The 2011 season was the Washington Redskins' 80th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 75th representing the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.). Their home games were played at FedExField in Landover, Maryland for the 15th consecutive year. The Redskins failed to improve on their 2010 record of 6–10, meaning they finished last in the NFC East, but did manage to sweep the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the regular season, becoming only the sixth team to do so (the 1969 Oakland Raiders, 1983 Seattle Seahawks, 1995 Washington Redskins, 2002 New Orleans Saints, and 2007 Dallas Cowboys, also against the Giants, being the others). They would be joined by the 2020 New Orleans Saints and the 2021 San Francisco 49ers.
The season is also notable for being the first of three Redskins seasons to include four future head coaches on the coaching staff: Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Sean McVay and Mike McDaniel.
Offseason
2011 NFL draft
The Redskins finished the 2010 season with a record of 6–10 and will be picking 6th overall.
+ Washington Redskins 2011 NFL draft selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Contract Notes Round Choice Overall 1 10 10Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars 1 16 16 Ryan Kerrigan Defensive end 6'3" 267 Purdue 2 9 41 Jarvis Jenkins Defensive tackle 6'4" 310 Clemson 2 17 49Traded to the Indianapolis Colts 3 8 72Traded to the New Orleans Saints 3 15 79 Leonard Hankerson Wide receiver 6'2" 209 Miami (Fl) 4 7 104Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 4 8 105 Roy Helu Running back 6'0" 220 Nebraska 5 13 144Traded to the Houston Texans 5 15 146 DeJon Gomes Safety 5'11" 208 Nebraska 5 21 152Traded to the Houston Texans 5 24 155 Niles Paul Wide receiver 6'1" 224 Nebraska 6 12 177 Evan Royster Running back 6'1" 212 Penn State 6 13 178 Aldrick Robinson Wide receiver 5'10" 176 Southern Methodist 7 10 213 Brandyn Thompson Cornerback 5'10" 188 Boise State 7 14 217 Maurice Hurt Offensive tackle 6'3" 318 Florida 7 21 224 Markus White Defensive end 6'4" 266 Florida State 7 50 253 Chris Neild Defensive tackle 6'2" 319 West Virginia
Transactions involving 2011 draft picks The Redskins traded their first-round selection (#10 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars for its first-round selection (#16 overall) and a second-round selection (#49 overall). The Redskins traded their third-round selection (#72 overall) and a 2012 conditional sixth-round selection to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for T Jammal Brown and a fifth-round selection (#155 overall). The Redskins traded their fourth-round selection (#104 overall) and a 2010 second-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for QB Donovan McNabb. The Redskins acquired a seventh-round selection in a trade that sent CB Justin Tryon to the Indianapolis Colts. The Redskins received a seventh-round compensatory pick.
Staff Washington Redskins 2011 staff Front office Owner – Daniel Snyder General manager – Bruce Allen Executive vice president – Mike Shanahan Vice president of football administration – Eric Schaffer Director of player personnel – Scott Campbell Director of pro personnel – Morocco Brown
Head coaches Head coach – Mike Shanahan Assistant head coach/running backs – Bobby Turner
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Kyle Shanahan Quarterbacks – Matt LaFleur Wide receivers – Keenan McCardell Tight ends – Sean McVay Offensive line – Chris Foerster Assistant offensive line – Chris Morgan Offensive assistant – Mike McDaniel Offensive coaching assistant – Richmond Flowers III Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Jim Haslett Defensive line – Jacob Burney Linebackers – Lou Spanos Defensive backs – Bob Slowik Safeties – Steve Jackson Defensive assistant – Bobby Slowik
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Danny Smith Assistant special teams – Richard Hightower
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Ray Wright Assistant strength and conditioning – Chad Englehart
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
The Redskins' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011. It was finalized on April 19, 2011. Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 August 12 7:30 p.m. EDT Pittsburgh Steelers W 16–7 1–0 FedExField WRC Recap 2 August 19 7:00 p.m. EDT at Indianapolis Colts W 16–3 2–0 Lucas Oil Stadium WRC Recap 3 August 25 8:00 p.m. EDT at Baltimore Ravens L 31–34 2–1 M&T Bank Stadium ESPN Recap 4 September 1 7:30 p.m. EDT Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 29–24 3–1 FedExField Recap
Regular season
Schedule
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 September 11 4:15 p.m. EDT New York Giants W 28–14 1–0 FedExField Fox Recap 2 September 18 1:00 p.m. EDT Arizona Cardinals W 22–21 2–0 FedExField Fox Recap 3 September 26 8:30 p.m. EDT at Dallas Cowboys L 16–18 2–1 Cowboys Stadium ESPN Recap 4 October 2 1:00 p.m. EDT at St. Louis Rams W 17–10 3–1 Edward Jones Dome Fox Recap 5 Bye 6 October 16 1:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Eagles L 13–20 3–2 FedExField Fox Recap 7 October 23 1:00 p.m. EDT at Carolina Panthers L 20–33 3–3 Bank of America Stadium Fox Recap 8 October 30 4:05 p.m. EDT at Buffalo Bills L 0–23 3–4 Rogers Centre (Toronto) Fox Recap 9 November 6 1:00 p.m. EST San Francisco 49ers L 11–19 3–5 FedExField Fox Recap 10 November 13 1:00 p.m. EST at Miami Dolphins L 9–20 3–6 Sun Life Stadium Fox Recap 11 November 20 1:00 p.m. EST Dallas Cowboys L 24–27 (OT) 3–7 FedExField Fox Recap 12 November 27 4:05 p.m. EST at Seattle Seahawks W 23–17 4–7 CenturyLink Field Fox Recap 13 December 4 1:00 p.m. EST New York Jets L 19–34 4–8 FedExField CBS Recap 14 December 11 1:00 p.m. EST New England Patriots L 27–34 4–9 FedExField CBS Recap 15 December 18 1:00 p.m. EST at New York Giants W 23–10 5–9 MetLife Stadium Fox Recap 16 December 24 1:00 p.m. EST Minnesota Vikings L 26–33 5–10 FedExField Fox Recap 17 January 1 1:00 p.m. EST at Philadelphia Eagles L 10–34 5–11 Lincoln Financial Field Fox Recap LEGEND: Royal blue indicates that the Redskins were the visiting team in the Bills Toronto Series.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New York Giants
The Redskins opened the 2011 season at home against their division rival the New York Giants, on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington D.C.
With the win, the Redskins started their season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Arizona Cardinals
With the win, the Redskins improved to 2–0. This would be the last time the team would win a game at home until hosting the Minnesota Vikings during the middle of the 2012 season.
Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys
Coming off their home win over the Cardinals, the Redskins flew to Cowboys Stadium for a Week 3 NFC East duel with the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. Washington threw the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 46-yard field goal from kicker Graham Gano. The Cowboys answered with kicker Dan Bailey getting a 41-yard field goal, while the Redskins replied with Gano's 27-yard field goal. Dallas would take the lead in the second quarter as Bailey made a 27-yard and a 32-yard field goal, yet the Redskins closed out the half with Gano's 50-yard field goal.
Washington began the third quarter with quarterback Rex Grossman finding running back Tim Hightower on a 1-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys would end the third quarter with Bailey making a 41-yard field goal. Dallas regained the lead in the fourth quarter with Bailey booting a 23-yard and a 40-yard field goal. The 'Skins tried to rally, but the Cowboys' defense held on to preserve the win.
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 2–1.
Week 4: at St. Louis Rams
With the win, the Redskins went into their bye week at 3–1.
Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 3–2.
Week 7: at Carolina Panthers
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 3–3.
Week 8: at Buffalo Bills Bills Toronto Series
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 3–4.
Week 9: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Although the Redskins lost and fell to 3–5, it was during this game that kicker Graham Gano made a 59-yard field goal, which set an all time Washington Redskin franchise record.
Week 10: at Miami Dolphins
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 3–6.
Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 3–7.
Week 12: at Seattle Seahawks
With the win, the Redskins improved to 4–7 and snapped their 6-game losing streak.
Week 13: vs. New York Jets
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 4–8.
Week 14: vs. New England Patriots
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 4–9 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Week 15: at New York Giants
With the win, the Redskins improved to 5–9 and swept the Giants for the first time since 1999. They would not do so again until 2021 as the Washington Football Team.
Week 16: vs. Minnesota Vikings
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 5–10.
Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles
With the loss, the Redskins finished the season 5–11.
Standings
References
External links Official Website