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.
Scores & Schedules
See schedule
1981 Division Standings
1981 Stats
See stats| 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 |
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| AFC East | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Patriots - y | 14 | 3 | 0 | .824 |
 Bills - w | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 |
 Dolphins - e | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 |
 Jets - e | 3 | 14 | 0 | .176 |
| AFC North | W | L | T | PCT |
 Steelers - y | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 |
 Ravens - e | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 |
 Bengals - e | 6 | 11 | 0 | .353 |
 Browns - e | 5 | 12 | 0 | .294 |
| AFC South | W | L | T | PCT |
 Jaguars - y | 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 |
 Texans - w | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 |
 Colts - e | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 |
 Titans - e | 3 | 14 | 0 | .176 |
| AFC West | W | L | T | PCT |
 Broncos - z* | 14 | 3 | 0 | .824 |
 Chargers - w | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 |
 Chiefs - e | 6 | 11 | 0 | .353 |
 Raiders - e | 3 | 14 | 0 | .176 |
| NFC East | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Eagles - y | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 |
 Cowboys - e | 7 | 9 | 1 | .441 |
 Commanders - e | 5 | 12 | 0 | .294 |
 Giants - e | 4 | 13 | 0 | .235 |
| NFC North | W | L | T | PCT |
 Bears - y | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 |
 Packers - w | 9 | 7 | 1 | .559 |
 Vikings - e | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
 Lions - e | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| NFC South | W | L | T | PCT |
 Panthers - y | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 |
 Buccaneers - e | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 |
 Falcons - e | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 |
 Saints - e | 6 | 11 | 0 | .353 |
| NFC West | W | L | T | PCT |
 Seahawks - z* | 14 | 3 | 0 | .824 |
 Rams - w | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 |
 49ers - w | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 |
 Cardinals - e | 3 | 14 | 0 | .176 |