| Rk | Day | Date | Tm | Opp | Tm | Opp | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun | September 6, 1981 | W | Houston Oilers | @ | Los Angeles Rams | 27 | 20 | box |
| 2 | Sun | September 13, 1981 | W | Houston Oilers | @ | Cleveland Browns | 9 | 3 | box |
| 3 | Sun | September 20, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | Miami Dolphins | 10 | 16 | box | |
| 4 | Sun | September 27, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | @ | New York Jets | 17 | 33 | box |
| 5 | Sun | October 4, 1981 | W | Houston Oilers | Cincinnati Bengals | 17 | 10 | box | |
| 6 | Sun | October 11, 1981 | W | Houston Oilers | Seattle Seahawks | 35 | 17 | box | |
| 7 | Sun | October 18, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | @ | New England Patriots | 10 | 38 | box |
| 8 | Mon | October 26, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | @ | Pittsburgh Steelers | 13 | 26 | box |
| 9 | Sun | November 1, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | @ | Cincinnati Bengals | 21 | 34 | box |
| 10 | Sun | November 22, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | New Orleans Saints | 24 | 27 | box | |
| 11 | Sun | November 29, 1981 | L | Houston Oilers | Atlanta Falcons | 27 | 31 | box | |
| 12 | Thu | December 3, 1981 | W | Houston Oilers | Cleveland Browns | 17 | 13 | box |