cleveland Browns
Week 8: Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
7 |
14 | 7 | 28 |
| Browns |
7 |
21 |
7 | 7 | 42 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 78,986
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- BAL – Greg Landry 11-yard fumble return (Mike Wood kick). Browns 28–14.
- BAL – Ray Butler 36-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Browns 28–21.
- CLE – Ricky Feacher 28-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Matt Bahr kick). Browns 35–21.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Ray Butler 5-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Browns 35–28.
- CLE – Mike Pruitt 16-yard run (Matt Bahr kick). Browns 42–28.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
CLE
|
| First downs |
18 |
30
|
| Total yards |
357 |
562
|
| Rushing yards |
118 |
131
|
| Net passing yards |
239 |
431
|
| Sacked–yards |
2–10 |
1–13
|
| Turnovers |
3 |
6
|
| Penalties–yards |
5–33 |
6–56
|
Week 9: at Miami Dolphins
Week 9: Baltimore Colts at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
10 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
| Dolphins |
7 |
7 |
10 | 3 | 27 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: November 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 46,061
- Box score
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
MIA
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Net passing yards |
|
|
| Sacked–yards |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Penalties–yards |
|
|
Week 10: vs. New York Jets
Week 10: New York Jets at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets |
10 |
14 |
7 | 10 | 41 |
| Colts |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Clear, 49 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 31,521
- Box score
Statistics
| Statistics |
NYJ |
BAL
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Net passing yards |
|
|
| Sacked–yards |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Penalties–yards |
|
|
Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 11: Baltimore Colts at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
6 |
0 |
0 | 7 | 13 |
| Eagles |
7 |
14 |
10 | 7 | 38 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,618
- Box score
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
PHI
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Net passing yards |
|
|
| Sacked–yards |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Penalties–yards |
|
|
Week 12: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Week 12: St. Louis Cardinals at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals |
14 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 35 |
| Colts |
10 |
0 |
7 | 7 | 24 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 39 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 24,784
- Box score
Statistics
| Statistics |
STL |
BAL
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Net passing yards |
|
|
| Sacked–yards |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Penalties–yards |
|
|
Week 13: at New York Jets
Week 13: Baltimore Colts at New York Jets – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jets |
7 |
6 |
9 | 3 | 25 |
at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
- Date: November 29
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,593
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- NYJ – Pat Leahy 37-yard field goal. 'Jets 10–0.
- NYJ – Pat Leahy 22-yard field goal. Jets 13–0.
Third quarter
- NYJ – Freeman Mcneil 1-yard run (kick failed). Jets 19–0.
- NYJ – Pat Leahy 27-yard field goal. Jets 22–0.
Fourth quarter
- NYJ – Pat Leahy 27-yard field goal. Jets 25–0.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
NYJ
|
| First downs |
11 |
22
|
| Total yards |
152 |
300
|
| Rushing yards |
49 |
161
|
| Net passing yards |
103 |
139
|
| Sacked–yards |
5–39 |
1–4
|
| Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
| Penalties–yards |
9–82 |
6–40
|
Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 14: Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys |
17 |
10 |
0 | 10 | 37 |
| Colts |
6 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 13 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Statistics
| Statistics |
DAL |
BAL
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Net passing yards |
|
|
| Sacked–yards |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Penalties–yards |
|
|
Week 15: at Washington Redskins
Week 15: Baltimore Colts at Washington Redskins – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
7 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
| Redskins |
7 |
21 |
10 | 0 | 38 |
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D. C.
- Date: December 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 46,706
- Box score
Statistics
| Statistics |
BAL |
WAS
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Net passing yards |
|
|
| Sacked–yards |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Penalties–yards |
|
|
Week 16: vs. New England Patriots
Week 16: New England Patriots at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots |
7 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 21 |
| Colts |
10 |
7 |
6 | 0 | 23 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: December 20
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 21 °F (−6 °C)
- Game attendance: 17,073
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- NE – Don Westbrook 15-yard pass from Tom Owen (John Smith kick). Patriots 14–10.
- BAL – Ray Butler 53-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick). Colts 17–14.
Third quarter
- BAL – Ray Butler 37-yard pass from Bert Jones (kick failed). Colts 23–14.
Fourth quarter
- NE – Don Westbrook 2-yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (John Smith kick). Colts 23–21.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Statistics
| Statistics |
NE |
BAL
|
| First downs |
20 |
19
|
| Total yards |
350 |
383
|
| Rushing yards |
77 |
128
|
| Net passing yards |
273 |
255
|
| Sacked–yards |
1–8 |
1–12
|
| Turnovers |
4 |
2
|
| Penalties–yards |
6–20 |
6–53
|
The Colts ended the 1981 season by snapping their 14-game losing streak and swept the Patriots. However, the win would cause the Colts to lose out on the first overall pick in the following draft, which would go the Patriots, and the Colts would secure the second overall pick instead.
Standings
