NFL standings at the end of December 20, 1981
Average points per team per game: 21.9
| AFC East | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Miami Dolphins |
11 | 4 | 1 | 345 | 275 | 70 | -1.5 | 2.9 | 6-1-1 | 5-3-0 | Won 4 | ||||||||
 New York Jets |
10 | 5 | 1 | 355 | 287 | 68 | -2.4 | 1.8 | 6-2-0 | 4-3-1 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 Buffalo Bills |
10 | 6 | 0 | 311 | 276 | 35 | -0.9 | 1.3 | 7-1-0 | 3-5-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 New England Patriots |
2 | 14 | 0 | 322 | 370 | -48 | -0.7 | -3.7 | 2-6-0 | 0-8-0 | Lost 9 | ||||||||
 Baltimore Colts |
2 | 14 | 0 | 259 | 533 | -274 | 1.3 | -15.9 | 1-7-0 | 1-7-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
| AFC Central | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cincinnati Bengals |
12 | 4 | 0 | 421 | 304 | 117 | -1.8 | 5.5 | 6-2-0 | 6-2-0 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 Pittsburgh Steelers |
8 | 8 | 0 | 356 | 297 | 59 | -1.0 | 2.7 | 5-3-0 | 3-5-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||
 Houston Oilers |
7 | 9 | 0 | 281 | 355 | -74 | -0.0 | -4.7 | 5-3-0 | 2-6-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Cleveland Browns |
5 | 11 | 0 | 276 | 375 | -99 | -0.3 | -6.5 | 3-5-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 5 | ||||||||
| AFC West | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denver Broncos |
10 | 6 | 0 | 321 | 289 | 32 | -0.7 | 1.3 | 8-0-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 San Diego Chargers |
9 | 6 | 0 | 455 | 380 | 75 | -0.9 | 4.1 | 4-3-0 | 5-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Kansas City Chiefs |
9 | 7 | 0 | 343 | 290 | 53 | -0.1 | 3.2 | 5-3-0 | 4-4-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Oakland Raiders |
7 | 8 | 0 | 263 | 320 | -57 | 0.5 | -3.3 | 4-4-0 | 3-4-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Seattle Seahawks |
6 | 10 | 0 | 322 | 388 | -66 | 0.8 | -3.3 | 5-3-0 | 1-7-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
| NFC East | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dallas Cowboys |
12 | 4 | 0 | 367 | 277 | 90 | 0.5 | 6.1 | 8-0-0 | 4-4-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Philadelphia Eagles |
10 | 6 | 0 | 368 | 221 | 147 | -0.5 | 8.7 | 6-2-0 | 4-4-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 New York Giants |
9 | 7 | 0 | 295 | 257 | 38 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4-4-0 | 5-3-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 Washington Redskins |
8 | 8 | 0 | 347 | 349 | -2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 5-3-0 | 3-5-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
 St. Louis Cardinals |
7 | 9 | 0 | 315 | 408 | -93 | 1.1 | -4.7 | 5-3-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||||
| NFC Central | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
9 | 7 | 0 | 315 | 268 | 47 | 0.1 | 3.0 | 6-2-0 | 3-5-0 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Detroit Lions |
8 | 8 | 0 | 397 | 322 | 75 | 0.6 | 5.3 | 7-1-0 | 1-7-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Green Bay Packers |
8 | 8 | 0 | 324 | 361 | -37 | 0.6 | -1.7 | 4-4-0 | 4-4-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 Minnesota Vikings |
7 | 9 | 0 | 325 | 369 | -44 | 0.7 | -2.0 | 5-3-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 5 | ||||||||
 Chicago Bears |
6 | 10 | 0 | 253 | 324 | -71 | 1.6 | -2.9 | 4-4-0 | 2-6-0 | Won 3 | ||||||||
| NFC West | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | STRK | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Francisco 49ers |
13 | 3 | 0 | 357 | 250 | 107 | -0.5 | 6.2 | 7-1-0 | 6-2-0 | Won 5 | ||||||||
 Atlanta Falcons |
7 | 9 | 0 | 426 | 355 | 71 | -0.5 | 4.0 | 4-4-0 | 3-5-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||||
 Los Angeles Rams |
6 | 10 | 0 | 303 | 351 | -48 | 0.6 | -2.4 | 4-4-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||||
 New Orleans Saints |
4 | 12 | 0 | 207 | 378 | -171 | 1.2 | -9.5 | 2-6-0 | 2-6-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||||