The 1981 Dallas Cowboys season was their 22nd in the league. The team matched their previous output of 12–4, winning their fifth division title in six years.1981 Dallas Cowboys They lost the Conference Championship game for the second straight season.

The season began with four straight victories, followed by two losses (including a surprising 45–14 blowout loss to the 49ers in week six). The Cowboys rebounded to win 8 of their last 9 games to clinch the NFC East but had to settle for the conference's number two seed behind the 49ers.

The Cowboys easily defeated Tampa Bay in the divisional playoff to earn a rematch with the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The game was much closer this time, and the Cowboys still held a 27–21 lead with less than a minute to play. However, Joe Montana led a late drive and hit Dwight Clark in the famous "Catch" to give San Francisco a 28–27 lead. On the ensuing Cowboys possession, Danny White completed a pass to Drew Pearson, and was only an arm's length away from breaking free from Eric Wright and most likely scoring a touchdown. Jim Stuckey recovered a White fumble on the next play, then the 49ers ran out the clock for the win.

Offseason NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

+ 1981 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMichael DownsSafetyRiceAngelo KingLinebackerSouth Carolina StateEverson WallsCornerbackGrambling StateSteve WrightTackleNorthern Iowa

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1981 roster Quarterbacks Glenn Carano Gary Hogeboom Danny White P

Running backs Tony Dorsett James Jones Robert Newhouse Timmy Newsome Ron Springs

Wide receivers Doug Donley Tony Hill Butch Johnson Drew Pearson

Tight ends Doug Cosbie Billy Joe DuPree Jay Saldi Offensive linemen Jim Cooper T Pat Donovan T Andy Frederick T Kurt Petersen G Tom Rafferty C/G Howard Richards G/T Herbert Scott G Glen Titensor G/C Steve Wright T

Defensive linemen Larry Bethea DT John Dutton DT Ed Jones DE Harvey Martin DE Bruce Thornton DE Randy White DTLinebackers Bob Breunig MLB Guy Brown OLB Anthony Dickerson OLB Mike Hegman OLB Angelo King OLB D. D. Lewis OLB Danny Spradlin MLB

Defensive backs Benny Barnes FS Michael Downs FS Ron Fellows CB Dennis Thurman CB Everson Walls CB Charlie Waters SS Steve Wilson CB

Special teams Rafael Septién KReserve lists Dextor Clinkscale S (IR) John Fitzgerald C (IR) Randy Hughes S (IR) Bill Roe LB (IR) Robert Shaw C (IR) Don Smerek DE (IR) Ron Spears DE (IR) Norm Wells G (IR)

Rookies in italics 45 active, 8 inactive

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 6 at Washington Redskins W 26–10 1–0 RFK Stadium 55,045 Recap 2 September 13 St. Louis Cardinals W 30–17 2–0 Texas Stadium 63,602 Recap 3 at New England Patriots W 35–21 3–0 Schaefer Stadium 60,311 Recap 4 September 27 New York Giants W 18–10 4–0 Texas Stadium 63,449 Recap 5 October 4 at St. Louis Cardinals L 17–20 4–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,477 Recap 6 October 11 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–45 4–2 Candlestick Park 57,574 Recap 7 October 18 Los Angeles Rams W 29–17 5–2 Texas Stadium 64,649 Recap 8 October 25 Miami Dolphins W 28–27 6–2 Texas Stadium 64,221 Recap 9 November 1 at Philadelphia Eagles W 17–14 7–2 Veterans Stadium 72,111 Recap 10 Buffalo Bills W 27–14 8–2 Texas Stadium 62,583 Recap 11 November 15 at Detroit Lions L 24–27 8–3 Pontiac Silverdome 79,694 Recap 12 November 22 Washington Redskins W 24–10 9–3 Texas Stadium 64,587 Recap 13 November 26 Chicago Bears W 10–9 10–3 Texas Stadium 63,499 Recap 14 December 6 at Baltimore Colts W 37–13 11–3 Memorial Stadium 54,871 Recap 15 December 13 Philadelphia Eagles W 21–10 12–3 Texas Stadium 64,955 Recap 16 at New York Giants L 10–13 12–4 Giants Stadium 73,009 Recap Division opponents are in bold text

Game notes Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 11

Week 12

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Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Result Game Site Attendance Recap Wild Card First Round Bye Divisional Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) W 38–0 Texas Stadium 64,848 Recap NFC Championship January 10, 1982 at San Francisco 49ers (1) L 27–28 Candlestick Park 60,525 Recap

Divisional Round

Conference Championship

Standings

References