NFL team season
The 1981 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 62nd season the franchise was in the league . The team improved on their previous output of 5–11, winning seven games.[ 1] Despite the improvement the team failed – for the sixth consecutive season – to reach the playoffs.
After a 3–7 start, including a horrendous 52–10 loss to the Eagles on November 8, Head Coach Jim Hanifan benched Jim Hart for Neil Lomax. The team would win four of its last six games.
Offseason
NFL Draft
[ 2]
Undrafted free agents
Personnel
Staff
1981 St. Louis Cardinals staff
Front office
President – Bill Bidwill
Vice President of Operations – Joe Sullivan
Director of Pro Personnel – Larry Wilson
Director of Player Personnel – George Boone
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Special Teams – Chuck Banker
Strength and conditioning
Flexibility and Strength – Don Brown
Roster
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
1
September 6
Miami Dolphins
L 7–20
0–1
Busch Memorial Stadium
50,351
2
September 13
at Dallas Cowboys
L 17–30
0–2
Texas Stadium
63,602
3
September 20
Washington Redskins
W 40–30
1–2
Busch Memorial Stadium
47,592
4
September 27
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 10–20
1–3
Tampa Stadium
65,850
5
October 4
Dallas Cowboys
W 20–17
2–3
Busch Memorial Stadium
49,477
6
October 11
at New York Giants
L 14–34
2–4
Giants Stadium
67,128
7
October 18
at Atlanta Falcons
L 20–41
2–5
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
51,458
8
October 25
Minnesota Vikings
W 30–17
3–5
Busch Memorial Stadium
48,039
9
November 1
at Washington Redskins
L 21–42
3–6
RFK Stadium
50,643
10
November 8
Philadelphia Eagles
L 10–52
3–7
Busch Memorial Stadium
48,421
11
November 15
Buffalo Bills
W 24–0
4–7
Busch Memorial Stadium
46,214
12
November 22
at Baltimore Colts
W 35–24
5–7
Memorial Stadium
24,784
13
November 29
at New England Patriots
W 27–20
6–7
Schaefer Stadium
39,946
14
December 6
New Orleans Saints
W 30–3
7–7
Busch Memorial Stadium
46,923
15
December 13
New York Giants
L 10–20
7–8
Busch Memorial Stadium
47,358
16
December 20
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 0–38
7–9
Veterans Stadium
56,656
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
References
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (7) Conference championships (1) League championships (2) Retired numbers Current league affiliations
Played in Chicago (1920–1959), St. Louis (1960–1987), and formerly the Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993)