2011 Minnesota Vikings season
| 2011 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Zygi Wilf |
| Head coach | Leslie Frazier |
| 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 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.
The team started the season with a new starting quarterback,
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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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] 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).
- 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
Preseason Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Titans | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Preseason Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
| Period | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Week 3: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: vs. Houston Texans
Preseason Week 4: Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
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
Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Chargers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
at 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 24 |
| Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 3: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 5: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 6: at Chicago Bears
Week 6: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 7: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 8: at Carolina Panthers
Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
After being swept by the Packers, the Vikings dropped to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 11: Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 12: 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 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
Week 13: Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 14: at Detroit Lions
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 15: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 16: at Washington Redskins
Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 17: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Period | 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, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
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 | 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
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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
| |||||
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends |
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
| ||||||
