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1981 Dallas Cowboys season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Dallas Cowboys |
| year | 1981 |
| record | 12–4 |
| division_place | 1st NFC East |
| coach | Tom Landry |
| general manager | Tex Schramm |
| owner | Clint Murchison, Jr. |
| stadium | Texas Stadium |
| playoffs | **Won [Divisional Playoffs](1981-82-nfl-playoffs)** |
| (vs. [Buccaneers](1981-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)) 38–0 | |
| Lost [NFC Championship](1981-82-nfl-playoffs) | |
| (at [49ers](1981-san-francisco-49ers-season)) 27–28 | |
| shortnavlink | Cowboys seasons |
(vs. Buccaneers) 38–0 Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 27–28
The 1981 Dallas Cowboys season was their 22nd in the league. The team matched their previous output of 12–4, winning their fifth division title in six years. They lost the Conference Championship game for the second straight season.
The season began with four straight victories, followed by two losses (including a surprising 45–14 blowout loss to the 49ers in week six). The Cowboys rebounded to win 8 of their last 9 games to clinch the NFC East but had to settle for the conference's number two seed behind the 49ers.
The Cowboys easily defeated Tampa Bay in the divisional playoff to earn a rematch with the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The game was much closer this time, and the Cowboys still held a 27–21 lead with less than a minute to play. However, Joe Montana led a late drive and hit Dwight Clark in the famous "Catch" to give San Francisco a 28–27 lead. On the ensuing Cowboys possession, Danny White completed a pass to Drew Pearson, and was only an arms length away from breaking free from Eric Wright and most likely scoring a touchdown. Jim Stuckey recovered a White fumble on the next play, then the 49ers ran out the clock for the win.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1981 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Downs | Safety | Rice |
| Angelo King | Linebacker | South Carolina State |
| Everson Walls | Cornerback | Grambling State |
| Steve Wright | Tackle | Northern Iowa |
Schedule
| Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Week | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Date | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Result | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Record | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Game Site | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | at **[Washington Redskins](1981-washington-redskins-season)** | **W** 26–10 | 1–0 | RFK Stadium | 55,045 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109060was.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 13 | **[St. Louis Cardinals](1981-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)** | **W** 30–17 | 2–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,602 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109130dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [New England Patriots](1981-new-england-patriots-season) | **W** 35–21 | 3–0 | Schaefer Stadium | 60,311 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109210nwe.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 27 | **[New York Giants](1981-new-york-giants-season)** | **W** 18–10 | 4–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,449 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109270dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 4 | at **[St. Louis Cardinals](1981-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)** | **L** 17–20 | 4–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 49,477 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110040crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 11 | at [San Francisco 49ers](1981-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **L** 14–45 | 4–2 | Candlestick Park | 57,574 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110110sfo.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 18 | [Los Angeles Rams](1981-los-angeles-rams-season) | **W** 29–17 | 5–2 | Texas Stadium | 64,649 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110180dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 25 | [Miami Dolphins](1981-miami-dolphins-season) | **W** 28–27 | 6–2 | Texas Stadium | 64,221 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110250dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1 | at **[Philadelphia Eagles](1981-philadelphia-eagles-season)** | **W** 17–14 | 7–2 | Veterans Stadium | 72,111 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111010phi.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Buffalo Bills](1981-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 27–14 | 8–2 | Texas Stadium | 62,583 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111090dal.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 15 | at [Detroit Lions](1981-detroit-lions-season) | **L** 24–27 | 8–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 79,694 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111150det.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 22 | **[Washington Redskins](1981-washington-redskins-season)** | **W** 24–10 | 9–3 | Texas Stadium | 64,587 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111220dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | [Chicago Bears](1981-chicago-bears-season) | **W** 10–9 | 10–3 | Texas Stadium | 63,499 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111260dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 6 | at [Baltimore Colts](1981-baltimore-colts-season) | **W** 37–13 | 11–3 | Memorial Stadium | 54,871 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112060clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 13 | **[Philadelphia Eagles](1981-philadelphia-eagles-season)** | **W** 21–10 | 12–3 | Texas Stadium | 64,955 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112130dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at **[New York Giants](1981-new-york-giants-season)** | **L** 10–13 (OT) | 12–4 | Giants Stadium | 73,009 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112190nyg.htm) |
Division opponents are in bold text
Game notes
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Playoffs
Main article: 1981–82 NFL playoffs
| Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Round | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Date | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Result | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Game Site | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Dallas Cowboys | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Recap | [Wild Card](1981-82-nfl-playoffs-nfc-dallas-cowboys) | [Divisional](1981-82-nfl-playoffs-nfc-dallas-cowboys-38-tampa-bay-buccaneers-0) | [NFC Championship](1981-82-nfl-playoffs-nfc-championship-san-francisco-49ers-28-dallas-cowboys-27) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *First Round Bye* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1981-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) (3) | **W** 38–0 | Texas Stadium | 64,848 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201020dal.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 10, 1982 | at [San Francisco 49ers](1981-san-francisco-49ers-season) (1) | **L** 27–28 | Candlestick Park | 60,525 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201100sfo.htm) |
Divisional Round
Conference Championship
Standings
Roster
| Dallas Cowboys 1981 roster |
|---|
| **Quarterbacks** |
References
References
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1981.htm 1981 Dallas Cowboys]
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111090dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111220dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
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