1981 Detroit Lions season

1981 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Monte Clark
Home field
Results
Record	8–8
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Timeline
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The 1981 Detroit Lions season was their 52nd in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's record of 9–7, winning eight games. The team missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season. In spite of that, halfback Billy Sims continued to play solid football, amassing 1,888 total yards in total offense while scoring a team-high 14 touchdowns. However, the Lions finished in second place in the NFC Central with an 8–8 record.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 6, 1981	San Francisco 49ers	W 24-17	63,710
2	September 13, 1981	at San Diego Chargers	L 28-23	51,264
3	September 20, 1981	at Minnesota Vikings	L 26-24	45,350
4	September 27, 1981	Oakland Raiders	W 16-0	77,919
5	October 4, 1981	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 28-10	71,733
6	October 11, 1981	at Denver Broncos	L 27-21	74,816
7	October 19, 1981	Chicago Bears	W 48-17	71,273
8	October 25, 1981	Green Bay Packers	W 31-27	76,063
9	November 1, 1981	at Los Angeles Rams	L 20-13	61,814
10	November 8, 1981	at Washington Redskins	L 33-31	52,096
11	November 15, 1981	Dallas Cowboys	W 27-24	79,694
12	November 22, 1981	at Chicago Bears	W 23-7	50,082
13	November 26, 1981	Kansas City Chiefs	W 27-10	76,735
14	December 6, 1981	at Green Bay Packers	L 31-17	54,481
15	December 12, 1981	Minnesota Vikings	W 45-7	79,428
16	December 20, 1981	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 20-17	80,444

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(3)	9	7	0	.563	6–2	9–3	315	268
Detroit Lions	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–6	397	322
Green Bay Packers	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–7	324	361
Minnesota Vikings	7	9	0	.438	4–4	6–6	325	369
Chicago Bears	6	10	0	.375	2–6	2–10	253	324