1981 Dallas Cowboys Game-by-Game Results
Team Record: 12-4
Finishing 1st in the NFL's East Division of the National Football Conference
Postseason: 1-1 Lost Conference Championship
Coach: Tom Landry (12-4)
Location: Dallas, Texas
1981 Dallas Cowboys Roster
The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League ended the 1981 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses, finishing first in the NFL's East Division of the National Football Conference. The team compiled a postseason mark of 1-1.
Dallas piled up points with 367 points, while the defense conceded 277. Tony Dorsett powered the ground game, running for a 1,646 yards for the Cowboys.
Danny White threw for 3,098 yards. Tony Hill hauled in 46 passes for 953 yards. Drew Pearson was targeted regularly, too.
The opportunistic defense pounced on 53 turnovers. Everson Walls intercepted 11 errant tosses from the opposition.
Tom Landry coached the team. The 1981 Dallas Cowboys lost in the Conference Championship.
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Regular Season Points For: 367
Regular Season Points Against: 277
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 26 at Washington Redskins 10 | W | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| September 13, 1981 | St. Louis Cardinals 17 at Dallas Cowboys 30 | W | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| September 21, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 35 at New England Patriots 21 | W | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-0-0 | ||
| September 27, 1981 | New York Giants 10 at Dallas Cowboys 18 | W | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 4-0-0 | ||
| October 4, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 17 at St. Louis Cardinals 20 | L | 2-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-1-0 | ||
| October 11, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 14 at San Francisco 49ers 45 | L | 2-0-0 | 2-2-0 | 4-2-0 | ||
| October 18, 1981 | Los Angeles Rams 17 at Dallas Cowboys 29 | W | 3-0-0 | 2-2-0 | 5-2-0 | ||
| October 25, 1981 | Miami Dolphins 27 at Dallas Cowboys 28 | W | 4-0-0 | 2-2-0 | 6-2-0 | ||
| November 1, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 17 at Philadelphia Eagles 14 | W | 4-0-0 | 3-2-0 | 7-2-0 | ||
| November 9, 1981 | Buffalo Bills 14 at Dallas Cowboys 27 | W | 5-0-0 | 3-2-0 | 8-2-0 | ||
| November 15, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 24 at Detroit Lions 27 | L | 5-0-0 | 3-3-0 | 8-3-0 | ||
| November 22, 1981 | Washington Redskins 10 at Dallas Cowboys 24 | W | 6-0-0 | 3-3-0 | 9-3-0 | ||
| November 26, 1981 | Chicago Bears 9 at Dallas Cowboys 10 | W | 7-0-0 | 3-3-0 | 10-3-0 | ||
| December 6, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 37 at Baltimore Colts 13 | W | 7-0-0 | 4-3-0 | 11-3-0 | ||
| December 13, 1981 | Philadelphia Eagles 10 at Dallas Cowboys 21 | W | 8-0-0 | 4-3-0 | 12-3-0 | ||
| December 19, 1981 | Dallas Cowboys 10 at New York Giants 13 | L | 8-0-0 | 4-4-0 | 12-4-0 | OT | |
| January 2, 1982 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0 at Dallas Cowboys 38 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | NFC Divisional Playoff | |
| January 10, 1982 | Dallas Cowboys 27 at San Francisco 49ers 28 | L | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-1-0 | NFC Championship |
