2011 Minnesota Vikings season

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The 2011 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), 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
OwnerZygi Wilf
Head coachLeslie Frazier
Home fieldMall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record3–13
Division place4th NFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersDE 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 edit

Draft edit

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
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]
 
Oakland at Minnesota in week 11
^[a] The Vikings traded their third-round selection (74th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for New England's 2012 seventh-round selection (223rd overall) and WR Randy Moss.
^[b] The Vikings traded the fifth-round selection they acquired from the New York Giants (150th overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Cleveland's sixth-round selection and the sixth-round selection they acquired from the Denver Broncos (168th and 170th overall).
^[c] The Vikings traded RB Darius Reynaud and QB Sage Rosenfels to the New York Giants in exchange for the Giants' fifth-round selection (150th overall) and a conditional 2012 seventh-round selection (which was not exercised).
^[d] The Vikings were awarded two compensatory picks for the loss of free agents Artis Hicks and Chester Taylor.

Preseason edit

Schedule edit

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 edit

Week 1: at Tennessee Titans edit

Preseason Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 303
Titans 0 14 0014

at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks edit

Preseason Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 6 0720
Seahawks 0 0 077

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys edit

Preseason Week 3: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 3 14 3323
Vikings 7 3 7017

at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 4: vs. Houston Texans edit

Preseason Week 4: Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 0 000
Vikings 0 7 71428

at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Regular season edit

Schedule edit

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 edit

Week 1: at San Diego Chargers edit

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 10 0017
Chargers 7 0 71024

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit

Week 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 0 101424
Vikings 7 10 0320

at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions edit

Week 3: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Lions 0 0 1013326
Vikings 6 14 03023

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, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs edit

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 0 3717
Chiefs 3 6 6722

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals edit

Week 5: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 3 7010
Vikings 28 0 3334

at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 6: at Chicago Bears edit

Week 6: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 3 7010
Bears 16 10 10339

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers edit

Week 7: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 7 6 20033
Vikings 7 10 01027

at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 8: at Carolina Panthers edit

Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 7 7324
Panthers 0 14 7021

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers edit

Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 707
Packers 14 3 141445

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

After being swept by the Packers, the Vikings dropped to 2–7.

Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders edit

Week 11: Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 3 21 3027
Vikings 7 0 01421

at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons edit

Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 7714
Falcons 7 10 0724

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, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos edit

Week 13: Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 141435
Vikings 5 10 71032

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, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Detroit Lions edit

Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 7 7728
Lions 21 10 0334

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, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints edit

Week 15: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 14 14742
Vikings 3 10 0720

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, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at Washington Redskins edit

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 7 131033
Redskins 0 10 10626

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, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears edit

Week 17: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 14 0317
Vikings 10 3 0013

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, Game Book
Game information

Standings edit

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 6–6 474 387 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 edit

Team leaders edit

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 edit

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 edit

Minnesota Vikings 2011 staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Roster edit

2011 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 10 inactive, 7 practice squad

Notes and references edit