1981 New England Patriots season


The 1981 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and 22nd overall. The Patriots ended the season with a record of two wins and fourteen losses, and finished tied for last in the AFC East Division.
The Patriots lost their first four games, and then ten of their last eleven, including the last nine games of the season. Eight of their losses were by margins of seven or fewer points; the largest margin of defeat was only 14 points. The Patriots were defeated in both the first and last games of the season by the Baltimore Colts; the Patriots' bookend losses proved to be Baltimore’s only two wins of the 1981 season. It was known that the loser of that last game would have the first pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, and the game was nicknamed “The Stupor Bowl.” With the Patriot loss, the team had the first pick, choosing University of Texas defensive end Kenneth Sims, an eventual draft “bust” as first overall pick in the NFL draft.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Staff

Roster

Season summary

Schedule

Standings