1981 Baltimore Colts season

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1981 Baltimore Colts season
Owner
Memorial Stadium
Results
Record2–14
Division placeT-4th AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone

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]

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1981 NFL draft
1981 Baltimore Colts draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 12 Randy McMillan  Running back Pittsburgh
1 18 Donnell Thompson  Defensive end North Carolina from Minnesota
3 68 Randy Van Divier  Tackle Washington
4 94 Tim Sherwin  Tight end Boston College
6 149 Bubba Green  Defensive tackle Penn State
7 178 Obed Ariri  Kicker Clemson
8 204 Ken Sitton  Defensive back Oklahoma
8 220 Hosea Taylor  Defensive tackle Houston
9 233 Tim Gooch  Defensive tackle Kentucky
10 256 Gregg Gerken  Linebacker Northern Arizona
10 259 Trent Bryant  Defensive back Arkansas
11 288 Holden Smith  Wide receiver North Carolina
12 315 Eric Scoggins  Linebacker USC
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1981 Baltimore Colts staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – George Boutselis


Roster

1981 Baltimore Colts roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 11
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 56
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 59
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

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 34Total
Colts 10 3 31329
Patriots 0 14 01428

at

Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Game information

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 34Total
Bills 7 14 7735
Colts 0 3 003

at

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

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 34Total
Colts 0 0 10010
Broncos 0 14 14028

at

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

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 34Total
Dolphins 7 7 71031
Colts 0 7 14728

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

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 34Total
Colts 0 3 01417
Bills 14 0 3623

at

Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Game information

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 34Total
Bengals 3 14 71741
Colts 0 5 01419

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

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 34Total
Chargers 7 16 71343
Colts 7 0 7014

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

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 34Total
Colts 0 7 14728
Browns 7 21 7742

at

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

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 34Total
Colts 0 10 0010
Dolphins 7 7 10327

at

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 34Total
Jets 10 14 71041
Colts 7 7 0014

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 34Total
Colts 6 0 0713
Eagles 7 14 10738

at

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 34Total
Cardinals 14 7 7735
Colts 10 0 7724

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 34Total
Colts 0 0 000
Jets 7 6 9325

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

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 34Total
Cowboys 17 10 01037
Colts 6 0 7013

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 34Total
Colts 7 0 7014
Redskins 7 21 10038

at

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 34Total
Patriots 7 7 0721
Colts 10 7 6023

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

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

second overall pick
instead.

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Miami Dolphins(2) 11 4 1 .719 5–2–1 8–3–1 345 275 W4
New York Jets(4) 10 5 1 .656 6–1–1 8–5–1 355 287 W2
Buffalo Bills(5) 10 6 0 .625 6–2 9–3 311 276 L1
Baltimore Colts 2 14 0 .125 2–6 2–10 259 533 W1
New England Patriots 2 14 0 .125 0–8 2–10 322 370 L9

Records set

Main article:
NFL records (team)
  • Most Points Allowed, Season, 533
  • Worst Point Differential, 16-game season, -274
  • Most First-Half Points Allowed, 16-game season, 307[5]
  • Most Touchdowns Allowed, Season, 68
  • Most First Downs Allowed Season, 406
  • Fewest Punt Returns, Season, 12

[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The other team to never lead in eleven losses is the 1990 New England Patriots.

References

  1. ^ Cold Hard Football Facts: Ryan Kalil ad: Carolina D not up to the task
  2. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points Differential
  3. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, team never had a lead during the game, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
  4. ^ Wilson, Phillip B., 100 Things Colts Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die 17 (2013). Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  5. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2012, in the Regular Season, sorted by descending Opp First Half score.
  6. ^ The '81 Colts held the record for most total yards allowed in a 16-game season—6,793—until it was broken by the 2012 New Orleans Saints (7,042).
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