2011 Atlanta Falcons season

The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith.

2011 Atlanta Falcons season
OwnerArthur Blank
Head coachMike Smith
General managerThomas Dimitroff
Home fieldGeorgia Dome
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd NFC South
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs (at Giants) 2–24
Pro BowlersTE Tony Gonzalez
WR Roddy White

Finishing the regular season 10–6, the Falcons clinched the #5 seed in the playoffs. Atlanta’s season ended quickly as they lost 24–2 to Eli Manning and the New York Giants in the opening round. The Giants would go on to defeat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

This is also the first time the franchise clinched consecutive playoff berths, and the first time it won ten or more games in consecutive seasons.

Offseason

Signings
Pos.Player2010 TeamContract
DERay EdwardsMinnesota Vikings5 years, $27.5 million
OLBStephen NicholasAtlanta Falcons5 years, $17.5 million
KMatt BryantAtlanta Falcons4 years, $10.7 million

Departures
Pos.Player2011 Team
WRMichael JenkinsMinnesota Vikings
DEJamaal AndersonIndianapolis Colts
WRBrian Finneran

2011 NFL Draft
Main article: 2011 NFL Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
16 Julio JonesWide ReceiverAlabama
391 Akeem DentInside LinebackerGeorgia
5158 Jacquizz RogersRunning BackOregon State
6192 Matt BosherPunterMiami (FL)
7210 [a] Andrew JacksonOffensive GuardFresno State
7230 [b] Cliff MatthewsDefensive EndSouth Carolina
^[a] The Falcons acquired this seventh-round selection and a 2010 sixth-round selection in a trade that sent CB Chris Houston to the Detroit Lions.
^[b] The Falcons acquired this seventh-round selection in a trade that sent T Quinn Ojinnaka to the New England Patriots.

Preseason

Schedule

The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame siteNFL.com
recap
1 August 12 Miami Dolphins L 23–28 0–1 Georgia Dome Recap
2 August 19 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 13–15 0–2 EverBank Field Recap
3 August 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–34 0–3 Heinz Field Recap
4 September 1 Baltimore Ravens L 7–21 0–4 Georgia Dome Recap

Regular season

Schedule
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame siteNFL.com
recap
1 September 11 at Chicago Bears L 12–30 0–1 Soldier Field Recap
2 September 18 Philadelphia Eagles W 35–31 1–1 Georgia Dome Recap
3 September 25 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 13–16 1–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap
4 October 2 at Seattle Seahawks W 30–28 2–2 CenturyLink Field Recap
5 October 9 Green Bay Packers L 14–25 2–3 Georgia Dome Recap
6 October 16 Carolina Panthers W 31–17 3–3 Georgia Dome Recap
7 October 23 at Detroit Lions W 23–16 4–3 Ford Field Recap
8 Bye
9 November 6 at Indianapolis Colts W 31–7 5–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
10 November 13 New Orleans Saints L 23–26 (OT) 5–4 Georgia Dome Recap
11 November 20 Tennessee Titans W 23–17 6–4 Georgia Dome Recap
12 November 27 Minnesota Vikings W 24–14 7–4 Georgia Dome Recap
13 December 4 at Houston Texans L 10–17 7–5 Reliant Stadium Recap
14 December 11 at Carolina Panthers W 31–23 8–5 Bank of America Stadium Recap
15 December 15 Jacksonville Jaguars W 41–14 9–5 Georgia Dome Recap
16 December 26 at New Orleans Saints L 16–45 9–6 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
17 January 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 45–24 10–6 Georgia Dome Recap

Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Week One: Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 0 3612
Bears 10 6 14030

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

The Falcons started their season out on the road against the Bears. With the loss, the team fell to 0–1.

Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week Two: Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 10 21031
Falcons 7 7 71435

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

For the regular season opener at home, the Falcons faced the Eagles. The win improved the team to 1–1 and also helped Starting QB Matt Ryan improve to 4–0 as a regular season starter during home openers.

Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Three: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 01013
Buccaneers 3 10 3016

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–2.

Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Four: Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 17 3330
Seahawks 0 7 14728

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

With the win, the Falcons improved to 2–2.

Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week Five: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Packers 0 6 91025
Falcons 7 7 0014

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 9
  • Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 69,576
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information

The Falcons went home for a week 5 duel with the undefeated Packers. This would be a rematch of last year's NFC Divisional Round. With the loss, the Falcons fell to 2–3.

Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Six: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 7 7017
Falcons 7 7 01731

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 69,047
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and John Lynch
Game information

With their 3rd-straight win over the Panthers, the Falcons improved to 3–3.

Week 7: at Detroit Lions
Week Seven: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 10 7 3323
Lions 3 3 10016

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

With the win, the Falcons went into their bye week at 4–3.

Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts
Week Nine: Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 14 7 7331
Colts 0 7 007

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 57 °F or 13.9 °C (sunny, retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 65,218
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Jim Mora, Jr.
Game information

With the win, the Falcons improved to 5–3 and went 2–13 overall against the Colts.

Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Ten: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Saints 3 7 76326
Falcons 3 3 710023

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,359
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
Game information

With the loss, the Falcons fell to 5–4.

Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Eleven: Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Titans 0 3 7717
Falcons 7 6 10023

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST[1]
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 68,164
  • Referee: John Parry
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information

With the win, the Falcons improved to 6–4.

Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Twelve: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 7714
Falcons 7 10 0724

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 68,115
  • Referee: Alberto Riveron
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
Game information

With the win, the Falcons improved to 7–4.

Week 13: at Houston Texans
Week Thirteen: Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 7010
Texans 3 7 0717

at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 71,545
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
Game information

With the loss, the Falcons fell to 7–5.

Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 0 101431
Panthers 7 16 0023

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 43 °F or 6.1 °C (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 72,680
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Jim Mora, Jr. and Drea Avent
Game information

With the win, the Falcons improved to 8–5.

Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Fifteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 0 7714
Falcons 10 17 14041

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

With the win, the Falcons improved to 9–5.

Week 16: at New Orleans Saints
Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 10 0 3316
Saints 7 14 101445

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

With the loss, the Falcons fell to 9–6, but were able to clinch a playoff spot due to the Chicago Bears 35–21 loss to the Green Bay Packers Sunday night.

Week 17: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Seventeen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 7 11624
Falcons 21 21 0345

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

With the win, the Falcons finished the season at 10–6 and captured the NFC's #5 seed.

Standings
NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) New Orleans Saints 13 3 0 .813 5–1 9–3 547 339 W8
(5) Atlanta Falcons 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 402 350 W1
Carolina Panthers 6 10 0 .375 2–4 3–9 406 427 L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 307 494 L10

Postseason
Main article: 2011–12 NFL playoffs

Schedule
Playoff roundDateKickoffOpponent (seed)ResultsGame siteTVNFL.com
recap
Final scoreTeam record
Wild Card January 8, 2012 1:00 p.m. EST at New York Giants (4) L 2–24 0–1 MetLife Stadium Fox Recap

NFC Wild Card Playoff Game: at #4 New York Giants
NFC Wild Card Playoff Game: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 2 002
Giants 0 7 10724

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

The Falcons lost their Wild Card round playoff game to the New York Giants on January 8, 2012, by a score of 24–2. It is the first time in NFL playoff history that a team has scored exactly two points. The previous NFL team to score only a safety in a game was the 1993 Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 against the New England Patriots.

Staff
Atlanta Falcons 2011 staff
Front Office

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

   Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special Teams Coordinator – Keith Armstrong
  • Assistant Special Teams – Eric Sutulovich

Strength and Conditioning

  • Director of Athletic Performance – Jeff Fish
  • Strength and Conditioning Assistant – Jonas Beauchemin

Final roster
2011 Atlanta Falcons final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 4 inactive, 10 practice squad

References
  1. Adams, Jay. "Falcons-Titans game flexed". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  2. Adams, Jay. "Falcons-Bucs Game 'Flexed' to 4:15 Kick". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
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