1981 New England Patriots season Schedule Schedule

| Week | Date_ | Opponent | Result_ | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 6, 1981 | Baltimore Colts | L 29–28 | 49572 |
| 2 | September 13, 1981 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 13–3 | 71089 |
| 3 | September 21, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys | L 35–21 | 60311 |
| 4 | September 27, 1981 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 27–21 | 53344 |
| 5 | October 4, 1981 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 33–17 | 55931 |
| 6 | October 11, 1981 | at New York Jets | L 28–24 | 55093 |
| 7 | October 18, 1981 | Houston Oilers | W 38–10 | 60474 |
| 8 | October 25, 1981 | at Washington Redskins | L 24–22 | 50394 |
| 9 | November 1, 1981 | at Oakland Raiders | L 27–17 | 44246 |
| 10 | November 8, 1981 | Miami Dolphins | L 30–27 | 60436 |