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1981 Denver Broncos season

NFL team season

1981 Denver Broncos season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamDenver Broncos
year1981
record10–6
division_place2nd AFC West
coachDan Reeves
general managerGrady Alderman
ownerEdgar Kaiser
stadiumMile High Stadium
playoffs*Did not qualify*
shortnavlinkBroncos seasons
Uniforms of the Broncos from 1968-96

The 1981 Denver Broncos season was the team's 22nd year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Dan Reeves, the Broncos were 10–6, tied for first in the AFC West, but failed to make the postseason again due to their loss to the Buffalo Bills, who gained the final berth.

The Broncos were undefeated at home in 1981, but had six road losses. After a promising 8–3 start, Denver lost three of their final five games, including a critical loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 12. Entering the season finale against the Chicago Bears, they had a one-game lead over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West,

Prior to this season, ownership changed in February; coaching and front office changes were made in March.

NFL draft

Main article: 1981 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

  • Owner – Edgar Kaiser

  • General Manager – Grady Alderman

  • Director of Player Personnel – John Beake

  • Director of Scouting – Carroll Hardy

  • Head Coach – Dan Reeves

  • Special Assistant – Nick Nicolau

  • Running Backs – Charlie Lee

  • Wide Receivers – Rod Dowhower

  • Tight Ends – Fran Polsfoot

  • Offensive Line – Jerry Frei

  • Defensive Coordinator – Joe Collier

  • Defensive Line – Stan Jones

  • Linebackers – Bob Zeman

  • Defensive Backs – Richie McCabe

  • Special Teams – Reed Johnson :Source:

Roster

:Source:

Preseason

Schedule

Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"WeekDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"DateDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"OpponentDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"ResultDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"RecordDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"VenueDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"Attendance1234
[New York Jets](1981-new-york-jets-season)**L** 7–330–1Mile High Stadium63,644
at [Miami Dolphins](1981-miami-dolphins-season)**L** 14–240–2Miami Orange Bowl41,502
[Green Bay Packers](1981-green-bay-packers-season)**W** 17–71–2Mile High Stadium72,450
at [Cincinnati Bengals](1981-cincinnati-bengals-season)**W** 24–202–2Riverfront Stadium41,713

Regular season

Main article: 1981 NFL season

Schedule

Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"WeekDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"DateDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"OpponentDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"ResultDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"RecordDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"VenueDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"Attendance12345678910111213141516
September 6**[Oakland Raiders](1981-oakland-raiders-season)****W** 9–71–0Mile High Stadium74,796
September 13at **[Seattle Seahawks](1981-seattle-seahawks-season)****L** 10–131–1Kingdome58,513
September 20[Baltimore Colts](1981-baltimore-colts-season)**W** 28–102–1Mile High Stadium74,804
September 27**[San Diego Chargers](1981-san-diego-chargers-season)****W** 42–243–1Mile High Stadium74,822
October 4at **[Oakland Raiders](1981-oakland-raiders-season)****W** 17–04–1Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum51,035
October 11[Detroit Lions](1981-detroit-lions-season)**W** 27–215–1Mile High Stadium74,816
October 18at **[Kansas City Chiefs](1981-kansas-city-chiefs-season)****L** 14–285–2Arrowhead Stadium74,672
October 25at [Buffalo Bills](1981-buffalo-bills-season)**L** 7–95–3Rich Stadium77,757
[Minnesota Vikings](1981-minnesota-vikings-season)**W** 19–176–3Mile High Stadium74,834
November 8[Cleveland Browns](1981-cleveland-browns-season)**W** 23–20OT7–3Mile High Stadium74,859
November 15at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1981-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)**W** 24–78–3Tampa Stadium64,518
November 22at [Cincinnati Bengals](1981-cincinnati-bengals-season)**L** 21–388–4Riverfront Stadium57,207
November 29at **[San Diego Chargers](1981-san-diego-chargers-season)****L** 17–348–5Jack Murphy Stadium51,533
December 6**[Kansas City Chiefs](1981-kansas-city-chiefs-season)****W** 16–139–5Mile High Stadium74,744
December 13**[Seattle Seahawks](1981-seattle-seahawks-season)****W** 23–1310–5Mile High Stadium74,527
December 20at [Chicago Bears](1981-chicago-bears-season)**L** 24–3510–6Soldier Field40,125
**Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text.

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday, September 6, 1981): vs. [[1981 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Oakland Raidersyear=1981border=2}}"RaidersGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 2 (Sunday, September 13, 1981): at [[1981 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsSeattle Seahawksyear=1981border=2}}"SeahawksFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 3 (Sunday, September 20, 1981): vs. [[1981 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Baltimore Coltsyear=1981border=2}}"ColtsGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 4 (Sunday, September 27, 1981): vs. [[1981 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
San Diego Chargersyear=1981border=2}}"ChargersGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 5 (Sunday, October 4, 1981): at [[1981 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsOakland Raidersyear=1981border=2}}"RaidersFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 6 (Sunday, October 11, 1981): vs. [[1981 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Detroit Lionsyear=1981border=2}}"LionsGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 7 (Sunday, October 18, 1981): at [[1981 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsKansas City Chiefsyear=1981border=2}}"ChiefsFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 8 (Sunday, October 25, 1981): at [[1981 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsBuffalo Billsyear=1981border=2}}"BillsFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 9 (Monday, November 2, 1981): vs. [[1981 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Minnesota Vikingsyear=1981border=2}}"VikingsGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 10 (Sunday, November 8, 1981): vs. [[1981 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Cleveland Brownsyear=1981border=2}}"BrownsGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 11 (Sunday, November 15, 1981): at [[1981 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsTampa Bay Buccaneersyear=1981border=2}}"BuccaneersFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 12 (Sunday, November 22, 1981): at [[1981 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsCincinnati Bengalsyear=1981border=2}}"BengalsFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 13 (Sunday, November 29, 1981): at [[1981 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsSan Diego Chargersyear=1981border=2}}"ChargersFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 14 (Sunday, December 6, 1981): vs. [[1981 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Kansas City Chiefsyear=1981border=2}}"ChiefsGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 15 (Sunday, December 13, 1981): vs. [[1981 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Seattle Seahawksyear=1981border=2}}"SeahawksGame statisticsDenver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Week 16 (Sunday, December 20, 1981); at [[1981 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game:
Denver Broncosyear=1981border=2}}"BroncosGame statisticsChicago Bearsyear=1981border=2}}"BearsFirst downsRushes–yardsPassing yardsPassesSacked–yardsNet passing yardsTotal yardsReturn yardsPuntsFumbles–lostPenalties–yardsTime of possession

Individual stats

Standings

References

References

  1. Zimmerman, Paul. (October 19, 1981). "Denver is standing mile-high once again".
  2. Mossman, John. (December 14, 1981). "Broncos snow Seahawks, 23-13". Spokesman-Review.
  3. (December 21, 1981). "Bears, 35-24". Eugene Register-Guard.
  4. (December 21, 1981). "Bears bust Broncos, damage Denver's hopes". Spokesman-Review.
  5. (March 10, 1981). "Red is out, Reeves in at Denver". Spokesman-Review.
  6. Reid, Ron. (March 10, 1981). "Miller out, Reeves in as Broncos coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  7. (March 11, 1981). "Reeves hired as new Bronco coach". Deseret News.
  8. "2010 Denver Broncos Media Guide".
  9. (November 3, 1981). "Viking comeback falls just short". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
  10. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109060den.htm Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – September 6, 1981]
  11. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981090609 Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – September 6, 1981]
  12. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109130sea.htm Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – September 13, 1981]
  13. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981091305 Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – September 13, 1981]
  14. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109200den.htm Baltimore Colts at Denver Broncos – September 20, 1981]
  15. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981092001 Baltimore Colts at Denver Broncos – September 20, 1981]
  16. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109270den.htm San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 27, 1981]
  17. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981092712 San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 27, 1981]
  18. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110040rai.htm Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – October 4, 1981]
  19. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981100406 Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – October 4, 1981]
  20. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110110den.htm Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos – October 11, 1981]
  21. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981101104 Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos – October 11, 1981]
  22. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110180kan.htm Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – October 18, 1981]
  23. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981101802 Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – October 18, 1981]
  24. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110250buf.htm Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills – October 25, 1981]
  25. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981102503 Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills – October 25, 1981]
  26. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111020den.htm Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – November 2, 1981]
  27. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981110201 Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – November 2, 1981]
  28. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111080den.htm Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos – November 8, 1981]
  29. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981110804 Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos – November 8, 1981]
  30. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111150tam.htm Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 15, 1981]
  31. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981111506 Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 15, 1981]
  32. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111220cin.htm Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals – November 22, 1981]
  33. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981112201 Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals – November 22, 1981]
  34. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111290sdg.htm Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 29, 1981]
  35. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981112904 Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 29, 1981]
  36. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112060den.htm Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – December 6, 1981]
  37. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981120605 Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – December 6, 1981]
  38. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112130den.htm Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – December 13, 1981]
  39. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981121311 Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – December 13, 1981]
  40. ''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112200chi.htm Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears – December 20, 1981]
  41. ''The Football Database''; [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1981122003 Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears – December 20, 1981]
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