2011 Baltimore Ravens season | |
---|---|
Owner | Steve Bisciotti |
General manager | Ozzie Newsome |
Head coach | John Harbaugh |
Offensive coordinator | Cam Cameron |
Defensive coordinator | Chuck Pagano |
Home field | M&T Bank Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–4 |
Division place | 1st AFC North |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Texans) 20–13 Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 20–23 |
Pro Bowlers | RB Ray Rice FB Vonta Leach G Marshal Yanda DT Haloti Ngata OLB Terrell Suggs MLB Ray Lewis FS Ed Reed |
Uniform | |
The 2011 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 16th in the National Football League (NFL), the fourth under head coach John Harbaugh and their 10th season under general manager Ozzie Newsome.
The 2011 season marked one of the most successful seasons in Baltimore Ravens franchise history. The Ravens completed the season with a 12–4 record, matching their record from 2010, and winning the AFC North division title for the third time in franchise history. By earning a playoff berth in 2011, the Ravens set a franchise record by going to the postseason for four consecutive seasons. This was also the first and (as of 2023) only season the Ravens swept their division.
Over his first four years, Harbaugh compiled an overall record of 44–20 in the regular season and 5–4 in the postseason. The Ravens avenged their 2010 divisional round playoff loss against the Steelers in week 1 of the season with a big 35–7 victory at home. The 2011 campaign also marked the first time the Ravens played a Thanksgiving game: the Ravens played the San Francisco 49ers and won 16–6. (San Francisco was coached by John Harbaugh's brother Jim, and many dubbed the Thanksgiving game the "Harbaugh Bowl.") Coincidentally the Ravens and 49ers would meet next year in Super Bowl XLVII, which saw the Ravens win their 2nd title in franchise history.
After defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in week 17, the Ravens earned the first-round bye for the first time since 2006 as the second seed in the AFC. They won the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans but were defeated by the New England Patriots in the Conference Championship game, 23–20 after wide receiver Lee Evans failed to catch what likely would have been the game-winning touchdown on 2nd down and 1, and placekicker Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying 32-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
Linebacker Terrell Suggs was named Defensive Player of the Year.