The San Diego Chargers were 10-6 in 1981. They finished 1st in the AFC West and 4th in the AFC. They fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 27 to 7, in the 1981 AFC Championship game.
| GP | PTS | YDS | PLY | AVG | RUSH YDS | RUSH ATT | RUSH AVG | PASS YDS | PASS ATT | PASS AVG | SCK | SCKY | 1DWN | RUSH 1DWN | PASS 1DWN | PEN 1DWN | PEN | PEN YDS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 16 | 478 | 6,744 | 1,129 | 6.0 | 2,005 | 481 | 4.2 | 4,873 | 629 | 7.7 | 19 | 134 | 379 | 127 | 224 | 28 | 128 | 947 |
Team Rank | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 16th | 20th | 10th | 1st | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 28th | 1st | 10th | 1st | 7th | 28th | 24th | |
Opponent | 16 | 390 | 6,136 | 1,109 | 5.5 | 1,825 | 491 | 3.7 | 4,695 | 571 | 8.2 | 47 | 384 | 365 | 114 | 216 | 35 | 108 | 877 |
Opponent Rank | 26th | 27th | 23rd | 27th | 5th | 9th | 7th | 28th | 28th | 27th | 3rd | 26th | 26th | 11th | 28th | 27th | 7th | 12th | |
Net | +88 | +608 | +20 | +0.4 | +180 | -10 | +0.5 | +178 | +58 | -0.5 | -28 | -250 | +14 | +13 | +8 | -7 | +20 | +70 | |
Net Rank | 5th | 6th | 15th | 6th | 10th | 17th | 6th | 13th | 4th | 20th | 3rd | 27th | 14th | 9th | 10th | 22nd | 26th | 20th |
| AFC East | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | |
| AFC North | W | L | T | PCT |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | |
4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | |
| AFC South | W | L | T | PCT |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | |
| AFC West | W | L | T | PCT |
13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | |
2 | 14 | 0 | .125 |
| NFC East | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | |
7 | 8 | 1 | .469 | |
4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | |
| NFC North | W | L | T | PCT |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | |
9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |
| NFC South | W | L | T | PCT |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | |
| NFC West | W | L | T | PCT |
13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |