1981 Philadelphia Eagles season

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1981 Philadelphia Eagles season
Head coach Dick Vermeil
Owner Leonard Tose
Home field Veterans Stadium
Results
Record 10–6
Division place 2nd NFC East
Playoff finish Lost Wildcard

The 1981 Philadelphia Eagles season resulted in an appearance in the postseason for the fourth straight season (first time in franchise history the Eagles had made the postseason four straight times), after this season the Eagles would not return to the postseason until 1988.

Offseason

NFL Draft

After going 12–4 and winning the NFC title and losing in Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders in the 1980 season the Eagles would be picking next to last in the 12 rounds of the draft

The 1981 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981. ESPN would cover all 12 rounds live for the first time. ESPN would then show a replay later that night. This would be over 2 days.

The Philadelphia Eagles would get the 27th pick in the 12 rounds. The Eagles would draft 10 players in this year's draft.

Round Pick Player Position School
1 27 Leonard Mitchell DE University of Houston
2 55 Dean Miraldi G University of Utah
3 83 Greg LaFleur TE LSU
4 110 Calvin Murray RB Ohio State
5 NO PICK
6 165 Traded Pick to New York Giants
7 174 Alan Duncan K Tennessee
7 192 Doak Field LB Baylor University
8 220 Traded pick to Baltimore Colts
9 247 Chuck Commiskey OL Mississippi
10 275 Hubert Oliver RB Arizona
11 303 Gail Davis DT Virginia Union
12 331 Ray Ellis DB Ohio State

Personnel

Staff

1981 Philadelphia Eagles staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Lynn Stiles


Regular season

The 1981 season schedule was set by how the Eagles finished in 1980, 1st in NFC East. The way it was laid out, 4 of the 5 teams in the same 5 team division could end up having 10 to 14 common opponents during the 1981 season. Also, when the last regular season game is over you know who you play the following year.

  • A home and home series vs Dallas, New York Giants, St. Louis and Washington = 8 games
  • The top 4 teams in the NFC East play the top 4 teams AFC East from the 1980 season = 4 games
  • The 1st and 4th place team in NFC Central and NFC West in the 1980 Season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 6, 1981 at New York Giants W 24–10
72,459
2 September 13, 1981 New England Patriots W 13–3
71,089
3 September 17, 1981 at Buffalo Bills W 20–14
78,331
4 September 27, 1981 Washington Redskins W 36–13
70,664
5 October 5, 1981 Atlanta Falcons W 16–13
71,488
6 October 11, 1981 at New Orleans Saints W 31–14
52,728
7 October 18, 1981 at Minnesota Vikings L 35–23
45,459
8 October 25, 1981 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–10
70,714
9 November 1, 1981 Dallas Cowboys L 17–14
72,111
10 November 8, 1981 at St. Louis Cardinals W 52–10
48,421
11 November 15, 1981 Baltimore Colts W 38–13
68,618
12 November 22, 1981 New York Giants L 20–10
66,827
13 November 30, 1981 at Miami Dolphins L 13–10
67,797
14 December 6, 1981 at Washington Redskins L 15–13
52,206
15 December 13, 1981 at Dallas Cowboys L 21–10
64,955
16 December 20, 1981 St. Louis Cardinals W 38–0
56,656

Game summaries

Week 1

Sunday, September 6, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Giants StadiumThe Meadowlands on an AstroTurf playing surface in 70F degrees with an 11 MPH wind

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (1–0) 0 10 7 7 24
New York Giants (0–1) 3 0 0 7 10
SCORING PLAYS NY G PHIL TIME
1st Giants Joe Danelo 27-yard field goal 0 3
2nd Eagles Perry Harrington 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 7 3
Eagles Tony Franklin 47-yard field goal 10 3
3rd Eagles Rodney Parker 55-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 17 3
4th Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 24 3
Giants Leon Perry 19-yard pass from Phil Simms (Joe Danelo kick) 24 10

Week 2

Sunday, September 13, 1981 Kickoff 4:00 PM Eastern

TV Broadcast: NBC Announcers: Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 74°F (Sunny)

1 2 3 4 Total
New England Patriots (2–0) 3 0 0 0 3
Philadelphia Eagles (2–0) 0 3 10 0 13
SCORING PLAYS NE PHIL TIME
1st Patriots John Smith 22-yard field goal 3 0
2nd Eagles Tony Franklin 46-yard field goal 3 3
3rd Eagles Tony Franklin 22-yard field goal 3 6
Eagles Perry Harrington 6-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 3 13

Week 3

Thursday, September 17, 1981 Kickoff 8:30 PM Eastern

Played at Rich Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface in 55F degrees with an 8 MPH wind

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (3–0–0) 7 3 7 3 20
Buffalo Bills (2–1–0) 0 14 0 0 14
SCORING PLAYS PHIL BUF TIME
1st Eagles Keith Krepfle 1-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 7 0
2nd Bills Joe Cribbs 4-yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) 7 7
Eagles Tony Franklin 29-yard field goal 10 7
Bills Frank Lewis 20-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) 10 14
3rd Eagles Harold Carmichael 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 17 14
4th Eagles Tony Franklin 46-yard field goal 20 14

Week 4

Sunday, September 27, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 68°F (Sunny)

1 2 3 4 Total
Washington Redskins (0–4–0) 0 6 0 7 13
Philadelphia Eagles (4–0–0) 0 7 7 22 36
SCORING PLAYS WASH PHIL TIME
2nd Eagles Louie Giammona 13-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 0 7
Redskins Mark Moseley 19-yard field goal 3 7
Redskins Mark Moseley 22-yard field goal 6 7
3rd Eagles Louie Giammona 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 6 14
4th Redskins John Riggins 3-yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) 13 14
Eagles Charlie A. Smith 29-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 13 21
Eagles Tony Franklin 28-yard field goal 13 24
Eagles Safety, Clarke tackled Theismann in end zone 13 26
Eagles Tony Franklin 36-yard field goal 13 29
Eagles Greg Brown 7-yard fumble return (Tony Franklin kick) 13 36

Week 5

Monday, October 5, 1981 Kickoff 9:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface weather= 62°F (Clear)

1 2 3 4 Total
Atlanta Falcons (3–2) 0 0 10 3 13
Philadelphia Eagles (5–0) 6 7 0 3 16
SCORING PLAYS ATL PHIL TIME
1st Eagles Tony Franklin 36-yard field goal 0 3
Eagles Tony Franklin 34-yard field goal 0 6
2nd Eagles Charlie A. Smith 30-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 0 13
3rd Falcons Mick Luckhurst 35-yard field goal 3 13
Falcons Kenny Johnson 20-yard fumble return (Mick Luckhurst kick) 10 13
4th Eagles Tony Franklin 43-yard field goal 10 16
4th Falcons Mick Luckhurst 43-yard field goal 13 16

Week 6

Sunday, October 11, 1981 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Louisiana Superdome on an AstroTurf playing surface in 72F degrees indoors

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (6–0–0) 14 10 7 0 31
New Orleans Saints (1–5–0) 7 0 0 7 14
SCORING PLAYS PHIL N OR TIME
1st Saints George Rogers 5-yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick) 0 7
Eagles Keith Krepfle 11-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 7 7
Eagles Booker Russell 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 14 7
2nd Eagles Booker Russell 1-yard rush (Reggie Wilkes pass from Ron Jaworski) 21 7
Eagles Tony Franklin 22-yard field goal 24 7
3rd Eagles Frank LeMaster 47-yard fumble return (Tony Franklin kick) 31 7
4th Saints George Rogers 3-yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick) 31 14

Week 7

Sunday, October 18, 1981 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Metropolitan Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 44F degrees with a 27 MPH wind

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (6–1) 6 3 0 14 23
Minnesota Vikings (5–2–0) 0 21 7 7 35
SCORING PLAYS MINN PHIL TIME
1st Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (kick failed) 6 0
2nd Vikings Joe Senser 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick) 6 7
Eagles Tony Franklin 30-yard field goal 6 7
Vikings Sammy White 50-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick) 9 14
Vikings Bob Bruer 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick) 9 21
3rd Vikings Ahmad Rashad 5-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick) 9 28
4th Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 25-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 16 28
Vikings Ted Brown 1-yard rush (Rick Danmeier kick) 16 35
Eagles Harold Carmichael 21-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 23 35

Week 8

Sunday, October 25, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 55°F (Rain)

1 2 3 4 Total
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4–4–0) 7 0 0 3 10
Philadelphia Eagles (7–1–0) 0 7 0 13 20
SCORING PLAYS T B PHIL
1st Buccaneers Doug Williams 1-yard rush (Bill Capece kick) 0 7 0
2nd Eagles Keith Krepfle 6-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 7 7
4th Eagles Tony Franklin 44-yard field goal 7 10
Buccaneers Bill Capece 29-yard field goal 10 10
Eagles Tony Franklin 32-yard field goal 10 13
Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 2-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 10 20

Week 9

Sunday, November 1, 1981 Kickoff 4:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 60°F (Cloudy)

1 2 3 4 Total
Dallas Cowboys(8–1–0) 0 3 0 14 17
Philadelphia Eagles ( 9–2) 0 7 7 0 14
SCORING PLAYS DAL PHIL TIME
2nd Cowboys Rafael Septien 21-yard field goal 3 0
Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 2-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 3 7
3rd Eagles Harold Carmichael 85-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 3 14
4th Cowboys Doug Cosbie 17-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) 10 14
Cowboys Cowboys Tony Dorsett 9-yard rush (Rafael Septien kick) 17 14

Week 10

Sunday, November 8, 1981 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at the Busch Memorial Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 57F degrees with an 8 mph wind.

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (8–2–0) 7 10 14 21 52
St. Louis Cardinals (3–7–0) 7 3 0 0 10
SCORING PLAYS PHIL ST L TIME
1st Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 19-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 7 0
Cardinals Mel Gray 42-yard pass from Jim Hart (Neil O'Donoghue kick) 7 7
2nd Cardinals Neil O'Donoghue 21-yard field goal 7 10
Eagles Rodney Parker 33-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 14 10
Eagles Tony Franklin 32-yard field goal 17 10
3rd Eagles Harold Carmichael 14-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 24 10
Eagles Harold Carmichael 38-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 31 10
4th Eagles Billy Campfield 2-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 38 10
Eagles Wally Henry 20-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Tony Franklin kick) 45 10
Eagles Booker Russell 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 52 10

Week 11

Sunday, November 15, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf weather= 54°F (Light Rain)

1 2 3 4 Total
Baltimore Colts (1–10–0) 6 0 0 7 13
Philadelphia Eagles (9–2–0) 7 14 10 7 38
SCORING PLAYS BAL PHIL TEAM
1st Eagles Keith Krepfle 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 0 7
2nd Colts Curtis Dickey 1-yard rush (kick failed) 6 7
Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 5-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 6 14
Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 6 21
Eagles Tony Franklin 32-yard field goal 6 24
Eagles Charlie A. Smith 30-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 6 31
4th Colts Zachary Dixon 17-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick) 13 31
Eagles Wally Henry 44-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Tony Franklin kick) 13 38

Week 12

Sunday, November 22, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 46°F (Cloudy)

1 2 3 4 Total
New York Giants (8–4) 3 7 0 10 20
Philadelphia Eagles (9–3) 7 3 0 0 10
SCORING PLAYS OAK PHIL TIME
1st Giants Joe Danelo 39-yard field goal 3 0
Eagles Keith Krepfle 6-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 3 7
2nd Giants Leon Bright 1-yard rush (Joe Danelo kick) 10 7
Eagles Tony Franklin 27-yard field goal 10 10
4th Giants Joe Danelo 30-yard field goal 13 10
Giants Terry Jackson 32-yard interception return (Joe Danelo kick) 20 10

Week 13

Monday, November 30, 1981 Kickoff 9:00 PM Pacific

Played at Orange Bowl on grass playing surface in 73F degrees with an 8 MPH wind

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (9–4–0) 7 0 3 0 10
Miami Dolphins (8–4–1) 0 3 0 10 13
"SCORING PLAYS PHIL MIA TIME
1st Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 7 0
2nd Dolphins Uwe von Schamann 42-yard field goal 7 3
3rd Eagles Tony Franklin 42-yard field goal 10 3
4th Dolphins Duriel Harris 17-yard pass from Don Strock (Uwe von Schamann kick) 10 10
Dolphins Uwe von Schamann 27-yard field goal 10 13

Week 14

Sunday, December 6, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on a grass playing surface in 43F degrees with a 21 MPH wind

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (9–5) 0 13 0 0 13
Washington Redskins (6–8) 6 0 0 9 15
"SCORING PLAYS PHIL WASH TIME
1st Redskins Joe Washington 6-yard rush (kick failed) 0 6
2nd Eagles Billy Campfield 25-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 7 6
Eagles Billy Campfield 5-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (kick failed) 13 6
4th Redskins Mark Moseley 45-yard field goal 13 9
Redskins Monte Coleman 52-yard interception return (kick failed) 13 15

Week 15

Sunday, December 13, 1981 Kickoff 3:00 PM Central

Played at Texas Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 44F degrees with a 9 MPH wind

1 2 3 4 Total
Philadelphia Eagles (9–6–0) 3 7 0 0 10
Dallas Cowboys (12–3–0) 0 7 7 7 21
SCORING PLAYS PHIL DAL TIME
1st Eagles Tony Franklin 50-yard field goal 3 0
2nd Eagles Booker Russell 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 10 0
Cowboys Tony Hill 8-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) 10 7
3rd Cowboys Butch Johnson 36-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) 10 14
4th Cowboys Ron Springs 12-yard rush (Rafael Septien kick) 10 21

Week 16

Sunday, December 21, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface weather= 29°F (Sunny)

1 2 3 4 Total
St. Louis Cardinals (7–9) 0 0 0 0 0
Philadelphia Eagles (10–6) 7 21 10 0 38
SCORING PLAYS ST L PHIL TIME
1st Eagles Charlie A. Smith 4-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 0 7
2nd Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 9-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 0 14
Eagles Hubie Oliver 13-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 0 21
Eagles Harold Carmichael 6-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 0 28
3rd Eagles Billy Campfield 29-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 0 35
Eagles Tony Franklin 44-yard field goal 0 38

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Dallas Cowboys(2) 12 4 0 .750 6–2 8–4 367 277 L1
Philadelphia Eagles(4) 10 6 0 .625 4–4 7–5 368 221 W1
New York Giants(5) 9 7 0 .563 5–3 8–6 295 257 W3
Washington Redskins 8 8 0 .500 3–5 6–6 347 349 W3
St. Louis Cardinals 7 9 0 .438 2–6 4–8 315 408 L2

Playoffs

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Wildcard December 27, 1981 New York Giants L 27–21
71,611

Playoffs

NFC Wildcard Game

Sunday, December 27, 1981 Kickoff 3:30 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface weather= 38°F (Light Drizzle)

1 2 3 4 Total
New York Giants (10–7) 20 7 0 0 27
Philadelphia Eagles (10–7) 0 7 7 7 21
SCORING PLAYS NY G PHIL TIME
1st Giants Leon Bright 9-yard pass from Scott Brunner (kick failed) 6 0
Giants John Mistler 10-yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick) 13 0
Giants Mark Haynes 0-yard fumble return (Joe Danelo kick) 20 0
2nd Eagles Harold Carmichael 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) 20 7
Giants Tom Mullady 22-yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick) 27 7
3rd Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 6-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 27 14 27 14
4th Eagles Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) 27 21 27 21

1981 Roster

= 1981 Pro Bowler [1]
  • + After name = 1st-team All-Pro
No. Name POS GP GS Wt Ht Years College
No. Name POS GP GS Wt Ht Years College
38 Steve Atkins RB 1 0 216 6–0 2 Maryland
63 Ron Baker G 16 16 260 6–4 3 Oklahoma State
27 Richard Blackmore DB 16 3 174 5–10 2 Mississippi State
98 Greg Brown DE-DT 16 0 254 6–5 Rookie Kansas State
95 John Bunting LB 9 8 220 6–1 9 North Carolina
37 Billy Campfield RB 16 0 200 5–11 3 Kansas
17 Harold Carmichael WR 16 16 225 6–8 10 Southern
59 Al Chesley LB 16 16 240 6–3 2 Pittsburgh
71 Ken Clarke NT-DT 16 0 268 6–2 3 Syracuse
57 Mike Curcio LB 16 0 237 6–1 Rookie Temple
46 Herman Edwards DB 16 16 194 6–0 4 California & San Diego State
24 Ray Ellis DB 16 0 192 6–1 Rookie Ohio State
38 Mickey Fitzgerald RB 1 0 235 6–2 Rookie Virginia Tech
86 Steve Folsom TE 3 0 235 6–5 Rookie Long Beach State & Utah
1 Tony Franklin K 16 * 182 5–8 2 Texas A&M
33 Louie Giammona RB 8 1 180 5–9 5 Utah State
79 Frank Giddens T 16 0 300 6–7 Rookie New Mexico
78 Carl Hairston DE-DT-LB 16 16 260 6–3 5 Md-Eastern Shore
35 Perry Harrington RB 4 4 210 5–11 1 Jackson State
68 Dennis Harrison DE 13 12 275 6–8 3 Vanderbilt
29 Jo Jo Heath DB 15 0 182 5–10 1 Pittsburgh
89 Wally Henry WR 16 0 175 5–8 4 UCLA
80 Alvin Hooks WR 3 0 170 5–11 Rookie Cal State-Northridge
87 Claude Humphrey DE 12 4 252 6–4 13 Tennessee State
7 Ron Jaworski QB 16 16 196 6–2 7 Youngstown State
65 Charlie Johnson*+ NT 16 16 266 6–3 4 Colorado
73 Steve Kenney G-T 13 11 266 6–4 1 Clemson
84 Keith Krepfle TE 16 16 227 6–3 6 Iowa State
55 Frank LeMaster* LB 16 16 232 6–2 7 Kentucky
41 Randy Logan DB 16 16 195 6–1 8 Michigan
99 Leonard Mitchell T 16 0 290 6–7 Rookie Houston
31 Wilbert Montgomery RB 15 15 196 5–10 4 Abilene Christian
50 Guy Morriss C 16 16 255 6–4 8 TCU
42 Calvin Murray RB 7 0 185 5–11 Rookie Ohio State
34 Hubie Oliver RB 13 10 215 5–10 Rookie Arizona
83 Rodney Parker WR 11 0 190 6–1 1 Tennessee State
62 Petey Perot G 16 5 261 6–2 2 Northwest State (LA)
52 Ray Phillips LB 16 1 224 6–4 4 Nebraska
9 Joe Pisarcik QB 7 0 220 6–4 4 New Mexico State
56 Jerry Robinson* LB 15 15 223 6–2 2 UCLA
4 Max Runager P 15 0 189 6–1 2 South Carolina
32 Booker Russell RB 12 1 223 6–2 3 Texas State
21 John Sciarra DB-QB 10 1 185 5–11 3 UCLA
76 Jerry Sisemore* T-G 16 16 265 6–4 8 Texas
61 Mark Slater C 16 0 257 6–2 3 Minnesota
85 Charlie A. Smith WR 16 14 185 6–1 7 Grambling State
81 Ron B. Smith WR 3 0 185 6–0 3 San Diego State
88 John Spagnola TE 11 3 240 6–4 2 Yale
75 Stan Walters T 16 16 275 6–6 9 Syracuse
51 Reggie Wilkes LB 14 8 235 6–4 3 Georgia Tech
22 Brenard Wilson DB 15 15 178 6–0 2 Vanderbilt
43 Roynell Young* DB 13 13 181 6–1 1 Alcorn State

References

  1. Players are identified as a 1981 Pro Bowler.

External links