1981 Minnesota Vikings season

Offseason

1981 draft

Main article: 1981 NFL draft

Notes

Roster

Preseason

Regular season

After opening the season with back-to-back losses, the Vikings ran off five straight wins and sat near the top of the NFC at midseason. After splitting their next four games, the Vikings were 7–4 and poised for a playoff run—however, they lost their last five games to close out the year.

The Vikings were led by quarterback Tommy Kramer, who enjoyed the most productive season of his career, throwing for 3,912 yards and 26 touchdowns. However, Kramer also threw 24 interceptions in 1981. The Vikings set an NFL record for pass attempts with 709.

A trio of offensive standouts paced the Vikings in 1981 at the skill positions. Running back Ted Brown was the team's main ball carrier, rushing for 1,063 yards, and also came in third in the NFL with 83 pass receptions; he scored eight touchdowns. Veteran wide receiver Sammy White also eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for the first time in his career (1,001) and tight end Joe Senser, who would later become a color analyst on radio for the Vikings, logged 1,004 yards receiving with eight touchdowns; Senser went to the Pro Bowl for the 1981 season.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

First quarter

• TB – Kevin House 55-yard pass from Doug Williams (Garo Yepremian kick), 5:32. ''Buccaneers 7–0. '''Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:17.''''' Second quarter
• No scoring plays. Third quarter
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 45-yard field goal, 10:41. ''Buccaneers 7–3. '''Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 2:36.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 25-yard field goal, 0:33. ''Buccaneers 7–6. '''Drive: 17 plays, 75 yards, 8:12.''''' Fourth quarter
• TB – Doug Williams 10-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 13:17. ''Buccaneers 14–6. '''Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 2:03.'''''
• MIN – Joe Senser 4-yard pass from Steve Dils (Rick Danmeier kick), 2:29. ''Buccaneers 14–13. '''Drive: 14 plays, 72 yards, 2:39.'''''
• TB – Neal Colzie 82-yard interception return (Garo Yepremian kick), 0:21. Buccaneers 21–13. Top passers
• MIN – Steve Dils – 37/62, 361 yards, TD, INT
• TB – Doug Williams – 8/22, 108 yards, TD Top rushers
• MIN – Ted Brown – 20 rushes, 79 yards
• TB – Jerry Eckwood – 6 rushes, 36 yards Top receivers
• MIN – Sammy White – 8 receptions, 92 yards
• TB – Kevin House – 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD

Week 2: vs Oakland Raiders

First quarter

• OAK – Chris Bahr 21-yard field goal, 1:59. ''Raiders 3–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 4:35.''''' Second quarter
• OAK – Burgess Owens 29-yard interception return (Chris Bahr kick), 5:35. Raiders 10–0.
• OAK – Todd Christensen 21-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (kick blocked), 1:50. ''Raiders 16–0. '''Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 1:58.'''''
• MIN – Eddie Payton 99-yard kickoff return (Rick Danmeier kick), 1:35. ''Raiders 16–7. '''Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:15.''''' Third quarter
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 37-yard field goal, 13:00. ''Raiders 16–10. '''Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 2:00.'''''
• OAK – Morris Bradshaw 12-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick), 8:54. ''Raiders 23–10. '''Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 4:06.''''' Fourth quarter
• OAK – Cedrick Hardman 52-yard fumble recovery (Chris Bahr kick), 8:45. Raiders 30–10.
• OAK – Malcolm Barnwell 61-yard pass from Marc Wilson (kick blocked), 4:14. ''Raiders 36–10. '''Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 3:21.''''' Top passers
• OAK – Jim Plunkett – 11/24, 109 yards, 2 TD, INT
• MIN – Steve Dils – 17/40, 246 yards, INT Top rushers
• OAK – Kenny King – 14 rushes, 79 yards
• MIN – Jarvis Redwine – 4 rushes, 20 yards Top receivers
• OAK – Malcolm Barnwell – 1 reception, 61 yards, TD
• MIN – Sammy White – 7 receptions, 140 yards

Week 3: vs Detroit Lions

First quarter

• MIN – Ted Brown 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 8:59. ''Vikings 7–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:23.''''' Second quarter
• MIN – Joe Senser 4-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 11:56. ''Vikings 14–0. '''Drive: 3 plays, 5 yards, 1:25.'''''
• DET – Billy Sims 2-yard run (Eddie Murray kick), 7:28. ''Vikings 14–7. '''Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 4:28.'''''
• DET – Billy Sims 3-yard run (Eddie Murray kick), 1:13. ''Tied 14–14. '''Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:41.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 39-yard field goal, 0:00. ''Vikings 17–14. '''Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 1:13.''''' Third quarter
• MIN – Ted Brown 41-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (kick blocked), 8:12. ''Vikings 23–14. '''Drive: 5 plays, 98 yards, 2:22.'''''
• DET – Gary Danielson 1-yard run (Eddie Murray kick), 2:21. ''Vikings 23–21. '''Drive: 5 plays, 12 yards, 3:35.''''' Fourth quarter
• DET – Eddie Murray 25-yard field goal, 10:30. ''Lions 24–23. '''Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:08.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 20-yard field goal, 0:04. ''Vikings 26–24. '''Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 1:52.''''' Top passers
• DET – Gary Danielson – 14/26, 232 yards, INT
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 25/42, 333 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• DET – Billy Sims – 27 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TD
• MIN – Ted Brown – 18 rushes, 77 yards, TD Top receivers
• DET – Freddie Scott – 5 receptions, 113 yards
• MIN – Ted Brown – 9 receptions, 115 yards, TD

Week 6: at San Diego Chargers

First quarter

• SD – Chuck Muncie 2-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 3:11. ''Chargers 7–0. '''Drive: 2 plays, 2 yards, 0:45.''''' Second quarter
• MIN – Rickey Young 15-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 14:47. ''Tied 7–7. '''Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 3:24.'''''
• MIN – Ted Brown 4-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:00. ''Vikings 14–7. '''Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 5:10.'''''
• SD – Dwight Scales 60-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 6:45. ''Tied 14–14. '''Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 2:15.''''' Third quarter
• SD – Rolf Benirschke 39-yard field goal, 9:43. ''Chargers 17–14. '''Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:32.'''''
• MIN – Terry LeCount 26-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:28. ''Vikings 21–17. '''Drive: 7 plays, 92 yards, 3:15.'''''
• SD – Charlie Joiner 38-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 4:32. ''Chargers 24–21. '''Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 1:56.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 28-yard field goal, 2:35. ''Tied 24–24. '''Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:57.''''' Fourth quarter
• SD – Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 10:47. ''Chargers 31–24. '''Drive: 15 plays, 74 yards, 6:48.'''''
• MIN – Terry LeCount 43-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (kick failed), 1:51. ''Chargers 31–30. '''Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 0:35.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 38-yard field goal, 0:00. ''Vikings 33–31. '''Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 1:45.''''' Top passers
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 27/43, 444 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
• SD – Dan Fouts – 20/38, 310 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
• MIN – Ted Brown – 21 rushes, 68 yards
• SD – Chuck Muncie – 21 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
• MIN – Terry LeCount – 6 receptions, 120 yards, 2 TD
• SD – Charlie Joiner – 6 receptions, 97 yards, TD

Week 7: vs Philadelphia Eagles

First quarter

• PHI – Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard run (kick blocked), 1:55. ''Eagles 6–0. '''Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 2:45.''''' Second quarter
• MIN – Joe Senser 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 11:42. ''Vikings 7–6. '''Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 5:04.'''''
• PHI – Tony Franklin 30-yard field goal, 3:48. ''Eagles 9–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:00.'''''
• MIN – Sammy White 50-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 1:54. ''Vikings 14–9. '''Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:44.'''''
• MIN – Bob Bruer 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 0:00. ''Vikings 21–9. '''Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 1:06.''''' Third quarter
• MIN – Ahmad Rashad 5-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:32. ''Vikings 28–9. '''Drive: 8 plays, 29 yards, 2:41.''''' Fourth quarter
• PHI – Wilbert Montgomery 25-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick), 12:44. ''Vikings 28–16. '''Drive: 7 plays, 86 yards, 2:51.'''''
• MIN – Ted Brown 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:20. ''Vikings 35–16. '''Drive: 4 plays, 44 yards, 1:48.'''''
• PHI – Harold Carmichael 21-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick), 2:47. ''Vikings 35–23. '''Drive: 5 plays, 67 yards, 2:24.''''' Top passers
• PHI – Ron Jaworski – 30/45, 345 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 24/46, 257 yards, 4 TD Top rushers
• PHI – Wilbert Montgomery – 16 rushes, 62 yards, TD
• MIN – Ted Brown – 22 rushes, 92 yards, TD Top receivers
• PHI – Wilbert Montgomery – 10 receptions, 143 yards, TD
• MIN – Joe Senser – 5 receptions, 88 yards, TD

Week 9: at Denver Broncos

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• DEN – Fred Steinfort 42-yard field goal, 4:06. ''Broncos 3–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:00.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 32-yard field goal, 0:18. ''Tied 3–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 3:48.''''' Third quarter
• DEN – Fred Steinfort 49-yard field goal, 7:29. ''Broncos 6–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 4:39.''''' Fourth quarter
• DEN – Rob Lytle 5-yard run (kick failed), 10:16. ''Broncos 12–3. '''Drive: 12 plays, 94 yards, 5:52.'''''
• DEN – Steve Watson 15-yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick), 8:32. ''Broncos 19–3. '''Drive: 2 plays, 18 yards, 0:36.'''''
• MIN – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:07. ''Broncos 19–10. '''Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:25.'''''
• MIN – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 2:40. ''Broncos 19–17. '''Drive: 2 plays, 39 yards, 0:15.''''' Top passers
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 22/36, 230 yards, INT
• DEN – Craig Morton – 16/28, 201 yards, TD Top rushers
• MIN – Ted Brown – 14 rushes, 47 yards
• DEN – Rick Parros – 12 rushes, 65 yards Top receivers
• MIN – Joe Senser – 6 receptions, 73 yards
• DEN – Ron Egloff – 2 receptions, 62 yards

Week 10: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

First quarter

• MIN – Rick Danmeier 33-yard field goal, 4:47. ''Vikings 3–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 23 yards, 3:05.''''' Second quarter
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 38-yard field goal, 13:33. ''Vikings 6–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:19.'''''
• MIN – Ted Brown 2-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 1:09. ''Vikings 13–0. '''Drive: 17 plays, 95 yards, 9:04.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 41-yard field goal, 0:00. ''Vikings 16–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 0:40.''''' Third quarter
• MIN – Rickey Young 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 11:35. ''Vikings 23–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 3:25.'''''
• TB – Bill Capece 27-yard field goal, 3:17. ''Vikings 23–3. '''Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 2:15.''''' Fourth quarter
• MIN – Doug Williams sacked in the end zone by Mark Mullaney and James White for a safety, 13:08. Vikings 25–3.
• TB – Jimmie Giles 1-yard pass from Doug Williams (Bill Capece kick), 9:28. ''Vikings 25–10. '''Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 1:54.''''' Top passers
• TB – Doug Williams – 13/27, 154 yards, TD
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 24/41, 228 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• TB – Doug Williams – 3 rushes, 20 yards
• MIN – Ted Brown – 31 rushes, 129 yards, TD Top receivers
• TB – Kevin House – 3 receptions, 70 yards
• MIN – Joe Senser – 8 receptions, 101 yards

Week 11: vs New Orleans Saints

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 35-yard field goal, 9:35. ''Vikings 3–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 3:32.'''''
• NO – Benny Ricardo 24-yard field goal, 4:26. ''Tied 3–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 5:09.'''''
• MIN – Joe Senser 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 0:19. ''Vikings 10–3. '''Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 3:12.''''' Third quarter
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 19-yard field goal, 8:29. ''Vikings 13–3. '''Drive: 15 plays, 78 yards, 6:31.'''''
• MIN – Ted Brown 9-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:36. ''Vikings 20–3. '''Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:45.''''' Fourth quarter
• NO – George Rogers 1-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick), 6:59. ''Vikings 20–10. '''Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 4:54.''''' Top passers
• NO – Dave Wilson – 19/39, 244 yards, 2 INT
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 19/40, 287 yards, TD Top rushers
• NO – George Rogers – 31 rushes, 97 yards, TD
• MIN – Ted Brown – 16 rushes, 54 yards, TD Top receivers
• NO – Wayne Wilson – 3 receptions, 71 yards
• MIN – Joe Senser – 7 receptions, 92 yards, TD

Week 16: vs Kansas City Chiefs

First quarter

• MIN – Rick Danmeier 43-yard field goal, 10:33. ''Vikings 3–0. '''Drive: 14 plays, 50 yards, 4:27.'''''
• KC – Nick Lowery 30-yard field goal, 1:12. ''Tied 3–3. '''Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:41.''''' Second quarter
• No scoring plays. Third quarter
• KC – Stan Rome 15-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Nick Lowery kick), 10:03. ''Chiefs 10–3. '''Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards, 4:57.'''''
• MIN – Rick Danmeier 33-yard field goal, 4:30. ''Chiefs 10–6. '''Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 1:15.''''' Fourth quarter
• No scoring plays. Top passers
• KC – Steve Fuller – 12/16, 145 yards, TD, INT
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 17/38, 177 yards, INT Top rushers
• KC – Billy Jackson – 25 rushes, 102 yards
• MIN – Tony Galbreath – 11 rushes, 55 yards Top receivers
• KC – Carlos Carson – 3 receptions, 78 yards
• MIN – Tony Galbreath – 7 receptions, 60 yards

Standings

Statistics

Team leaders

• Vikings single season record although tackles were not official until 2001.

League rankings

References

References

1. [http://pfref.com/tiny/9BHKL Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, in the Regular Season, requiring Pass Attempts >= 0, sorted by descending Pass Attempts.]
2. "1981 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".