# 1981 Los Angeles Rams season

The 1981 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 44th year with the National Football League (NFL) and the 36th season in Los Angeles. The Rams looked to improve on their 11–5 record from 1980. The team failed to improve, finishing with a mediocre 6–10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1972. This year's Rams squad also suffered the humiliation of being the first to be swept by NFC West rival New Orleans.
For the season, the Rams converted from gray facemasks to blue facemasks.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

1981 Los Angeles Rams draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 9 | Mel Owens | Linebacker | Michigan |
| 2 | 43 | Jim Collins | Linebacker | Syracuse |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1981 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Jeff Kemp | Quarterback | Dartmouth |
The Rams were touted as a possible Super Bowl contender prior to this season. However, Vince Ferragamo, who had previously led the Rams to Super Bowl XIV and set a Rams record the previous season with 30 touchdown passes, decided to bolt for the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. Pat Haden was named the starter, but with most of the offensive weapons that Ferragamo had, notably WR's Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy. Also, the Rams would benefit from the return of running back Wendell Tyler, who had missed most of the previous season with a hip injury from an automobile accident.

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 6 | Houston Oilers | L 20–27 | 0–1 | Anaheim Stadium | 63,198 |
| 2 | September 13 | at New Orleans Saints | L 17–23 | 0–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 62,063 |
| 3 | September 20 | Green Bay Packers | W 35–23 | 1–2 | Anaheim Stadium | 61,286 |
| 4 | September 28 | at Chicago Bears | W 24–7 | 2–2 | Soldier Field | 62,461 |
| 5 | October 4 | Cleveland Browns | W 27–16 | 3–2 | Anaheim Stadium | 63,924 |
| 6 | October 11 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 37–35 | 4–2 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 57,841 |
| 7 | October 18 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 17–29 | 4–3 | Texas Stadium | 64,649 |
| 8 | October 25 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 17–20 | 4–4 | Candlestick Park | 59,190 |
| 9 | November 1 | Detroit Lions | W 20–13 | 5–4 | Anaheim Stadium | 61,814 |
| 10 | November 8 | New Orleans Saints | L 13–21 | 5–5 | Anaheim Stadium | 61,068 |
| 11 | November 15 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–24 | 5–6 | Riverfront Stadium | 56,836 |
| 12 | November 22 | San Francisco 49ers | L 31–33 | 5–7 | Anaheim Stadium | 63,456 |
| 13 | November 29 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–24 | 5–8 | Three Rivers Stadium | 51,854 |
| 14 | December 6 | at New York Giants | L 7–10 | 5–9 | Giants Stadium | 59,659 |
| 15 | December 14 | Atlanta Falcons | W 21–16 | 6–9 | Anaheim Stadium | 57,054 |
| 16 | December 20 | Washington Redskins | L 7–30 | 6–10 | Anaheim Stadium | 52,224 |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |||||||

### Standings

NFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| San Francisco 49ers$^{(1)}$ | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10-2 | 357 | 250 | W5 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–3 | 6–6 | 426 | 355 | L3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 303 | 351 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 2–10 | 207 | 378 | L4 |