From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1981 Detroit Lions season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Detroit Lions |
| year | 1981 |
| record | 8–8 |
| division_place | 2nd NFC Central |
| coach | Monte Clark |
| stadium | Pontiac Silverdome |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro bowlers | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 2 |
| AP All-pros | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 2 |
| shortnavlink | Lions seasons |
|RB Billy Sims |DT Doug English | AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list |RB Billy Sims (2nd team) |DT Doug English (2nd team)
The 1981 Detroit Lions season was their 52nd in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's record of 9–7, winning eight games. The Lions started off the first four games even at 2–2. In the fourth game of the season, starting quarterback Gary Danielson suffered a dislocated wrist, which ended his season. Backup quarterback Jeff Komlo finished the game and was named the starter for the next week. In the next two games, Komlo struggled. The Lions lost both of those games. Head Coach Monte Clark made the decision to give third-string quarterback Eric Hipple start on a Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears. In front of approximately 71,000 fans, Clark's gamble paid off as the Lions defeated the Bears 48–17.
Star halfback Billy Sims continued to play solid football, amassing 1,888 total yards in total offense while scoring a team-high 14 touchdowns. The Lions had a chance to win the division on the last day against Tampa Bay, but lost and finished in second place in the NFC Central with an 8–8 record. The team missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1981 NFL draft
| Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | 1981 Detroit Lions Draft | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Player name | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Position | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | College | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Round | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 16 | 2 | 46 | 3 | 72 | 4 | 99 | 5 | 129 | 6 | 155 | 7 | 182 | 8 | 211 | 9 | 238 | 9 | 240 | 10 | 264 | 11 | 294 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Nichols | WR | [San Jose State](1980-san-jose-state-spartans-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtis Green | DE | Alabama State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Don Greco | G | Western Illinois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracy Porter | WR | [LSU](1980-lsu-tigers-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larry Lee | DE | [North Carolina State](1980-nc-state-wolfpack-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam Johnson | DB | [Maryland](1980-maryland-terrapins-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lee Spivey | OT | [SMU](1980-smu-mustangs-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Niziolek | TE | [Colorado](1980-colorado-buffaloes-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hugh Jernigan | DB | [Arkansas](1980-arkansas-razorbacks-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Martin | DB | [Villanova](1980-villanova-wildcats-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andy Cannavino | LB | [Michigan](1980-michigan-wolverines-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Willie Jackson | DB | [Mississippi State](1980-mississippi-state-bulldogs-football-team) |
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Stachowicz | Quarterback | Michigan State |
Roster
Schedule
| Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Week | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Date | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Result | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Record | Detroit Lions | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | [San Francisco 49ers](1981-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **W** 24–17 | 1–0 | 63,710 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 13 | at [San Diego Chargers](1981-san-diego-chargers-season) | **L** 28–23 | 1–1 | 51,264 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 20 | at **[Minnesota Vikings](1981-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **L** 26–24 | 1–2 | 45,350 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 27 | [Oakland Raiders](1981-oakland-raiders-season) | **W** 16–0 | 2–2 | 77,919 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 4 | at **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1981-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **L** 28–10 | 2–3 | 71,733 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 11 | at [Denver Broncos](1981-denver-broncos-season) | **L** 27–21 | 2–4 | 74,816 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[Chicago Bears](1981-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 48–17 | 3–4 | 71,273 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 25 | **[Green Bay Packers](1981-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 31–27 | 4–4 | 76,063 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1981-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 20–13 | 4–5 | 61,814 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 8 | at [Washington Redskins](1981-washington-redskins-season) | **L** 33–31 | 4–6 | 52,096 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 15 | [Dallas Cowboys](1981-dallas-cowboys-season) | **W** 27–24 | 5–6 | 79,694 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 22 | at **[Chicago Bears](1981-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 23–7 | 6–6 | 50,082 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Kansas City Chiefs](1981-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **W** 27–10 | 7–6 | 76,735 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 6 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1981-green-bay-packers-season)** | **L** 31–17 | 7–7 | 54,481 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[Minnesota Vikings](1981-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **W** 45–7 | 8–7 | 79,428 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 20 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1981-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **L** 20–17 | 8–8 | 80,444 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note**: Intra-division games are in **bold** text |
Week 13
Standings
References
References
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1981.htm 1981 Detroit Lions]
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111260det.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1981 Detroit Lions season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report