1981 Cincinnati Bengals season
Encyclopedia
The 1981
Cincinnati Bengals
season was the team's 14th year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League
.
The Bengals unveiled new uniforms with tiger-striped helmets, jerseys and pants. They had at least a share of the AFC Central lead the entire season and, on Dec. 13, Ken Anderson threw two touchdown passes as the Bengals clinched the division with a 17–10 win over the Steelers. Anderson led the NFL in passing with a 98.5 rating. On Jan. 3, the Bengals beat Buffalo, 28–21, in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. A week later, playing in their first AFC Championship Game, the Bengals defeated San Diego, 27–7, at Riverfront Stadium in a temperature of nine degrees below zero with a wind-chill factor of minus 59. In Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24 in Pontiac, Mich., the Bengals trailed 20–0 at halftime and lost to San Francisco, 26–21.
1981 NFL season
The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:...
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
season was the team's 14th year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
The Bengals unveiled new uniforms with tiger-striped helmets, jerseys and pants. They had at least a share of the AFC Central lead the entire season and, on Dec. 13, Ken Anderson threw two touchdown passes as the Bengals clinched the division with a 17–10 win over the Steelers. Anderson led the NFL in passing with a 98.5 rating. On Jan. 3, the Bengals beat Buffalo, 28–21, in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. A week later, playing in their first AFC Championship Game, the Bengals defeated San Diego, 27–7, at Riverfront Stadium in a temperature of nine degrees below zero with a wind-chill factor of minus 59. In Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24 in Pontiac, Mich., the Bengals trailed 20–0 at halftime and lost to San Francisco, 26–21.
NFL Draft
| 1981 Cincinnati Bengals Draft | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Pick # | Overall | Name | Position | College |
| 1 | 10 | 10 | David Verser David Verser David Verser is a former American football wide receiver. Verser was selected in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals out of the University of Kansas in the 1981 NFL Draft.... |
Wide Receiver | Kansas |
| 2 | 9 | 37 | Cris Collinsworth Cris Collinsworth Anthony Cris Collinsworth is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1980s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played his entire professional career for... |
Wide Receiver | Florida |
| 3 | 8 | 64 | John Simmons | Defensive Back | SMU |
| 4 | 10 | 93 | Guy Frazier Guy Frazier Guy Frazier is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills . He played college football at the University of Wyoming. He played at the prestigious Cass Technical High School graduating in 1977... |
Linebacker | Wyoming |
| 5 | 9 | 120 | Benjie Pryor | Tight End | Pittsburgh |
| 6 | 8 | 146 | Rex Robinson Rex Robinson Rex Robinson is a place kicker that played for the Marietta Blue Devils, University of Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference and the New England Patriots of the National Football League.... |
Kicker | Georgia |
| 7 | 10 | 176 | Jeff Schuh Jeff Schuh Jeffrey Schuh is a former linebacker in the National Football League.Schuh was drafted in the seventh round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and spent five seasons with the team... |
Linebacker | Minnesota University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557... |
| 8 | 9 | 202 | Bobby Kemp Bobby Kemp Bobby Kemp is a former American football safety who played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League.... |
Defensive Back | Cal State-Fullerton California State University, Fullerton California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs... |
| 9 | 8 | 229 | Jim Hannula | Offensive Tackle | Northern Illinois Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P... |
| 9 | 9 | 230 | Samoa Samoa | Running Back | Washington State |
| 10 | 10 | 258 | Hubert Simpson | Running Back | Tennessee |
| 11 | 9 | 285 | Robert Jackson Robert Jackson (safety) Robert Jackson is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 11th round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Michigan.... |
Defensive Back | Central Michigan Central Michigan University Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan... |
| 12 | 8 | 312 | Mark O'Connell | Quarterback | Ball State Ball State University Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings... |
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 6, 1981 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 27–21 | |
| 2 | September 13, 1981 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31–30 | |
| 3 | September 20, 1981 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 20–17 | |
| 4 | September 27, 1981 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–24 | |
| 5 | October 4, 1981 | at Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 17–10 | |
| 6 | October 11, 1981 | at Baltimore Colts | W 41–19 | |
| 7 | October 18, 1981 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 34–7 | |
| 8 | October 25, 1981 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
L 17–7 | |
| 9 | November 1, 1981 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
W 34–21 | |
| 10 | November 8, 1981 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 40–17 | |
| 11 | November 15, 1981 | Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 24–10 | |
| 12 | November 22, 1981 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 38–21 | |
| 13 | November 29, 1981 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 41–21 | |
| 14 | December 6, 1981 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 21–3 | |
| 15 | December 13, 1981 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 17–10 | |
| 16 | December 20, 1981 | at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 30–28 | |
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional | January 3, 1982 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 28–21 | |
| Conference Championship | January 10, 1982 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–7 | |
| Super Bowl | January 24, 1982 | N San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 26–21 | |
Standings
| AFC Central | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 421 | 304 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers 1981 Pittsburgh Steelers season - Schedule :- Schedule :- Week 1 : vs. Kansas City Chiefs :at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT* Game weather:* Game attendance: 53,305* Referee: Jim Tunney... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 356 | 297 |
| Houston Oilers 1981 Houston Oilers season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:-References:* *... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 281 | 355 |
| Cleveland Browns 1981 Cleveland Browns season The 1981 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 32nd season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1981 NFL Draft.-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-References:... |
5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 276 | 375 |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Glenn Cameron Glenn Scott Cameron is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for eleven seasons in the 1970s and 1980s... Rick Razzano Richard Anthony Razzano is a National Football League fullback as a Free agent. Razzano was suspended for four games during his rookie season for testing positive for steroids. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005.... Tom Dinkel Thomas "Tom" Dinkel is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 5th round of the 1978 NFL Draft. He played seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals.... Bo Harris Clint Lee "Bo" Harris is a former American football linebacker who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals. Harris played college football at Louisiana State University.... Jim LeClair James Michael LeClair is a former American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals... Ron Simpkins Ronald Bernard Simpkins is a former linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals. Simpkins played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was an All-American.... Reggie Williams (linebacker) Reginald Williams is a former professional American football player.The recipient of an academic scholarship, Williams was a three-time All-Ivy League linebacker in football and an Ivy League heavyweight wrestling champion at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in... Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Awards and records
- Ken Anderson, NFL MVP
- Ken Anderson, Bert Bell AwardBert Bell AwardThe Bert Bell Award for the Professional American football Player of the Year is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. This award is named in honor of Bert Bell , Commissioner of the National Football League and founder of the Maxwell Club...
- Ken Anderson, Franchise Record (since broken), Touchdown Passes, 29 Passes
- Ken Anderson, Led NFL, Passer Rating, 98.4 Rating
Milestones
- Ken Anderson, Franchise Record (since broken), Most Touchdown Passes in One Season, 29 Passes
- Cris Collinsworth, 1st 1,000 Yard Receiving Season (1,009 yards)
- Pete Johnson, 1,000 Yard Rushing Season (1,077 yards)