# 1981 Edmonton Eskimos season

The 1981 Edmonton Eskimos finished in first place in the West Division with a 14–1–1 record and won their record fourth consecutive Grey Cup championship after winning the 69th Grey Cup.

## Pre-season
### Schedule

| Game | Date | Opponent | Results | Results | Venue | Attendance |
| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| A | June 5 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 12–11 | 1–0 | | 29,292 |
| B | June 10 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 25–16 | 2–0 | | 18,405 |
| C | June 16 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 17–1 | 3–0 | | 43,426 |
| D | June 26 | vs. BC Lions | W 26–2 | 4–0 | | 43,346 |

## Regular season
### Season Standings

West Division :
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts |
| Edmonton Eskimos | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 576 | 277 | 29 |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 517 | 299 | 22 |
| BC Lions | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 438 | 377 | 20 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 431 | 371 | 18 |
| Calgary Stampeders | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 306 | 367 | 12 |

### Season schedule

| Week | Game | Date | Opponent | Results | Results | Venue | Attendance |
| Week | Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | 1 | July 3 | at Ottawa Rough Riders | W 47–21 | 1–0 | | 22,023 |
| 2 | 2 | July 11 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | W 30–10 | 2–0 | | 43,346 |
| 3 | 3 | July 19 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 28–38 | 2–1 | | 25,745 |
| 4 | 4 | July 26 | at Montreal Alouettes | W 33–17 | 3–1 | | 45,385 |
| 5 | 5 | Aug 1 | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | W 41–5 | 4–1 | | 43,346 |
| 6 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 7 | 6 | Aug 13 | at Toronto Argonauts | W 22–12 | 5–1 | | 38,268 |
| 8 | 7 | Aug 22 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 28–10 | 6–1 | | 43,346 |
| 9 | 8 | Aug 30 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 44–34 | 7–1 | | 43,346 |
| 10 | 9 | Sept 7 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | T 34–34 | 7–1–1 | | 30,121 |
| 11 | 10 | Sept 13 | vs. BC Lions | W 38–21 | 8–1–1 | | 43,346 |
| 12 | 11 | Sept 19 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 21–10 | 9–1–1 | | 34,657 |
| 13 | 12 | Sept 26 | vs. Montreal Alouettes | W 62–11 | 10–1–1 | | 48,422 |
| 14 | 13 | Oct 3 | at BC Lions | W 22–12 | 11–1–1 | | 30,296 |
| 15 | 14 | Oct 12 | vs. Ottawa Rough Riders | W 24–6 | 12–1–1 | | 45,805 |
| 16 | 15 | Oct 18 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 41–29 | 13–1–1 | | 30,312 |
| 17 | 16 | Oct 24 | vs. Toronto Argonauts | W 61–7 | 14–1–1 | | 46,146 |
| 18 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
Total attendance: 357,103
Average attendance: 44,638 (103.0%)

### CFL Single Season Records Set

* Winning percentage (minimum 16 game season) - .906
* Wins by 10+ points - 14
* Highest turnover ration (since 1966) - +41

### CFL Single Game Records Set

* Points scored, 1 quarter - 38 (second quarter vs Montreal September 26)

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Results | Results | Venue | Attendance |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| Division Final | Sun, Nov 15 | vs. BC Lions | W 22–16 | 1–0 | Commonwealth Stadium | 52,861 |
| Grey Cup | Sun, Nov 22 | vs. Ottawa Rough Riders | W 26–23 | 2–0 | Olympic Stadium | 53,307 |

### Grey Cup

| Teams | 1 Q | 2 Q | 3 Q | 4 Q | Final |
| Edmonton Eskimos | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 26 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 13 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 23 |

### Awards and honours

* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Danny Kepley (LB)
* Dick Suderman Trophy – Neil Lumsden
* Norm Fieldgate Trophy – Danny Kepley