Draft
The 1981 NFL Draft was held from April 28 to 29, 1981 at New York City's Sheraton Hotel. With the first pick, the New Orleans Saints selected running back George Rogers from the University of South Carolina.
New referee
Cal Lepore, the line judge for Super Bowl III and referee for the Miracle at the Meadowlands, retired prior to the 1980 season. He would later become supervisor of officials in the United States Football League and a replay official in the NFL when it was adopted in 1986. Tom Dooley, who was assigned Super Bowl XV as line judge at the end of the 1981 season, was promoted to referee to replace Lepore.
Division races
From 1970 to 2001, there were three divisions (Eastern, Central and Western) in each conference. The winners of each division, and a fourth "wild card" team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs. The tiebreaker rules were changed to start with head-to-head competition, followed by division records, records against common opponents, and records in conference play.
Week[2]
|
Eastern
|
|
Central
|
|
Western
|
|
Wild Card (Home)
|
|
Wild Card (Road)
|
|
1
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
1–0–0
|
Det, GB, TB
|
1–0–0
|
Atlanta
|
1–0–0
|
6 teams
|
1–0–0
|
6 teams
|
1–0–0
|
2
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
2–0–0
|
Det, GB, TB
|
1–1–0
|
Atlanta
|
2–0–0
|
Six teams
|
1–1–0
|
Six teams
|
1–1–0
|
3
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
3–0–0
|
All Five Teams
|
1–2–0
|
Atlanta
|
3–0–0
|
NY Giants
|
2–1–0
|
8 Other Teams
|
1-2-0
|
4
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
4–0–0
|
Det, Min, TB
|
2–2–0
|
Atlanta
|
3–1–0
|
6 Teams
|
2–2–0
|
6 Teams
|
2–2–0
|
5
|
Philadelphia
|
5–0–0
|
Minnesota, Tampa Bay
|
3–2–0
|
Atlanta, LA, SF
|
3–2–0
|
Dallas
|
4–1–0
|
5 Other Teams
|
3-2-0
|
6
|
Philadelphia
|
6–0–0
|
Minnesota, Tampa Bay
|
4–2–0
|
LA, San Fran
|
4–2–0
|
Dallas, Minnesota
|
4–2–0
|
San Fran, LA
|
4–2–0
|
7
|
Philadelphia
|
6–1–0
|
Minnesota
|
5–2–0
|
San Fran
|
5–2–0
|
Dallas
|
5–2–0
|
3 Other Teams
|
4-3-0
|
8
|
Philadelphia
|
7–1–0
|
Minnesota
|
5–3–0
|
San Fran
|
6–2–0
|
Dallas
|
6–2–0
|
NY Giants
|
5-3-0
|
9
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
7–2–0
|
Minnesota, Tampa Bay
|
5–4–0
|
San Fran
|
7–2–0
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
6–3–0
|
Atl, LA, Min, NYG, TB
|
5-4-0
|
10
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
8–2–0
|
Minnesota
|
6–4–0
|
San Fran
|
8–2–0
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
7–3–0
|
Atl, LA, NYG, TB
|
5–5–0
|
11
|
Philadelphia
|
9–2–0
|
Minnesota
|
7–4–0
|
San Fran
|
8–3–0
|
Dallas
|
8–3–0
|
7 teams
|
5-6-0
|
12
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
9–3–0
|
Minnesota
|
7–5–0
|
San Fran
|
9–3–0
|
Philadelphia, Dallas
|
9–3–0
|
Atl, Det, NYG, TB
|
6-6-0
|
13
|
Dallas
|
10–3–0
|
Det, Min, TB
|
7–6–0
|
San Fran
|
9–4–0
|
Philadelphia
|
9–4–0
|
Atl, Det, Min, TB
|
7–6–0
|
14
|
Dallas
|
11–3–0
|
Tampa Bay
|
8–6–0
|
San Fran
|
10–4–0
|
Philadelphia
|
9–5–0
|
Atl, Det, GB, Min, NYG, StL
|
7–7–0
|
15
|
Dallas
|
12–3–0
|
Det, Min, TB
|
8–7–0
|
San Fran
|
12–3–0
|
Philadelphia
|
9–6–0
|
Det, GB, NYG, TB
|
8–7–0
|
16
|
Dallas
|
12–4–0
|
Tampa Bay
|
9–7–0
|
San Fran
|
13–3–0
|
Philadelphia
|
10–6–0
|
NY Giants
|
9–7–0
|
Week[3]
|
Eastern
|
|
Central
|
|
Western
|
|
Wild Card (Home)
|
|
Wild Card (Road)
|
|
1
|
Baltimore, Buffalo, Miami
|
1–0–0
|
Cincinnati, Houston
|
1–0–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
1–0–0
|
7 teams
|
1–0–0
|
7 teams
|
1–0–0
|
2
|
Miami
|
2–0–0
|
Cincinnati, Houston
|
2–0–0
|
KC, SD
|
2–0–0
|
6 teams
|
2–0–0
|
6 teams
|
2–0–0
|
3
|
Miami
|
3–0–0
|
Cincinnati, Houston
|
2–1–0
|
San Diego
|
3–0–0
|
6 teams
|
2–1–0
|
6 teams
|
2–1–0
|
4
|
Miami
|
4–0–0
|
Cincinnati
|
3–1–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
3–1–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
3–1–0
|
Buf, Cle, Pit, Hou, Oak
|
2–2–0
|
5
|
Miami
|
4–0–1
|
Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh
|
3–2–0
|
Denver, SD
|
4–1–0
|
Denver, SD
|
4–1–0
|
Buf, Cin, Hou, KC, Pit
|
3-2-0
|
6
|
Miami
|
4–1–1
|
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
|
4–2–0
|
Denver
|
5–1–0
|
Buffalo
|
4–2–0
|
Hou, Pit, SD, KC
|
4-2-0
|
7
|
Miami
|
5–1–1
|
Cincinnati
|
5–2–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
5–2–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
5–2–0
|
Buf, Hou, KC, Pit
|
4-3-0
|
8
|
Miami
|
5–2–1
|
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
|
5–3–0
|
Kansas City
|
6–2–0
|
Buffalo
|
5–3–0
|
Cin, Den, Pit
|
5-3-0
|
9
|
Miami
|
6–2–1
|
Cincinnati
|
6–3–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
6–3–0
|
Buffalo
|
6–3–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
6-3-0
|
10
|
Miami
|
7–2–1
|
Cincinnati
|
7–3–0
|
Denver
|
7–3–0
|
San Diego
|
6–4–0
|
Buffalo, KC
|
6–4–0
|
11
|
Miami
|
7–3–1
|
Cincinnati
|
8–3–0
|
Denver, KC
|
7–4–0
|
Denver, KC
|
7–4–0
|
NY Jets
|
6–4–1
|
12
|
Miami, NY Jets
|
7–4–1
|
Cincinnati
|
9–3–0
|
Denver, KC
|
8–4–0
|
Denver, KC
|
8–4–0
|
Miami, NY Jets
|
7–4–1
|
13
|
Miami, NY Jets
|
8–4–1
|
Cincinnati
|
10–3–0
|
Denver, KC, SD
|
8–5–0
|
Miami, NY Jets
|
8–4–1
|
Buf, Den, KC, Pit, SD
|
8–5–0
|
14
|
Miami
|
9–4–1
|
Cincinnati
|
10–4–0
|
Denver
|
9–5–0
|
Buffalo
|
9–5–0
|
NY Jets
|
8–5–1
|
15
|
Miami
|
10–4–1
|
Cincinnati
|
11–4–0
|
Denver
|
10–5–0
|
Buffalo
|
10–5–0
|
NY Jets
|
9–5–1
|
16
|
Miami
|
11–4–1
|
Cincinnati
|
12–4–0
|
San Diego
|
10–6–0
|
NY Jets
|
10–5–1
|
Buffalo
|
10–6–0
|
Records, milestones, and notable statistics
Records Set
- Most Passes Attempted, Season, 709
- Minnesota Vikings
- Chicago Bears
- Most Yards, Punt Returns, Both Teams, Game, 282
- Los Angeles Rams (219) vs Atlanta Falcons (63), Oct 11, 1981
Records Tied
- Most Touchdowns, Passing, Single Team, Game, 7
- San Diego Chargers (vs Oakland Raiders) Nov 22, 1981
- Most Touchdowns, Punt Returns, Single Team, Game, 2
- Los Angeles Rams (vs Atlanta Falcons) Oct 11, 1981
Baltimore Colts Defense
The 1981 Baltimore Colts were one of the worst defenses in NFL history; they set five dubious defensive records:
- Most Points Allowed, Season, 533
- Most Touchdowns Allowed, Season, 68
- Most First Downs Allowed Season, 406
- Most Yards Allowed, Season, 6,793
- Fewest Punt Returns, Season, 12
Stadium changes
The home of the San Diego Chargers, San Diego Stadium, was renamed Jack Murphy Stadium in memory of local sportswriter Jack Murphy
Television
This was the fourth and final year under the league's broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. The league then negotiated to have all three networks renew their deals for another five years.[4]
John Madden became the lead color commentator for CBS, replacing Tom Brookshier who moved into a play-by-play role. However CBS Sports executives debated on whether Madden should be paired with incumbent lead play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall or should #2 announcer Vin Scully be promoted to the role. To resolve the situation, both Scully and Summerall were paired with Madden in four-week stretches. Scully was paired with Madden during the first four weeks of the season while Summerall was primarily covering the US Open Tennis Championships. Then Summerall called games with Madden while Scully covered the Major League Baseball playoffs for CBS Radio. After the eighth week of the NFL season, CBS Sports executives decided that Summerall had better chemistry with Madden than Scully did. Scully was later assigned as a consolation prize the NFC Championship Game. After the season, he would move to NBC to cover Major League Baseball and golf, but he decided to never call NFL games again.[5]
Regular season game not broadcast by Network TV