NFL standings at the end of December 16, 1981
Average points per team per game: 21.9
| AFC East | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Miami Dolphins |
10 | 4 | 1 | 329 | 269 | 60 | -2.1 | 1.9 | 5-1-1 | 5-3-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Buffalo Bills |
10 | 5 | 0 | 305 | 260 | 45 | -1.5 | 1.5 | 7-1-0 | 3-4-0 | Won 4 | ||||||||
 New York Jets |
9 | 5 | 1 | 327 | 284 | 43 | -2.8 | 0.1 | 5-2-0 | 4-3-1 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 New England Patriots |
2 | 13 | 0 | 301 | 347 | -46 | -0.2 | -3.3 | 2-6-0 | 0-7-0 | Lost 8 | ||||||||
 Baltimore Colts |
1 | 14 | 0 | 236 | 512 | -276 | 1.3 | -17.1 | 0-7-0 | 1-7-0 | Lost 14 | ||||||||
| AFC Central | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cincinnati Bengals |
11 | 4 | 0 | 391 | 276 | 115 | -2.0 | 5.6 | 6-2-0 | 5-2-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Pittsburgh Steelers |
8 | 7 | 0 | 336 | 276 | 60 | -0.6 | 3.4 | 5-3-0 | 3-4-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||||
 Houston Oilers |
6 | 9 | 0 | 260 | 335 | -75 | -0.0 | -5.0 | 4-3-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Cleveland Browns |
5 | 10 | 0 | 255 | 333 | -78 | 0.0 | -5.2 | 3-5-0 | 2-5-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||||
| AFC West | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denver Broncos |
10 | 5 | 0 | 297 | 254 | 43 | -0.6 | 2.2 | 8-0-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 San Diego Chargers |
9 | 6 | 0 | 455 | 380 | 75 | -0.9 | 4.1 | 4-3-0 | 5-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Kansas City Chiefs |
8 | 7 | 0 | 333 | 284 | 49 | -0.1 | 3.2 | 5-3-0 | 3-4-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||
 Oakland Raiders |
7 | 8 | 0 | 263 | 320 | -57 | 0.4 | -3.4 | 4-4-0 | 3-4-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Seattle Seahawks |
5 | 10 | 0 | 280 | 367 | -87 | 1.3 | -4.5 | 4-3-0 | 1-7-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
| NFC East | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dallas Cowboys |
12 | 3 | 0 | 357 | 264 | 93 | 0.0 | 6.2 | 8-0-0 | 4-3-0 | Won 4 | ||||||||
 Philadelphia Eagles |
9 | 6 | 0 | 330 | 221 | 109 | -0.5 | 6.8 | 5-2-0 | 4-4-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||||
 New York Giants |
8 | 7 | 0 | 282 | 247 | 35 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3-4-0 | 5-3-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 Washington Redskins |
7 | 8 | 0 | 317 | 342 | -25 | 1.2 | -0.5 | 5-3-0 | 2-5-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 St. Louis Cardinals |
7 | 8 | 0 | 315 | 370 | -55 | 0.2 | -3.5 | 5-3-0 | 2-5-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
| NFC Central | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Detroit Lions |
8 | 7 | 0 | 380 | 302 | 78 | 0.7 | 5.9 | 7-0-0 | 1-7-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
8 | 7 | 0 | 295 | 251 | 44 | -0.1 | 2.9 | 6-2-0 | 2-5-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Green Bay Packers |
8 | 7 | 0 | 321 | 333 | -12 | 0.6 | -0.2 | 4-4-0 | 4-3-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Minnesota Vikings |
7 | 8 | 0 | 319 | 359 | -40 | 0.7 | -1.9 | 5-2-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||||
 Chicago Bears |
5 | 10 | 0 | 218 | 300 | -82 | 2.0 | -3.5 | 3-4-0 | 2-6-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
| NFC West | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Francisco 49ers |
12 | 3 | 0 | 336 | 233 | 103 | 0.5 | 7.4 | 7-1-0 | 5-2-0 | Won 4 | ||||||||
 Atlanta Falcons |
7 | 8 | 0 | 398 | 325 | 73 | -0.4 | 4.5 | 4-3-0 | 3-5-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||||
 Los Angeles Rams |
6 | 9 | 0 | 296 | 321 | -25 | 1.0 | -0.7 | 4-3-0 | 2-6-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 New Orleans Saints |
4 | 11 | 0 | 190 | 357 | -167 | 1.4 | -9.8 | 2-5-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||