NFL team season
The 1981 Denver Broncos season was the team's 22nd year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Dan Reeves ,[ 1] the Broncos were 10–6, tied for first in the AFC West , but failed to make the postseason again due to their loss to the Buffalo Bills , who gained the final berth.
The Broncos were undefeated at home in 1981,[ 2] but had six road losses. After a promising 8–3 start, Denver lost three of their final five games, including a critical loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 12. Entering the season finale against the Chicago Bears , they had a one-game lead over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West,[ 2] but the loss at Soldier Field ended their season, losing the tiebreakers for the division and wild card berths.[ 3] [ 4]
Prior to this season, ownership changed in February; coaching and front office changes were made in March.[ 1] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
1981 Denver Broncos staff Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches Special teams coaches
Source: [ 8] 1981 Denver Broncos roster Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen Defensive linemen
Linebackers Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Source: Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 6 Oakland Raiders W 9–7 1–0 Mile High Stadium 74,796 2 September 13 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–13 1–1 Kingdome 58,513 3 September 20 Baltimore Colts W 28–10 2–1 Mile High Stadium 74,804 4 September 27 San Diego Chargers W 42–24 3–1 Mile High Stadium 74,822 5 October 4 at Oakland Raiders W 17–0 4–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 51,035 6 October 11 Detroit Lions W 27–21 5–1 Mile High Stadium 74,816 7 October 18 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–28 5–2 Arrowhead Stadium 74,672 8 October 25 at Buffalo Bills L 7–9 5–3 Rich Stadium 77,757 9 Minnesota Vikings W 19–17 6–3 Mile High Stadium 74,834 10 November 8 Cleveland Browns W 23–20 OT 7–3 Mile High Stadium 74,859 11 November 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–7 8–3 Tampa Stadium 64,518 12 November 22 at Cincinnati Bengals L 21–38 8–4 Riverfront Stadium 57,207 13 November 29 at San Diego Chargers L 17–34 8–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 51,533 14 December 6 Kansas City Chiefs W 16–13 9–5 Mile High Stadium 74,744 15 December 13 Seattle Seahawks W 23–13 10–5 Mile High Stadium 74,527 16 December 20 at Chicago Bears L 24–35 10–6 Soldier Field 40,125 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
[ 9]
Team Category Player Statistics OAK Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Raiders Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Week 2: Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 3 7 0 0 10 Seahawks 7 3 3 0 13
at Kingdome • Seattle, Washington
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving SEA Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Seahawks First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics BAL Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics SD Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP SD DEN 1 Broncos Odoms 19-yard touchdown reception from Morton , Steinfort kick good 0 7 1 Broncos Watson 93-yard touchdown reception from Morton , Steinfort kick good 0 14 1 Broncos J Wright 2-yard touchdown reception from Morton , Steinfort kick good 0 21 2 Broncos Watson 21-yard touchdown reception from Morton , Steinfort kick good 0 28 3 Broncos Preston 2-yard touchdown run, Steinfort kick good 0 35 3 Chargers Smith 39-yard touchdown reception from Fouts , Benirschke kick good 7 35 3 Chargers 52-yard field goal by Benirschke 10 35 4 Chargers Cappelletti 1-yard touchdown run, Benirschke kick good 17 35 4 Chargers Winslow 1-yard touchdown reception from Fouts , Benirschke kick good 24 35 4 Broncos Lytle 3-yard touchdown run, Steinfort kick good 24 42 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 24 42
Chargers Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving OAK Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Raiders First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Week 6: Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Lions 7 14 0 0 21 Broncos 10 7 3 7 27
Team Category Player Statistics DET Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Lions Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving KC Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Chiefs First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving BUF Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Bills First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics MIN Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Vikings Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics CLE Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Browns Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Week 11: Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 7 0 7 10 24 Buccaneers 0 0 7 0 7
at Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving TB Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Buccaneers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving CIN Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Bengals First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving SD Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Chargers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics KC Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Chiefs Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Team Category Player Statistics SEA Passing Rushing Receiving DEN Passing Rushing Receiving
Seahawks Game Statistics Broncos First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
Week 16: Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Broncos (10–6) 3 0 14 7 24 Bears (6–10) 0 14 14 7 35
at Soldier Field • Chicago, Illinois
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving CHI Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Bears First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Individual stats
^ a b Zimmerman, Paul (October 19, 1981). "Denver is standing mile-high once again" . Sports Illustrated . p. 48. ^ a b Mossman, John (December 14, 1981). "Broncos snow Seahawks, 23-13" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 17. ^ "Bears, 35-24" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. December 21, 1981. p. 3C. ^ "Bears bust Broncos, damage Denver's hopes" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 21, 1981. p. C2. ^ "Red is out, Reeves in at Denver" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 10, 1981. p. 19. ^ Reid, Ron (March 10, 1981). "Miller out, Reeves in as Broncos coach" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 13. ^ "Reeves hired as new Bronco coach" . Deseret News . (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. March 11, 1981. p. G2. ^ 2010 Denver Broncos Media Guide . p. 365. Retrieved March 6, 2011 . ^ "Viking comeback falls just short" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). Associated Press. November 3, 1981. p. 18. ^ Pro Football Reference ; Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – September 6, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – September 6, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – September 13, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – September 13, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Baltimore Colts at Denver Broncos – September 20, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Baltimore Colts at Denver Broncos – September 20, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 27, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 27, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – October 4, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – October 4, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos – October 11, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos – October 11, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – October 18, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – October 18, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills – October 25, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills – October 25, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – November 2, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – November 2, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos – November 8, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos – November 8, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 15, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 15, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals – November 22, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals – November 22, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 29, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 29, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – December 6, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – December 6, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – December 13, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – December 13, 1981 ^ Pro Football Reference ; Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears – December 20, 1981 ^ The Football Database ; Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears – December 20, 1981
Franchise Stadiums Key personnel Culture Lore Rivalries Retired numbers Division championships (15) Conference championships (8) League championships (3) Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation