NFL standings at the end of December 6, 1981
Average points per team per game: 22.1
| AFC East | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Miami Dolphins |
9 | 4 | 1 | 312 | 262 | 50 | -2.1 | 1.5 | 5-1-1 | 4-3-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 Buffalo Bills |
9 | 5 | 0 | 286 | 250 | 36 | -1.3 | 1.3 | 7-1-0 | 2-4-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 New York Jets |
8 | 5 | 1 | 313 | 271 | 42 | -2.3 | 0.7 | 5-2-0 | 3-3-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 New England Patriots |
2 | 12 | 0 | 291 | 328 | -37 | -0.0 | -2.7 | 2-5-0 | 0-7-0 | Lost 7 | ||||||||
 Baltimore Colts |
1 | 13 | 0 | 222 | 474 | -252 | 1.5 | -16.5 | 0-7-0 | 1-6-0 | Lost 13 | ||||||||
| AFC Central | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cincinnati Bengals |
10 | 4 | 0 | 374 | 266 | 108 | -2.0 | 5.7 | 6-2-0 | 4-2-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Pittsburgh Steelers |
8 | 5 | 0 | 299 | 229 | 70 | -0.5 | 4.9 | 5-2-0 | 3-3-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Houston Oilers |
6 | 8 | 0 | 254 | 307 | -53 | -0.1 | -3.9 | 4-3-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Cleveland Browns |
5 | 9 | 0 | 242 | 319 | -77 | 0.5 | -5.0 | 3-4-0 | 2-5-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||
| AFC West | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denver Broncos |
9 | 5 | 0 | 274 | 241 | 33 | -0.1 | 2.3 | 7-0-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 San Diego Chargers |
8 | 6 | 0 | 431 | 357 | 74 | -1.0 | 4.2 | 4-3-0 | 4-3-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Kansas City Chiefs |
8 | 6 | 0 | 326 | 267 | 59 | -0.1 | 4.1 | 5-2-0 | 3-4-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||||
 Oakland Raiders |
6 | 7 | 0 | 227 | 270 | -43 | 0.8 | -2.6 | 3-3-0 | 3-4-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Seattle Seahawks |
5 | 9 | 0 | 267 | 344 | -77 | 1.6 | -3.9 | 4-3-0 | 1-6-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
| NFC East | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dallas Cowboys |
11 | 3 | 0 | 336 | 254 | 82 | -1.0 | 4.9 | 7-0-0 | 4-3-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Philadelphia Eagles |
9 | 5 | 0 | 320 | 200 | 120 | -1.0 | 7.6 | 5-2-0 | 4-3-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||
 New York Giants |
7 | 7 | 0 | 262 | 237 | 25 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3-4-0 | 4-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 St. Louis Cardinals |
7 | 7 | 0 | 305 | 350 | -45 | -0.0 | -3.2 | 5-2-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 4 | ||||||||
 Washington Redskins |
6 | 8 | 0 | 279 | 328 | -49 | 2.0 | -1.5 | 4-3-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
| NFC Central | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
8 | 6 | 0 | 272 | 227 | 45 | -0.5 | 2.7 | 6-1-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Detroit Lions |
7 | 7 | 0 | 335 | 295 | 40 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 6-0-0 | 1-7-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Minnesota Vikings |
7 | 7 | 0 | 312 | 314 | -2 | -0.1 | -0.2 | 5-2-0 | 2-5-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||
 Green Bay Packers |
7 | 7 | 0 | 286 | 326 | -40 | 0.8 | -2.1 | 4-4-0 | 3-3-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 Chicago Bears |
4 | 10 | 0 | 195 | 294 | -99 | 1.7 | -5.4 | 3-4-0 | 1-6-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
| NFC West | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Francisco 49ers |
11 | 3 | 0 | 308 | 227 | 81 | 0.4 | 6.2 | 6-1-0 | 5-2-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Atlanta Falcons |
7 | 7 | 0 | 382 | 304 | 78 | -0.2 | 5.4 | 4-3-0 | 3-4-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Los Angeles Rams |
5 | 9 | 0 | 275 | 305 | -30 | 0.4 | -1.7 | 3-3-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 5 | ||||||||
 New Orleans Saints |
4 | 10 | 0 | 183 | 322 | -139 | 1.8 | -8.2 | 2-4-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||||