Head coach Mike Smith Owner Arthur Blank Record 10–6 | General manager Thomas Dimitroff Home field Georgia Dome Division place 2nd NFC South | |
The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith.
Contents
- Offseason
- 2011 NFL Draft
- Schedule
- Week 1 at Chicago Bears
- Week 2 vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 4 at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 5 vs Green Bay Packers
- Week 6 vs Carolina Panthers
- Week 7 at Detroit Lions
- Week 9 at Indianapolis Colts
- Week 10 vs New Orleans Saints
- Week 11 vs Tennessee Titans
- Week 12 vs Minnesota Vikings
- Week 13 at Houston Texans
- Week 14 at Carolina Panthers
- Week 15 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 16 at New Orleans Saints
- Week 17 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at 4 New York Giants
- References
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 has won 10 or more games in consecutive seasons.
Offseason
Signed LE Ray Edwards to a 5-year deal
Cut WR Michael Jenkins and LE Jamaal Anderson
2011 NFL Draft
^[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.Schedule
The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Schedule
LEGEND:
^[a] The game was simulcast locally on WATL-TV. ^[b] The game was simulcast locally on WSB-TV.Week 1: at Chicago Bears
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
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
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–2.
Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
With the win, the Falcons improved to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers
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
With their 3rd-straight win over the Panthers, the Falcons improved to 3–3.
Week 7: at Detroit Lions
With the win, the Falcons went into their bye week at 4–3.
Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts
With the win, the Falcons improved to 5–3 and went 2–13 overall against the Colts.
Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 5–4.
Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans
With the win, the Falcons improved to 6–4.
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
With the win, the Falcons improved to 7–4.
Week 13: at Houston Texans
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 7–5.
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
With the win, the Falcons improved to 8–5.
Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With the win, the Falcons improved to 9–5.
Week 16: at New Orleans Saints
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
With the win, the Falcons finished the season at 10–6 and captured the NFC's #5 seed.
NFC Wild Card Playoff Game: at #4 New York Giants
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.