1981 NFL season

1981 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration September 6 – December 21, 1981
Playoffs
Start date December 27, 1981
AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals
NFC Champions San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XVI
Date January 24, 1982
Site Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
Champions San Francisco 49ers
Pro Bowl
Date January 31, 1982
Site Aloha Stadium
The 49ers playing against the Bengals in Super Bowl XVI.

The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

Major rule changes

Regular Season games not broadcast by Network TV

Date Time Teams Local TV Announcers
September 5, 1981 8:00 PM EDT Minnesota @ Tampa Bay KSTP-TV (Minnesota)
WTOG-TV (Tampa Bay)

Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

AFC East
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
(2) Miami Dolphins 1141.719345275
(4) New York Jets 1051.656355287
(5) Buffalo Bills 1060.625311276
Baltimore Colts 2140.125259533
New England Patriots 2140.125322370
AFC Central
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
(1) Cincinnati Bengals 1240.750421304
Pittsburgh Steelers 880.500356297
Houston Oilers 790.438281355
Cleveland Browns 5110.313276375
AFC West
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
(3) San Diego Chargers 1060.625478390
Denver Broncos 1060.625321289
Kansas City Chiefs 970.563343290
Oakland Raiders 790.438273343
Seattle Seahawks 6100.375322388
NFC East
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
(2) Dallas Cowboys 1240.750367277
(4) Philadelphia Eagles 1060.625368221
(5) New York Giants 970.563295257
Washington Redskins 880.500347349
St. Louis Cardinals 790.438315408
NFC Central
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
(3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 970.563315268
Detroit Lions 880.500397322
Green Bay Packers 880.500324361
Minnesota Vikings 790.438325369
Chicago Bears 6100.375253324
NFC West
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
(1) San Francisco 49ers 1330.813357250
Atlanta Falcons 790.438426355
Los Angeles Rams 6100.375303351
New Orleans Saints 4120.250207378

Tiebreakers

Playoffs

                                   
Divisional Playoffs
    Jan. 2 – Texas Stadium        
NFC Wild Card Game NFC Championship
 3  Tampa Bay  0
Dec. 27 – Veterans Stadium     Jan. 10 – Candlestick Park
 2  Dallas  38  
 5  NY Giants  27  2  Dallas  27
Jan. 3 – Candlestick Park
 4  Philadelphia  21      1  San Francisco  28   Super Bowl XVI
 5  NY Giants  24
    Jan. 24 – Pontiac Silverdome
 1  San Francisco  38  
 N1  San Francisco  26
Jan. 2 – Miami Orange Bowl
AFC Wild Card Game AFC Championship    A1  Cincinnati  21
 3  San Diego  41*
Dec. 27 – Shea Stadium     Jan. 10 – Riverfront Stadium
 2  Miami  38  
 5  Buffalo  31  3  San Diego  7
Jan. 3 – Riverfront Stadium
 4  NY Jets  27      1  Cincinnati  27  
 5  Buffalo  21
   
 1  Cincinnati  28  
* Indicates overtime victory

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scoredSan Diego Chargers (478)
Total yards gainedSan Diego Chargers (6,744)
Yards rushingDetroit Lions (2,795)
Yards passingSan Diego Chargers (4,739)
Fewest points allowedPhiladelphia Eagles (221)
Fewest total yards allowedPhiladelphia Eagles (4,447)
Fewest rushing yards allowedDetroit Lions (1,623)
Fewest passing yards allowedPhiladelphia Eagles (2,696)

Awards

Most Valuable PlayerKen Anderson, Quarterback, Cincinnati
Coach of the YearBill Walsh, San Francisco
Offensive Player of the YearKen Anderson, Quarterback, Cincinnati
Defensive Player of the YearLawrence Taylor, Linebacker, NY Giants
Offensive Rookie of the YearGeorge Rogers, Running back, New Orleans
Defensive Rookie of the YearLawrence Taylor, Linebacker, NY Giants

Records Set

Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears
Los Angeles Rams (219) vs Atlanta Falcons (63), Oct 11, 1981

Records Tied

San Diego Chargers (vs Oakland Raiders) Nov 22, 1981
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:

References

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