The 2011 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 46th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith.
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 the eventual Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants in the opening round.
This is also the first time the franchise clinched consecutive playoff berths, and the first time it won 10 or more games in consecutive seasons.
Offseason Signings Pos. Player 2010 Team Contract DE Ray Edwards Minnesota Vikings 5 years, $27.5 million OLB Stephen Nicholas Atlanta Falcons 5 years, $17.5 million K Matt Bryant Atlanta Falcons 4 years, $10.7 million
Departures Pos. Player 2011 Team WR Michael Jenkins Minnesota Vikings DE Jamaal Anderson Indianapolis Colts WR Brian Finneran
2011 NFL draft
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. The Falcons acquired this seventh-round selection in a trade that sent T Quinn Ojinnaka to the New England Patriots.
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Drew Davis Wide receiver Oregon Adam Froman Quarterback Louisville Matt Hansen Safety Rhode Island Tom McCarthy Defense end Yale Darrin Walls Cornerback Notre Dame Ryan Winterswyk Tight end Boise State
Staff Atlanta Falcons 2011 staff Front office Owner – Arthur Blank President/CEO – Rich McKay General manager – Thomas Dimitroff Director of football administration – Nick Polk Director of player personnel – Les Snead Assistant director of player personnel – Lionel Vital Director of college scouting – Dave Caldwell
Head coaches Head coach – Mike Smith
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Mike Mularkey Quarterbacks – Bob Bratkowski Running backs – Gerald Brown Wide receivers – Terry Robiskie Tight ends – Chris Scelfo Offensive line – Paul T Boudreau Assistant offensive line – Paul Dunn Offensive assistant – Glenn Thomas Assistant to the head coach/offense – Andrew Weidinger Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Brian VanGorder Defensive line – Ray Hamilton Linebackers – Glenn Pires Defensive backs – Alvin Reynolds Secondary – Tim Lewis Defensive assistant – Mark Collins
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
Preseason Schedule The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011. Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 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
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 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 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
Game summaries 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.
Standings
Postseason
Schedule Playoff round Date Kickoff Opponent (seed) Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team 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
Game summaries 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. 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.
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