NFL team season
The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season 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 ten or more games in consecutive seasons.
Preseason
Schedule
The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Robbie Gould 23-yard field goal, Bears 13–3 .
CHI – Robbie Gould 26-yard field goal, Bears 16–3 . Third quarter
ATL – Matt Bryant 25-yard field goal, Bears 16–6 .
CHI – Matt Spaeth 1-yard pass from Jay Cutler (Robbie Gould kick), Bears 23–6 .
CHI – Brian Urlacher 12-yard fumble return (Robbie Gould kick), Bears 30–6 . Fourth quarter
Top passers
ATL – Matt Ryan – 31/47, 319 yards, 1 interception
CHI – Jay Cutler – 22/32, 312 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Eagles
0
10
21 0 31
Falcons 7
7
7 14 35
at Georgia Dome , Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
ATL – Roddy White 2-yard pass from Matt Ryan (Matt Bryant kick), Falcons 7–0 Second quarter
PHI – Jeremy Maclin 5-yard pass from Michael Vick (Alex Henery kick), Tied 7–7
PHI – Alex Henery 22-yard Field Goal, Eagles 10–7
ATL – Tony Gonzalez 4-yard pass from Matt Ryan (Alex Bryant kick), Falcons 14–10 Third quarter
ATL – Tony Gonzalez 17-yard pass from Matt Ryan, Falcons 21–10
PHI – Jeremy Maclin 36-yard pass from Michael Vick (Alex Henery kick), Falcons 21–17
PHI – LeSean McCoy 8-yard run (Alex Henery kick), Eagles 24–21
PHI – LeSean McCoy 2-yard run (Alex Henery kick), Eagles 31–21 Fourth quarter
ATL – Ovie Mughelli 1-yard pass from Matt Ryan (Matt Bryant kick), Eagles 31–28
ATL – Michael Turner 3-yard run (Matt Bryant kick), Falcons 35–31
Top passers
PHI – Michael Vick – 19/28, 242 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
ATL – Matt Ryan – 17/28, 195 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions Top rushers
PHI – Lesean McCoy – 18 carries, 95 yards, 2 touchdowns
ATL – Michael Turner – 21 carries, 114 yards, 1 touchdown Top receivers
PHI – Jeremy Maclin – 13 receptions, 171 yards, 2 touchdowns
ATL – Tony Gonzalez – 7 receptions, 83 yards, 2 touchdowns Top tacklers
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
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
ATL – Matt Ryan – 27/47, 330 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
TB – Josh Freeman – 22/32, 180 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–2.
Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
Game information
First quarter
TD Tony Gonzalez 1 Yd Pass From Matt Ryan (Matt Bryant Kick) ATL 7–0
Second quarter
TD 10:13 Michael Turner 21 Yd Run (Matt Bryant Kick) ATL 14–0
TD 08:46 Sidney Rice 52 Yd Pass From Tarvaris Jackson (Steven Hauschka Kick) ATL 14–7
TD 02:48 Michael Turner 1 Yd Run (Matt Bryant Kick) ATL 21–7
FG 00:25 Matt Bryant 47 Yd ATL 24–7
Third quarter
FG 13:40 Matt Bryant 50 Yd ATL 27–7
TD 10:01 Mike Williams 6 Yd Pass From Tarvaris Jackson (Steven Hauschka Kick) ATL 27–14
TD 03:07 Marshawn Lynch 11 Yd Run (Steven Hauschka Kick) ATL 27–21
Fourth quarter
FG 11:38 Matt Bryant 42 Yd ATL 30–21
TD 08:13 Ben Obomanu 8 Yd Pass From Tarvaris Jackson (Steven Hauschka Kick) ATL 30–28
Top passers
ATL – M. Ryan 291 Yards
SEA – T. Jackson 319 Yards Top rushers
ATL – M. Turner 70 Yards
SEA – M. Lynch 24 Yards Top receivers
ATL – J. Jones 127 Yards
SEA – D. Baldwin 84 Yards Top tacklers
ATL – W. Moore 8 Tackles
SEA – D. Hawthorne 10 tackles
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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Packers 0
6
9 10 25
Falcons
7
7
0 0 14
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : October 9Game time : 8:20 p.m. EDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 69,576Referee : Jeff Triplette TV announcers (NBC) : Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
3
7
7 0 17
Falcons 7
7
0 17 31
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : October 16Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 69,047Referee : Pete Morelli TV announcers (Fox) : Dick Stockton and John Lynch
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons 10
7
3 3 23
Lions
3
3
10 0 16
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game information
First quarter
DET – Jason Hanson 43-yard field goal, Lions 3–0, Drive: 4 plays, −10 yards, 1:47.
ATL – Matt Bryant 23-yard field goal, Tied 3–3, Drive: 7 plays, 21 yards, 3:03.
ATL – Matt Ryan 1-yard run (Matt Bryant kick), Falcons 10–3, 5 plays, 28 yards, 2:46. Second quarter
DET – Jason Hanson 38-yard field goal, Falcons 10–6, Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards, 4:12.
ATL – Roddy White 18-yard pass from Matt Ryan (Matt Bryant kick), Falcons 17–6, Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 3:05 Third quarter
DET – Jason Hanson 29-yard field goal, Falcons 17–9, Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards, 2:25.
ATL – Matt Bryant 47 yard, Falcons 20–9, Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 2;33.
DET – Calvin Johnson 57-yard pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), Falcons 20–16, Drive: 6 plays, 84 yards, 3:07. Fourth quarter
ATL – Matt Bryant 40-yard field goal, Falcons 23–16, Drive: 9 plays, 25 yards, 4:42.
Top passers
ATL – Matt Ryan – 20/34, 218 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions
DET – Matthew Stafford – 15/32, 183 yards, 1 touchdown Top rushers
ATL – Michael Turner – 27 carries, 122 yards
DET – Maurice Morris – 9 carries, 50 yards Top receivers
ATL – Tony Gonzalez – 5 receptions, 62 yards
DET – Calvin Johnson – 5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 touchdown Top tacklers
ATL – Curtis Lofton – 5 tackles, 5 assists
DET – DeAndre Levy – 6 tackles, 5 assists
With the win, the Falcons went into their bye week at 4–3.
Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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
Period
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Saints 3
7
7 6 3 26
Falcons
3
3
7 10 0 23
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : November 13Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 70,359Referee : Terry McAulay TV announcers (Fox) : Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa[citation needed
Game information
First quarter
ATL – M.Bryant 36 yd. Field Goal Falcons 3–0. Drive: 16 plays, 61 yards, 8:40.
NO – J.Kasay 52 yd. Field Goal Saints 3–3. Drive: 8 plays, 30 yards, 3:32. Second quarter
ATL – M.Bryant 29 yd. Field Goal Falcons 6–3. Drive: 9 plays, 45 yards, 5:21.
NO – J.Graham 21 yd. pass from D.Brees (J.Kasay kick) Saints 10–6. Drive: 3 plays, 50 yards, 1:01. Third quarter
ATL – J.Snelling 21 yd. pass from M.Ryan (M.Bryant kick) Falcons 13–10. Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 6:04.
NO – R.Meachem 33 yd. pass from D.Brees (J.Kasay kick) Saints 17–13. Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 3:37. Fourth quarter
NO – J.Kasay 48 yd. Field Goal Saints 20–13. Drive: 6 plays, −4 yards, 2:56.
NO – J.Kasay 44 yd. Field Goal Saints 23–13. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 3:35.
ATL – T.Gonzalez 20 yd. pass from M.Ryan (M.Bryant kick) Falcons 20–23. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 3:00.
ATL – M.Bryant 27 yd. Field Goal Falcons 23–23. Drive: 13 plays, 85 yards, 1:55. Overtime
NO – J.Kasay 26 yd. Field Goal Saints 26–23. Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 2:21.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 5–4.
Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Eleven: Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Titans
0
3
7 7 17
Falcons 7
6
10 0 23
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : November 20Game time : 4:15 p.m. EST[1] Game weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 68,164Referee : John Parry TV announcers (CBS ) : Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the win, the Falcons improved to 6–4.
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Twelve: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
0
0
7 7 14
Falcons 7
10
0 7 24
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : November 27Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 68,115Referee : Alberto Riveron TV announcers (Fox) : Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the win, the Falcons improved to 7–4.
Week 13: at Houston Texans
Week Thirteen: Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
0
3
7 0 10
Texans 3
7
0 7 17
at Reliant Stadium , Houston, Texas
Date : December 4Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (retractable roof closed)Game attendance : 71,545Referee : Bill Leavy TV announcers (Fox) : Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 7–5.
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons 7
0
10 14 31
Panthers
7
16
0 0 23
at Bank of America Stadium , Charlotte, North Carolina
Date : December 11Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 43 °F or 6.1 °C (Sunny)Game attendance : 72,680Referee : Walt Anderson TV announcers (Fox) : Ron Pitts, Jim Mora, Jr. and Drea Avent
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the win, the Falcons improved to 8–5.
Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Fifteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Jaguars
0
0
7 7 14
Falcons 10
17
14 0 41
at Georgia Dome , Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the win, the Falcons improved to 9–5.
Week 16: at New Orleans Saints
Game information
First quarter
ATL – M.Bryant 34 yd. Field Goal Falcons 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 6:07.
NO – P.Thomas 4 yd. run (J.Kasay kick) Saints 7–3. Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 3:28.
ATL – J.Jones 21 yd. pass from M.Ryan (M.Bryant kick) Falcons 10–7. Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 3:54. Second quarter
NO – M.Colston 8 yd. pass from D.Brees (J.Kasay kick) Saints 14–10. Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 3:59.
NO – J.Graham 9 yd. pass from D.Brees (J.Kasay kick) Saints 21–10. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 1:55. Third quarter
NO – R.Meachem 24 yd. pass from D.Brees (J.Kasay kick) Saints 28–10. Drive: 6 plays, 86 yards, 3:15.
ATL – M.Bryant 51 yd. Field Goal Falcons 13–28. Drive: 5 plays, 47 yards, 3:47.
NO – J.Kasay 29 yd. Field Goal Saints 31–13. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 1:37. Fourth quarter
ATL – M.Bryant 30 yd. Field Goal Falcons 16–31. Drive: 16 plays, 68 yards, 5:21.
NO – M.Jenkins 30 yd. fumble return (J.Kasay kick) Saints 38–16.
NO – D.Sproles 9 yd. pass from D.Brees (J.Kasay kick) Saints 45–16. Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 2:17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Buccaneers
0
7
11 6 24
Falcons 21
21
0 3 45
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the win, the Falcons finished the season at 10–6 and captured the NFC's #5 seed.
Standings
Postseason
Schedule
Game summaries
NFC Wild Card Playoff Game: at #4 New York Giants
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
NYG – Lawrence Tynes 22-yard field goal, 7:51. Giants 10–2. Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 4:47.
NYG – Hakeem Nicks 72-yard pass from Eli Manning (Lawrence Tynes kick), 2:44. Giants 17–2. Drive: 3 plays, 79 yards, 1:32. Fourth quarter
NYG – Mario Manningham 27-yard pass from Eli Manning (Lawrence Tynes kick), 9:55. Giants 24–2. Drive: 10 plays, 85 yards, 5:38.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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 .
