| Regular Season: Week 1 |
 Colts |
at |
 Patriots |
Sunday, September 6, 1981 |
3:00PM |
BAL 29, NE 28 |
| Regular Season: Week 2 |
Patriots |
at |
 Eagles |
Sunday, September 13, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 3, PHI 13 |
| Regular Season: Week 3 |
 Cowboys |
at |
Patriots |
Monday, September 21, 1981 |
3:00PM |
DAL 35, NE 21 |
| Regular Season: Week 4 |
Patriots |
at |
 Steelers |
Sunday, September 27, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 21, PIT 27 |
| Regular Season: Week 5 |
 Chiefs |
at |
Patriots |
Sunday, October 4, 1981 |
3:00PM |
KC 17, NE 33 |
| Regular Season: Week 6 |
Patriots |
at |
 Jets |
Sunday, October 11, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 24, NYJ 28 |
| Regular Season: Week 7 |
 Oilers |
at |
Patriots |
Sunday, October 18, 1981 |
3:00PM |
HOU 10, NE 38 |
| Regular Season: Week 8 |
Patriots |
at |
 Redskins |
Sunday, October 25, 1981 |
2:00PM |
NE 22, WAS 24 |
| Regular Season: Week 9 |
Patriots |
at |
 Raiders |
Sunday, November 1, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 17, OAK 27 |
| Regular Season: Week 10 |
 Dolphins |
at |
Patriots |
Sunday, November 8, 1981 |
3:00PM |
MIA 30, NE 27 |
| Regular Season: Week 11 |
Jets |
at |
Patriots |
Sunday, November 15, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NYJ 17, NE 6 |
| Regular Season: Week 12 |
Patriots |
at |
 Bills |
Sunday, November 22, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 17, BUF 20 |
| Regular Season: Week 13 |
 Cardinals |
at |
Patriots |
Sunday, November 29, 1981 |
3:00PM |
STL 27, NE 20 |
| Regular Season: Week 14 |
Patriots |
at |
Dolphins |
Sunday, December 6, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 14, MIA 24 |
| Regular Season: Week 15 |
Bills |
at |
Patriots |
Sunday, December 13, 1981 |
3:00PM |
BUF 19, NE 10 |
| Regular Season: Week 16 |
Patriots |
at |
Colts |
Sunday, December 20, 1981 |
3:00PM |
NE 21, BAL 23 |