1981 Denver Broncos season
The 1981 Denver Broncos season was the team's 22nd year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League. 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 [1981 1981 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills season|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 [1981 1981 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals] in week 12. Entering the season finale against the [1981 1981 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears], they had a one-game lead over the [1981 1981 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers] in the AFC West, but the loss at Soldier Field ended their season, losing the tiebreakers for the division and wild card berths.
Prior to this season, ownership changed in February; coaching and front office changes were made in March.
Regular season
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday, September 6, 1981): vs. [1981 [Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Raiders | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 2 (Sunday, September 13, 1981): at [1981 [Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Seahawks |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 3 (Sunday, September 20, 1981): vs. [1981 [Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Colts | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 4 (Sunday, September 27, 1981): vs. San Diego Chargers">1981 San Diego Chargers season">San Diego Chargers
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Chargers | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 5 (Sunday, October 4, 1981): at Oakland Raiders">1981 Oakland Raiders season">Oakland Raiders
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Raiders |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 6 (Sunday, October 11, 1981): vs. [1981 [Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Lions | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time 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:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Chiefs |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 8 (Sunday, October 25, 1981): at Buffalo Bills">1981 Buffalo Bills season">Buffalo Bills
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Bills |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 9 (Monday, November 2, 1981): vs. [1981 [Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Vikings | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 10 (Sunday, November 8, 1981): vs. Cleveland Browns">1981 Cleveland Browns season">Cleveland Browns
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Browns | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time 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
| Broncos | Game statistics | Buccaneers |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 12 (Sunday, November 22, 1981): at Cincinnati Bengals">1981 Cincinnati Bengals season">Cincinnati Bengals
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Bengals |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 13 (Sunday, November 29, 1981): at San Diego Chargers">1981 San Diego Chargers season">San Diego Chargers
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Chargers |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time 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:
| Chiefs | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 15 (Sunday, December 13, 1981): vs. Seattle Seahawks">1981 Seattle Seahawks season">Seattle Seahawks
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Seahawks | Game statistics | Broncos |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''
Week 16 (Sunday, December 20, 1981); at Chicago Bears">1981 Chicago Bears season">Chicago Bears
- Point spread:
- Over/under:
- Time of game:
| Broncos | Game statistics | Bears |
| First downs | ||
| Rushes–yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Sacked–yards | ||
| Net passing yards | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Return yards | ||
| Fumbles–lost | ||
| Penalties–yards | ||
| Time of possession |
'''Individual stats'''