# 1981 NFL season

The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 26–21 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

## Draft

The 1981 NFL draft was held from April 28 to 29, 1981, at New York City's Sheraton Hotel. With the first pick, the New Orleans Saints selected running back George Rogers from the University of South Carolina.

## New referee

Cal Lepore, the line judge for Super Bowl III and referee for the Miracle at the Meadowlands, retired after the 1980 season. He would later become supervisor of officials in the United States Football League and a replay official in the NFL when it was adopted in 1986. Tom Dooley, who was assigned Super Bowl XV as line judge at the end of the 1981 season, was promoted to referee to replace Lepore.

## Major rule changes

* It is illegal for any player to put adhesive or slippery substances such as the product "Stickum" on his body, equipment or uniform. This rule is known as both the "Lester Hayes Rule" and the "Fred Biletnikoff Rule" since both players were notorious for using sticky substances to make it easier for them to intercept/catch passes.
* An offensive player who comes into the game wearing an illegal number for the position he takes must report to the referee before the start of the next play.
* The penalty for an ineligible receiver who touches a forward pass is a loss of down.
* The penalty for illegal use of hands, arms, or body (including holding) is reduced from 15 yards to 10 yards.
* The penalty for intentional grounding is modified: loss of down and 10 yards penalty from the previous spot, or if the foul occurs more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, loss of down at the spot of the foul.
* Officials began wearing numbers 21 through 25 within their position groups after going no higher than number 20 in 1979 and 1980.

## Deaths

* July 1, 1981: Linebacker Rusty Chambers, the Miami Dolphins leading tackler in 1978 and 1979, died in an automobile accident.

## Regular season
### Scheduling formula

* Inter-conference
* AFC East vs NFC East
* AFC Central vs NFC West
* AFC West vs NFC Central

## Division races

From 1970 to 2001, there were three divisions (Eastern, Central and Western) in each conference. The winners of each division, and a fourth "wild card" team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs. The tiebreaker rules were changed to start with head-to-head competition, followed by division records, records against common opponents, and records in conference play.

### National Football Conference

| Week | Eastern | | Central | | Western | | Wild Card (Home) | | Wild Card (Road) | |
| 1 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 1–0–0 | Detroit, Green Bay, Tampa Bay | 1–0–0 | Atlanta | 1–0–0 | 6 teams | 1–0–0 | 6 teams | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 2–0–0 | Detroit, Green Bay, Tampa Bay | 1–1–0 | Atlanta | 2–0–0 | Six teams | 1–1–0 | Six teams | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 3–0–0 | All Five Teams | 1–2–0 | Atlanta | 3–0–0 | NY Giants | 2–1–0 | 8 Other Teams | 1-2-0 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 4–0–0 | Detroit, Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 2–2–0 | Atlanta | 3–1–0 | 6 Teams | 2–2–0 | 6 Teams | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | Philadelphia | 5–0–0 | Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 3–2–0 | Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco | 3–2–0 | Dallas | 4–1–0 | 5 Other Teams | 3-2-0 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | 6–0–0 | Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 4–2–0 | Los Angeles, San Francisco | 4–2–0 | Dallas, Minnesota | 4–2–0 | San Francisco, Los Angeles | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | Philadelphia | 6–1–0 | Minnesota | 5–2–0 | San Francisco | 5–2–0 | Dallas | 5–2–0 | 3 Other Teams | 4-3-0 |
| 8 | Philadelphia | 7–1–0 | Minnesota | 5–3–0 | San Francisco | 6–2–0 | Dallas | 6–2–0 | N.Y. Giants | 5-3-0 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 7–2–0 | Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 5–4–0 | San Francisco | 7–2–0 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 6–3–0 | Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minnesota, N.Y. Giants, Tampa Bay | 5-4-0 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 8–2–0 | Minnesota | 6–4–0 | San Francisco | 8–2–0 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 7–3–0 | Atlanta, Los Angeles, N.Y. Giants, Tampa Bay | 5–5–0 |
| 11 | Philadelphia | 9–2–0 | Minnesota | 7–4–0 | San Francisco | 8–3–0 | Dallas | 8–3–0 | 7 teams | 5-6-0 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 9–3–0 | Minnesota | 7–5–0 | San Francisco | 9–3–0 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 9–3–0 | Atlanta, Detroit, N.Y. Giants, Tampa Bay | 6-6-0 |
| 13 | Dallas | 10–3–0 | Detroit, Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 7–6–0 | San Francisco | 9–4–0 | Philadelphia | 9–4–0 | Atlanta, Detroit, Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 7–6–0 |
| 14 | Dallas | 11–3–0 | Tampa Bay | 8–6–0 | San Francisco | 10–4–0 | Philadelphia | 9–5–0 | Atlanta, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, N.Y. Giants, St. Louis | 7–7–0 |
| 15 | Dallas | 12–3–0 | Detroit, Minnesota, Tampa Bay | 8–7–0 | San Francisco | 12–3–0 | Philadelphia | 9–6–0 | Detroit, Green Bay, N.Y. Giants, Tampa Bay | 8–7–0 |
| 16 | Dallas | 12–4–0 | Tampa Bay | 9–7–0 | San Francisco | 13–3–0 | Philadelphia | 10–6–0 | NY Giants | 9–7–0 |

### American Football Conference

| Week | Eastern | | Central | | Western | | Wild Card (Home) | | Wild Card (Road) | |
| 1 | Baltimore, Buffalo, Miami | 1–0–0 | Cincinnati, Houston | 1–0–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 1–0–0 | 7 teams | 1–0–0 | 7 teams | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | Miami | 2–0–0 | Cincinnati, Houston | 2–0–0 | Kansas City, San Diego | 2–0–0 | 6 teams | 2–0–0 | 6 teams | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | Miami | 3–0–0 | Cincinnati, Houston | 2–1–0 | San Diego | 3–0–0 | 6 teams | 2–1–0 | 6 teams | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | Miami | 4–0–0 | Cincinnati | 3–1–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 3–1–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 3–1–0 | Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston, Oakland | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | Miami | 4–0–1 | Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh | 3–2–0 | Denver, San Diego | 4–1–0 | Denver, San Diego | 4–1–0 | Buffalo, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Pittsburgh | 3-2-0 |
| 6 | Miami | 4–1–1 | Cincinnati, Pittsburgh | 4–2–0 | Denver | 5–1–0 | Buffalo | 4–2–0 | Houston, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Kansas City | 4-2-0 |
| 7 | Miami | 5–1–1 | Cincinnati | 5–2–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 5–2–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 5–2–0 | Buffalo, Houston, Kansas City, Pittsburgh | 4-3-0 |
| 8 | Miami | 5–2–1 | Cincinnati, Pittsburgh | 5–3–0 | Kansas City | 6–2–0 | Buffalo | 5–3–0 | Cincinnati, Denver, Pittsburgh | 5-3-0 |
| 9 | Miami | 6–2–1 | Cincinnati | 6–3–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 6–3–0 | Buffalo | 6–3–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 6-3-0 |
| 10 | Miami | 7–2–1 | Cincinnati | 7–3–0 | Denver | 7–3–0 | San Diego | 6–4–0 | Buffalo, Kansas City | 6–4–0 |
| 11 | Miami | 7–3–1 | Cincinnati | 8–3–0 | Denver, Kansas City | 7–4–0 | Denver, Kansas City | 7–4–0 | N.Y. Jets | 6–4–1 |
| 12 | Miami, N.Y. Jets | 7–4–1 | Cincinnati | 9–3–0 | Denver, Kansas City | 8–4–0 | Denver, Kansas City | 8–4–0 | Miami, N.Y. Jets | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | Miami, N.Y. Jets | 8–4–1 | Cincinnati | 10–3–0 | Denver, Kansas City, San Diego | 8–5–0 | Miami, N.Y. Jets | 8–4–1 | Buffalo, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, San Diego | 8–5–0 |
| 14 | Miami | 9–4–1 | Cincinnati | 10–4–0 | Denver | 9–5–0 | Buffalo | 9–5–0 | N.Y. Jets | 8–5–1 |
| 15 | Miami | 10–4–1 | Cincinnati | 11–4–0 | Denver | 10–5–0 | Buffalo | 10–5–0 | N.Y. Jets | 9–5–1 |
| 16 | Miami | 11–4–1 | Cincinnati | 12–4–0 | San Diego | 10–6–0 | NY Jets | 10–5–1 | Buffalo | 10–6–0 |

## 1981 Final Standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Miami Dolphins$^{(2)}$ | 11 | 4 | 1 | .719 | 5–2–1 | 8–3–1 | 345 | 275 | W4 |
| New York Jets$^{(4)}$ | 10 | 5 | 1 | .656 | 6–1–1 | 8–5–1 | 355 | 287 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills$^{(5)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 311 | 276 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 2–6 | 2–10 | 259 | 533 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 0–8 | 2–10 | 322 | 370 | L9 |
AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Cincinnati Bengals$^{(1)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 10–2 | 421 | 304 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 5–7 | 356 | 297 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 6–6 | 281 | 355 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 2–10 | 276 | 375 | L5 |
AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| San Diego Chargers$^{(3)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 6–2 | 8–4 | 478 | 390 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 321 | 289 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 343 | 290 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–6 | 5–7 | 273 | 343 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–6 | 6–8 | 322 | 388 | W1 |
NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Dallas Cowboys$^{(2)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–2 | 8–4 | 367 | 277 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles$^{(4)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–4 | 7–5 | 368 | 221 | W1 |
| New York Giants$^{(5)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 8–6 | 295 | 257 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–5 | 6–6 | 347 | 349 | W3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–6 | 4–8 | 315 | 408 | L2 |
NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers$^{(3)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 315 | 268 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 397 | 322 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 7–7 | 324 | 361 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 325 | 369 | L5 |
| Chicago Bears | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–6 | 2–10 | 253 | 324 | W3 |
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 |

### Tiebreakers

* Baltimore finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
* San Diego finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on better division record (6–2 to Broncos' 5–3).
* Buffalo was the second AFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over Denver (1–0).
* Detroit finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on better record against common opponents (4–4 to Packers' 3–5).

## Playoffs

| | | | Jan 2 – Texas Stadium | Jan 2 – Texas Stadium | Jan 2 – Texas Stadium | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Tampa Bay | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | 3 | Tampa Bay | 0 | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | | | | | | | |
| Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | 2 | Dallas | 38 | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | | | | | |
| Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | Dec 27 – Veterans Stadium | NFC | NFC | NFC | | | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | Jan 10 – Candlestick Park | | | | | |
| 5 | NY Giants | 27 | NFC | NFC | NFC | 2 | Dallas | 27 | | | | | |
| 5 | NY Giants | 27 | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | | | 2 | Dallas | 27 | | | | | |
| 4 | Philadelphia | 21 | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | 1 | San Francisco | 28 | | | | | |
| | | | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | Jan 3 – Candlestick Park | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | NY Giants | 24 | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | NY Giants | 24 | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome |
| | | | 1 | San Francisco | 38 | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | NFC Championship | | | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome |
| | | | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | | | | | | | | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome | Jan 24 – Pontiac Silverdome |
| Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | Divisional playoffs | | | | | | N1 | San Francisco | 26 |
| Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | | | | | | | | N1 | San Francisco | 26 |
| Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Wild Card playoffs | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | | | | | | A1 | Cincinnati | 21 |
| | | | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | Jan 2 – Miami Orange Bowl | | | | | | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI |
| | | | 3 | San Diego | 41* | | | | | | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI |
| Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | 3 | San Diego | 41* | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | | | | | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI |
| Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | 2 | Miami | 38 | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | | | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI | Super Bowl XVI |
| Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | Dec 27 – Shea Stadium | AFC | AFC | AFC | | | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 10 – Riverfront Stadium | | |
| 5 | Buffalo | 31 | AFC | AFC | AFC | 3 | San Diego | 7 | | |
| 5 | Buffalo | 31 | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | | | 3 | San Diego | 7 | | |
| 4 | NY Jets | 27 | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | 1 | Cincinnati | 27 | | |
| | | | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | Jan 3 – Riverfront Stadium | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Buffalo | 21 | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | | |
| | | | 1 | Cincinnati | 28 | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | AFC Championship | | | | |
    * Indicates OT victory
* view
* talk

## Records, milestones, and notable statistics
### Records Set

* Most Passes Attempted, Season, 709
    Minnesota Vikings
* Most Punts, Season, 114
    Chicago Bears
* Most Yards, Punt Returns, Both Teams, Game, 282
    Los Angeles Rams (219) vs Atlanta Falcons (63), Oct 11, 1981

### Records Tied

* Most Touchdowns, Passing, Single Team, Game, 7
    San Diego Chargers (vs Oakland Raiders) Nov 22, 1981
* Most Touchdowns, Punt Returns, Single Team, Game, 2
    Los Angeles Rams (vs Atlanta Falcons) Oct 11, 1981

### Baltimore Colts Defense

The 1981 Baltimore Colts were one of the worst defenses in NFL history; they set five dubious defensive records:
* Most Points Allowed, Season, 533
* Most Touchdowns Allowed, Season, 68
* Most First Downs Allowed Season, 406
* Most Yards Allowed, Season, 6,793
* Fewest Punt Returns, Season, 12

## Statistical leaders
### Team

| Points scored | San Diego Chargers (478) |
| Total yards gained | San Diego Chargers (6,744) |
| Yards rushing | Detroit Lions (2,795) |
| Yards passing | San Diego Chargers (4,739) |
| Fewest points allowed | Philadelphia Eagles (221) |
| Fewest total yards allowed | Philadelphia Eagles (4,447) |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | Detroit Lions (1,623) |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | Philadelphia Eagles (2,696) |

## Awards

| Most Valuable Player | Ken Anderson, quarterback, Cincinnati |
| Coach of the Year | Bill Walsh, San Francisco |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Ken Anderson, quarterback, Cincinnati |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, NY Giants |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | George Rogers, running back, New Orleans |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, NY Giants |
| Man of the Year | Lynn Swann, wide receiver, Pittsburgh |
| Comeback Player of the Year | Ken Anderson, quarterback, Cincinnati |
| Super Bowl Most Valuable Player | Joe Montana, quarterback, San Francisco |

## Coaching changes

* Denver Broncos: Dan Reeves replaced the fired Red Miller.
* Houston Oilers: Bum Phillips was fired and replaced by Ed Biles.
* New Orleans Saints: Bum Phillips joined the Saints after being fired by the Oilers. Dick Nolan was fired after a 0–12 start in 1980, and Dick Stanfel took over as interim.
* Washington Redskins: Joe Gibbs replaced Jack Pardee.

## Stadium changes

The home of the San Diego Chargers, San Diego Stadium, was renamed Jack Murphy Stadium in memory of local sportswriter Jack Murphy

## Uniform changes

* The Cincinnati Bengals made significant modifications to their uniforms for the first time since the team's debut in 1968, discontinuing the design similar to the Cleveland Browns' jerseys. Orange and black tiger stripes adorned the shoulder stripes of the jersey and the side striping of the pants. Black tiger stripes were also added to the orange helmets, replacing the Bengals wordmark.
* The Dallas Cowboys darkened the shade of their blue jerseys from royal to navy blue, with the numerals becoming silver. The Cowboys wore this blue jersey through 1994.
* The Houston Oilers resumed wearing blue pants with their white jerseys after a one-season hiatus; in addition, the team also changed their face masks from gray to red.
* The Los Angeles Rams switched from gray to navy blue face masks.

## Television

This was the fourth and final year under the league's broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. The league then negotiated to have all three networks renew their deals for another five years.
John Madden became the lead color commentator for CBS, replacing Tom Brookshier who moved into a play-by-play role. However CBS Sports executives debated on whether Madden should be paired with incumbent lead play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall or should #2 announcer Vin Scully be promoted to the role. To resolve the situation, both Scully and Summerall were paired with Madden in four-week stretches. Scully was paired with Madden during the first four weeks of the season while Summerall was primarily covering the US Open Tennis Championships. Then Summerall called games with Madden while Scully covered the Major League Baseball playoffs for CBS Radio. After the eighth week of the NFL season, CBS Sports executives decided that Summerall had better chemistry with Madden than Scully did. Scully was later assigned as a consolation prize the NFC Championship Game. After the season, he would move to NBC to cover Major League Baseball and golf, but he decided to never call NFL games again.

### Regular season game not broadcast by Network TV

| Date | Time | Teams | Local TV | Announcers |
| September 5, 1981 | 8:00 PM EDT | Minnesota @ Tampa Bay | KSTP-TV (Minnesota) WTOG-TV (Tampa Bay) | |