2011 Minnesota Vikings season
The 2011 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 51st in the National Football League, and the first full season under head coach Leslie Frazier, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final six games of the 2010 season. The team failed to improve on their 6–10 record from 2010, going 2–6 before their bye week, before being eliminated from playoff contention in week 12 with a 2–9 record. The team also suffered its first six-game losing streak since the 1984 season.
2011 Minnesota Vikings season | |
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Head coach | Leslie Frazier |
Owner | Zygi Wilf |
Home field | Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
Results | |
Record | 3–13 |
Division place | 4th NFC North |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | DE Jared Allen LB Chad Greenway (alternate) |
Uniform | |
The team started the season with a new starting quarterback, Donovan McNabb, who had enjoyed great success with the Eagles but had a subpar year with the Redskins in 2010. McNabb played respectably, having a passer rating of 82.9 and only turning the ball over twice, but his 1–5 record as starter led to him being benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder in Week 6, and McNabb was later waived on December 1, 2011. Despite a poor year for the team as a whole, Jared Allen set a franchise record for most sacks in a season with 22. The team led the league in sacks with 50, but also tied a team record for fewest interceptions caught in a season with only eight.
Offseason
Draft
After finishing with a 6–10 record in the 2010 season, the Vikings were allocated the 12th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Pro Bowler |
2011 Minnesota Vikings Draft | ||||||
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Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Contract | Notes | |
Round | Overall | |||||
1 | 12 | Christian Ponder | QB | Florida State | 4 years | |
2 | 43 | Kyle Rudolph | TE | Notre Dame | 4 years | |
3 | 74 | Traded to the New England Patriots[a] | ||||
4 | 106 | Christian Ballard | DE | Iowa | 4 years | |
5 | 139 | Brandon Burton | CB | Utah | 4 years | |
150 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns[b] | From Giants[c] | ||||
6 | 168 | DeMarcus Love | T | Arkansas | 4 years | From Broncos via Browns[b] |
170 | Mistral Raymond | S | South Florida | 4 years | From Browns[b] | |
172 | Brandon Fusco | C | Slippery Rock | 4 years | ||
200 | Ross Homan | LB | Ohio State | 4 years | Compensatory pick[d] | |
7 | 215 | D'Aundre Reed | DE | Arizona | 4 years | |
236 | Stephen Burton | WR | West Texas A&M | 4 years | Compensatory pick[d] |
- ^[a] During the 2010 season, Minnesota traded their 3rd round pick (74th overall) to New England for WR Randy Moss and their 2012 7th round selection (223rd overall).
- ^[b] Cleveland traded two 3rd round selections (168th and 170th overall) to Minnesota to move up 18 spots to the 150th overall selection and draft G Jason Pinkston.
- ^[c] The Giants traded their 5th round selection (150th overall) and a conditional 2012 7th round selection (which was not exercised) to Minnesota for RB Darius Reynaud and QB Sage Rosenfels.
- ^[d] Minnesota was awarded two compensatory picks for the loss of free agents Artis Hicks and Chester Taylor.
Preseason
Schedule
The Vikings' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 13 | at Tennessee Titans | L 3–14 | 0–1 | LP Field | Recap |
2 | August 20 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 20–7 | 1–1 | CenturyLink Field | Recap |
3 | August 27 | Dallas Cowboys | L 17–23 | 1–2 | Mall of America Field | Recap |
4 | September 1 | Houston Texans | W 28–0 | 2–2 | Mall of America Field | Recap |
Game summaries
Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Titans | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: August 13
- Game time: 19:00
- Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,143
- Referee: Scott Green (19)
- TV announcers (KARE-11): Ari Wolfe, Mike Mayock and Randy Shaver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
- Date: August 20
- Game time: 21:00
- Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,599
- Referee: Clete Blakeman (34)
- TV announcers (KARE-11): Ari Wolfe, Mike Mayock and Randy Shaver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 27
- Game time: 19:00
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,800
- Referee: John Parry (132)
- TV announcers (KARE-11): Ari Wolfe, Mike Mayock and Randy Shaver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Houston Texans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vikings | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 1
- Game time: 19:00
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,148
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV announcers (KARE-11): Ari Wolfe, Mike Mayock and Randy Shaver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 11 | at San Diego Chargers | L 17–24 | 0–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap | ||
2 | September 18 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 20–24 | 0–2 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
3 | September 25 | Detroit Lions | L 23–26 (OT) | 0–3 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
4 | October 2 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 17–22 | 0–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap | ||
5 | October 9 | Arizona Cardinals | W 34–10 | 1–4 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
6 | October 16 | at Chicago Bears | L 10–39 | 1–5 | Soldier Field | Recap | ||
7 | October 23 | Green Bay Packers | L 27–33 | 1–6 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
8 | October 30 | at Carolina Panthers | W 24–21 | 2–6 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap | ||
9 | Bye | |||||||
10 | November 14 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–45 | 2–7 | Lambeau Field | Recap | ||
11 | November 20 | Oakland Raiders | L 21–27 | 2–8 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
12 | November 27 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 14–24 | 2–9 | Georgia Dome | Recap | ||
13 | December 4 | Denver Broncos | L 32–35 | 2–10 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
14 | December 11 | at Detroit Lions | L 28–34 | 2–11 | Ford Field | Recap | ||
15 | December 18 | New Orleans Saints | L 20–42 | 2–12 | Mall of America Field | Recap | ||
16 | December 24 | at Washington Redskins | W 33–26 | 3–12 | FedExField | Recap | ||
17 | January 1 | Chicago Bears | L 13–17 | 3–13 | Mall of America Field | Recap |
- LEGEND
- Team names in bold indicate Vikings' home games.
Game summaries
Week 1: at San Diego Chargers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Chargers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C) Sunny
- Game attendance: 66,716
- Referee: Terry McAulay (77)
- TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Jim Mora, Jr. and Drea Avent
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 24 |
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,461
- Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and John Lynch
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 26 |
Vikings | 6 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,466
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and John Lynch
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Chiefs | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 22 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) Sunny
- Game attendance: 72,931
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Charles Davis and Tim Brewster
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 28 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 34 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,479
- Referee: Scott Green (19)
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Chicago Bears
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Bears | 16 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 39 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C) Clear
- Game attendance: 62,322
- Referee: Walt Anderson (66)
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 7 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 33 |
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,946
- Referee: Pete Morelli (135)
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 8: at Carolina Panthers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Panthers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) Sunny
- Game attendance: 72,095
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Packers | 14 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 45 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: November 14
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,519
- Referee: Mike Carey (94)
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden and Rachel Nichols
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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After being swept by the Packers, the Vikings dropped to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,748
- Referee: Jerome Boger (23)
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Falcons | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 68,115
- Referee: Alberto Riveron (57)
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 7 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
Vikings | 5 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 32 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,939
- Referee: Terry McAulay (77)
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 14: at Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Lions | 21 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 34 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,988
- Referee: John Parry (132)
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Vikings | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,623
- Referee: Walt Anderson (66)
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 16: at Washington Redskins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 33 |
Redskins | 0 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
at FedExField, Landover, Maryland
- Date: December 24
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C) Sunny
- Game attendance: 68,370
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Vikings | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: January 1
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,867
- Referee: Mike Carey (94)
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Standings
NFC North | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(1) Green Bay Packers | 15 | 1 | 0 | .938 | 6–0 | 12–0 | 560 | 359 | W2 |
(6) Detroit Lions | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 6–6 | 474 | 397 | L1 |
Chicago Bears | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 353 | 341 | W1 |
Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 0–6 | 3–9 | 340 | 449 | L1 |
Statistics
Team leaders
Category | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Christian Ponder | 1,853 |
Passing touchdowns | Christian Ponder | 13 |
Rushing yards | Adrian Peterson | 970 |
Rushing touchdowns | Adrian Peterson | 12 |
Receiving yards | Percy Harvin | 967 |
Receiving touchdowns | Percy Harvin | 6 |
Points | Ryan Longwell | 104 |
Kickoff return yards | Percy Harvin | 520 |
Punt return yards | Marcus Sherels | 277 |
Tackles | Chad Greenway | 154 |
Sacks | Jared Allen | 22.0 * |
Interceptions | Jamarca Sanford | 2 |
Forced fumbles | Jared Allen | 4 |
- *Led the league and a new Vikings single-season record.
League rankings
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 32) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 2,957 | 184.8 | 28th |
Rushing offense | 2,318 | 144.9 | 4th |
Total offense | 5,275 | 329.7 | 18th |
Passing defense | 4,019 | 251.2 | 26th |
Rushing defense | 1,712 | 107.0 | 11th |
Total defense | 5,731 | 358.2 | 12th |
Staff
Minnesota Vikings 2011 staff | ||||||
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Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
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Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
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