2011 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2011 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 46th season in the National Football League 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 [2011 2011 New York Giants season|New York Giants season|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.
Preseason
Schedule
The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Regular season
Game summaries
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.
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–2.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 2–2.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Postseason
Game summaries
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.