NFL team season
The 1981 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's sixth season with the National Football League (NFL). The Seahawks got off to a terrible start, losing six of their first seven games, on the way to a 6–10 season. Steve Largent would have a stellar season with 1,224 receiving yards. Jim Zorn was having a bounce back season, completing a career high 59% of his passes, 13 TDs 9 INT’s 6.2 yards per attempt before his injury against the Raiders at home. Seattle opened their season at Cincinnati , and held a 21–0 lead before the Bengals rallied for an improbable 27–21 win. This loss was a portent into the season. The Seahawks also blew a 24–3 3rd quarter lead at home to the Raiders before losing 32–31. Seven of their 10 losses were by two possessions or more.
The Achilles heel for the team was the running game on offense and defense. On offense they ranked 27th in yards and 26th in yards per attempt. On defense the ranking was 27th in yards 28th in yards per attempt. Only once did the defense hold a team under 100 yards rushing which was against the Chargers in San Diego, losing 24–10.
The disappointing season had some memorable highlights. At the time the biggest come behind victory, at home against the Steelers, down 21–3 winning 24–21. On Monday night, the team’s first victory over the San Diego Chargers, losing their first seven meetings, winning 44–23.
Offseason
Draft
Main article: 1981 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
Personnel
Staff
1981 Seattle Seahawks staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Head trainer – Bruce Scott
Assistant trainer – Jim Whitesel
Final roster
Starters in bold.
(*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1982 Pro Bowl . Schedule
Preseason
Source: Seahawks Media Guides Regular season
Bold indicates division opponents.Source: 1981 NFL season results Standings
Game summaries
Preseason
Week P1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
49ers 7
7
3 7 3 27
Seahawks
7
3
0 14 0 24
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P2: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals 6
7
7 10 30
Seahawks
0
7
7 7 21
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P3: at San Francisco 49ers
Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
17
0
0 0 17
49ers 7
0
7 10 24
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco
Date : August 22Game time : 6:05 pm local Game weather : cloudy, 60 °F (16 °C), wind NE 19 miles per hour (31 km/h)Game attendance : 37,563Referee : Bob McElwee TV : KIRO Gamebook Week P4: vs. Baltimore Colts
Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
7
7
0 3 17
Seahawks 10
0
14 7 31
at Kingdome , Seattle
Regular season
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week One: Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
21
0
0 0 21
Bengals 0
10
10 7 27
at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati , Ohio
Date : September 6Game time : 1:00 pm local Game weather : partly cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C), 71% humidity, wind NE 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)Game attendance : 41,177Referee : Bob FredericTV : NBC Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CIN – Jim Breech 25-yard field goal, 10:44 (SEA 21–3)
CIN – Pete Johnson 3-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 0:57 (SEA 21–10) Third quarter
CIN – Jim Breech 40-yard field goal, 11:32 (SEA 21–13)
CIN – Archie Griffin 3-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 2:52 (SEA 21–20) Fourth quarter
CIN – Pete Johnson 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 5:04 (CIN 27–21)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA –230 – 60 – 290 – 4
CIN – 165 – 210 – 375 – 4
Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos
3
7
0 0 10
Seahawks 7
3
3 0 13
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 43-yard field goal, 2:39 (SEA 10–3)
DEN – Riley Odoms 11-yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick), 1:06 (Tied 10–10) Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 22-yard field goal, 5:53 (SEA 13–10) Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
DEN – 142 – 110 – 252 – 2
SEA – 156 – 111 – 267 – 2
Week 3: at Oakland Raiders
Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
3
7 0 10
Raiders 7
6
0 7 20
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum , Oakland, California
Date : September 20Game time : 1:01 pm local Game weather : clear, 68 °F (20 °C), 58% humidity, wind SW 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)Game attendance : 45,725Referee : Pat Haggerty TV announcers (NBC ) : Phil Stone and Gene WashingtonGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 308 – 82 – 390 – 2
OAK – 242 – 190 – 432 – 3
Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs 7
13
0 0 20
Seahawks
0
7
7 0 14
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Bill Kenney 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick), 13:41 (KC 14–0)
KC – Nick Lowery 30-yard field goal, 6:40 (KC 17–0)
KC – Nick Lowery 38-yard field goal, 5:28 (KC 20–0)
SEA – Sam McCullum 11-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:58 (KC 20–7) Third quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:01 (KC 20–14) Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
KC – Joe Delaney : 15 car, 45 yds
SEA – Jim Zorn: 4 car, 48 yds Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
KC – 227 – 154 – 381 – 2
SEA – 277 – 82 – 359 – 1
Week 5: at San Diego Chargers
Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
7
0 3 10
Chargers 0
10
7 7 24
at Jack Murphy Stadium , San Diego
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SD – Charlie Joiner 12-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 4:50 (SD 17–7) Fourth quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 11-yard field goal, 10:30 (SD 17–10)
SD – Charlie Joiner 11-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 3:56 (SD 24–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 200 – 92 – 292 – 1
SD – 272 – 99 – 371 – 2
Week 6: at Houston Oilers
Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
10
0
0 7 17
Oilers 7
7
0 21 35
at Astrodome , Houston , Texas
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
HOU – Earl Campbell 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick), 1:16 (HOU 14–10) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
HOU – Dave Casper 32-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Toni Fritsch kick), 14:54 (HOU 21–10)
HOU – Ken Burrough 24-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Toni Fritsch kick), 11:55 (HOU 28–10)
HOU – Earl Campbell 4-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick), 6:59 (HOU 35–10)
SEA – Steve Largent 31-yard pass from Sam Adkins (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:18 (HOU 35–17)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 214 – 75 – 289 – 3
HOU – 156 – 216 – 372 – 1
Week 7: vs. New York Giants
Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants 3
10
13 6 32
Seahawks
0
0
0 0 0
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
NYG – Joe Danelo 29-yard field goal, 9:23 (NYG 3–0) Second quarter
NYG – Gary Shirk 6-yard pass from Phil Simms (Joe Danelo kick), 12:09 (NYG 10–0)
NYG – Joe Danelo 54-yard field goal, 4:30 (NYG 13–0) Third quarter
NYG – Joe Danelo 21-yard field goal, 12:10 (NYG 16–0)
NYG – Joe Danelo 47-yard field goal, 5:39 (NYG 19–0)
NYG – Rob Carpenter 2-yard run (Joe Danelo kick), 3:5 (NYG 26–0) Fourth quarter
NYG – Joe Danelo 31-yard field goal, 11:15 (NYG 29–0)
NYG – Joe Danelo 37-yard field goal, 0:16 (NYG 32–0)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
NYG – 88 – 213 – 301 – 1
SEA – 98 – 29 – 127 – 4
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week Eight: Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 0
7
6 6 19
Jets
0
0
3 0 3
at Shea Stadium , New York
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 27-yard pass from Jim Zorn (PAT failed), 12:53 (SEA 13–0)
NYJ – Pat Leahy 34-yard field goal, 7:53 (SEA 13–3) Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 163 – 217 – 380 – 1
NYJ – 101 – 118 – 219 – 4
Week 9: at Green Bay Packers
Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
14
3 0 24
Packers 7
14
7 6 34
at Lambeau Field , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Dan Doornink 12-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:03 (SEA 14–7)
GB – David Whitehurst 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:19 (Tied 14–14)
GB – James Lofton 8-yard pass from David Whitehurst (Jan Stenerud kick), 4:18 (GB 21–14)
SEA – Dan Doornink 14-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:24 (Tied 21–21) Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 54-yard field goal, 5:54 (SEA 24–21)
GB – James Lofton 38-yard pass from David Whitehurst (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:02 (GB 28–24) Fourth quarter
GB – Jan Stenerud 19-yard field goal, 1:58 (GB 31–24)
GB – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal, 0:45 (GB 34–24)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 102 – 119 – 221 – 3
GB – 195 – 182 – 337 – 3
Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Steelers
7
14
0 0 21
Seahawks 3
7
0 14 24
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SEA – Theotis Brown 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:13 (PIT 21–17)
SEA – Theotis Brown 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:04 (SEA 24–21)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
PIT – 205 – 162 – 367 – 2
SEA – 260 – 96 – 356 – 1
Week 11: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers
7
10
0 6 23
Seahawks 0
24
14 6 44
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 25-yard field goal, 12:43 (SD 7–3)
SEA – Theotis Brown 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:27 (SEA 10–7)
SEA – Sherman Smith 18-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:56 (SEA 17–7)
SD – Chuck Muncie 73-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 4:26 (SEA 17–14)
SEA – Theotis Brown 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:57 (SEA 24–14)
SD – Rolf Benirschke 32-yard field goal, 0:03 (SEA 24–17) Third quarter
SEA – Dan Doornink 80-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:46 (SEA 31–17)
SEA – Dan Doornink 3-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:12 (SEA 38–17) Fourth quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 30-yard field goal, 13:05 (SEA 41–17)
SD – Charlie Joiner 19-yard pass from Dan Fouts (PAT failed), 11:39 (SEA 41–23)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 23-yard field goal, 6:11 (SEA 44–23)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SD – 291 – 195 – 486 – 4
SEA – 212 – 156 – 368 – 0
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
3
3
7 0 13
Chiefs 3
17
7 13 40
at Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 22Game time : 1:01 pm local Game weather : clear, 53 °F (12 °C), 40% humidity, wind SE 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)Game attendance : 49,002Referee : Fred Silva TV : NBC Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 24-yard field goal, 11:16 (KC 6–3)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 30-yard field goal, 2:51 (Tied 6–6)
KC – J.T. Smith 14-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 1:07 (KC 13–6)
KC – Lloyd Burruss 46-yard interception return (Nick Lowery kick), 0:31 (KC 20–6) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Willie Scott 2-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 14:57 (KC 33–13)
KC – Billy Jackson 2-yard run (Nick Lowery kick), 9:36 (KC 40–13)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 256 – 83 – 339 – 2
KC – 181 – 269 – 450 – 0
Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders 0
3
8 21 32
Seahawks
0
10
14 7 31
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 22-yard field goal, 12:38 (SEA 3–0)
OAK – Chris Bahr 20-yard field goal, 8:26 (Tied 3–3)
SEA – Jim Zorn 3-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:44 (SEA 10–3) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
OAK – 156 – 181 – 337 – 4
SEA – 314 – 69 – 383 – 1
Week 14: vs. New York Jets
Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Jets
0
9
7 7 23
Seahawks 6
7
7 7 27
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
NYJ – Scott Dierking 15-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 13:19 (NYJ 16–13)
SEA – Dave Krieg 1-yard run (Wilson Álvarez kick), 1:04 (SEA 20–16) Fourth quarter
NYJ – Kevin Long 1-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick), 9:21 (NYJ 23–20)
SEA – Steve Largent 57-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Wilson Álvarez kick), 8:21 (SEA 27–23)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
NYJ – 276 – 119 – 395 – 3
SEA – 256 – 127 – 383 – 4
Week 15: at Denver Broncos
Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
3
3 7 13
Broncos 7
3
6 7 23
at Mile High Stadium , Denver , Colorado
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Wilson Álvarez 28-yard field goal, 8:06 (DEN 7–3)
DEN – Fred Steinfort 33-yard field goal, 0:00 (DEN 10–3) Third quarter
DEN – Fred Steinfort 43-yard field goal, 11:28 (DEN 13–3)
DEN – Fred Steinfort 24-yard field goal, 8:13 (DEN 16–3)
SEA – Wilson Álvarez 20-yard field goal, 1:58 (DEN 16–6) Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 199 – 86 – 285 – 5
DEN – 136 – 237 – 373 – 3
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Browns
0
7
7 7 21
Seahawks 14
14
14 0 42
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Paul Johns 10-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Wilson Álvarez kick), 8:26 (SEA 35–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 14-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Wilson Álvarez kick), 7:25 (SEA 42–7)
CLE – Dave Logan 16-yard pass from Paul McDonald (Matt Bahr kick), 5:36 (SEA 42–14) Fourth quarter
CLE – Calvin Hill 8-yard pass from Paul McDonald (Matt Bahr kick), 10:02 (SEA 42–21)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
CLE – 301 – 151 – 452 – 10
SEA – 182 – 110 – 292 – 5
References
"Home" . pro-football-reference.com .1981 Seahawks Media Guide , accessed February 14, 2015.
1982 Seahawks Media Guide , accessed February 14, 2015.
1981 NFL season results , NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
External links
Seattle Seahawks
Franchise
Stadiums
Culture
Lore
Rivalries
Division championships (11)
Conference championships (3)
League championships (1)
Retired numbers
Affiliations
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