Draft
New referee
Major rule changes
- It is illegal for any player to put adhesive or slippery substances such as the product "Stickum" on his body, equipment or uniform. This rule is known as both the "Lester Hayes Rule" and the "Fred Biletnikoff Rule" since both players were notorious for using sticky substances to make it easier for them to intercept/catch passes.
- An offensive player who comes into the game wearing an illegal number for the position he takes must report to the referee before the start of the next play.
- The penalty for an ineligible receiver who touches a forward pass is a loss of down.
- The penalty for illegal use of hands, arms, or body (including holding) is reduced from 15 yards to 10 yards.
- The penalty for intentional grounding is modified: loss of down and 10 yards penalty from the previous spot, or if the foul occurs more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, loss of down at the spot of the foul.
- Officials began wearing numbers 21 through 25 within their position groups after going no higher than number 20 in 1979 and 1980.
Deaths
- July 1, 1981: Linebacker Rusty Chambers, the Miami Dolphins leading tackler in 1978 and 1979, died in an automobile accident. [1]
Regular season
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
|
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
|
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
|
1981 Final Standings
Tiebreakers
- Baltimore finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
- San Diego finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on better division record (6–2 to Broncos' 5–3).
- Buffalo was the second AFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over Denver (1–0).
- Detroit finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on better record against common opponents (4–4 to Packers' 3–5).
Playoffs
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
Statistical leaders
Team
| Points scored |
San Diego Chargers (478)
|
| Total yards gained |
San Diego Chargers (6,744)
|
| Yards rushing |
Detroit Lions (2,795)
|
| Yards passing |
San Diego Chargers (4,739)
|
| Fewest points allowed |
Philadelphia Eagles (221)
|
| Fewest total yards allowed |
Philadelphia Eagles (4,447)
|
| Fewest rushing yards allowed |
Detroit Lions (1,623)
|
| Fewest passing yards allowed |
Philadelphia Eagles (2,696)
|
Awards
| Most Valuable Player |
Ken Anderson, quarterback, Cincinnati
|
| Coach of the Year |
Bill Walsh, San Francisco
|
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Ken Anderson, quarterback, Cincinnati
|
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, NY Giants
|
| Offensive Rookie of the Year |
George Rogers, running back, New Orleans
|
| Defensive Rookie of the Year |
Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, NY Giants
|
| Man of the Year |
Lynn Swann, wide receiver, Pittsburgh
|
| Comeback Player of the Year |
Ken Anderson, quarterback, Cincinnati
|
| Super Bowl Most Valuable Player |
Joe Montana, quarterback, San Francisco
|
Coaching changes
Stadium changes
- The Cincinnati Bengals made significant modifications to their uniforms for the first time since the team's debut in 1968, discontinuing the design similar to the Cleveland Browns' jerseys. Orange and black tiger stripes adorned the shoulder stripes of the jersey and the side striping of the pants. Black tiger stripes were also added to the orange helmets.
- The Dallas Cowboys darkened the shade of their blue jerseys from royal to navy blue, with the numerals becoming silver. The Cowboys wore this blue jersey through 1994.
- The Houston Oilers resumed wearing blue pants with their white jerseys after a one-season hiatus; in addition, the team also changed their facemasks from gray to red.
- The Los Angeles Rams switched from gray to navy blue facemasks.
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.[3]
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.[4]
Regular season game not broadcast by Network TV
References
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