NFL team season
The 2011 season was the St. Louis Rams ' 74th in the National Football League (NFL), their 17th in St. Louis , and their third and final season under head coach Steve Spagnuolo . They finished with a 2–14 record, a failure to improve on their 7–9 record from 2010 . The day after the season finale, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney were fired from the team.
The Rams' offense was among the worst in the league in 2011. They scored only 193 points (12.1 points per game), last in the league, and 11th-fewest all-time for a 16-game season.[ 1] [ 2]
Football Outsiders [ 3] 2012 Football Outsiders Almanac , however, noted that the Rams went from the league's easiest schedule in 2010 to the league's hardest schedule in 2011.[ 4]
With their 2–14 record, the Rams capped a stretch from 2007 to 2011 in which they went 15–65, setting a new mark for the worst five-season span in NFL history. This mark has since been matched by the Cleveland Browns of 2013 to 2017 . To date, this is the last season with the Rams getting at most two victories. As of 2022, the 2011 Rams are the most recent team to finish a season scoring less than 200 points.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 18, the Rams hired former Denver Broncos ' head coach Josh McDaniels as the team's new offensive coordinator, replacing Pat Shurmur , who became the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns five days earlier (January 13).[ 5] [ 6]
Draft
^[a] Rams traded its sixth-round selection (#145 overall) to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for the Falcons ' sixth-round selection (#158 overall) and their seventh-round selection (#229 overall).^[b] Rams traded its sixth-round selection (#180 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the Ravens ' seventh-round selection (#228 overall) and WR Mark Clayton .
Staff
St. Louis Rams 2011 staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Coaching assistants
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule The Rams' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
STL – Josh Brown 49-yard field goal (PHI 14–10)
PHI – Alex Henery 34-yard field goal (PHI 17–10) Third quarter
PHI – DeSean Jackson 6-yard TD pass from Michael Vick, Alex Henery kick (PHI 24–10)
STL – Josh Brown 23-yard field goal (PHI 24–13) Fourth quarter
PHI – LeSean McCoy 49-yard TD run, Alex Henery kick (PHI 31–13)
Top passers
PHI – Michael Vick: 14/32 187 Yds, 2 TD, 11 Rush, 97 Yds
STL – Sam Bradford : 17/30 188 Yds Top rushers
PHI – LeSean McCoy: 15 Att, 122 Yds, 1 Rush TD, 2 Rec, 15 Yds, 1 Rec TD
STL – Carnell Williams : 19 Att, 91 Yds, 5 Rec, 49 Yds Top receivers
PHI – DeSean Jackson: 6 Rec, 102 Yds, 1 TD
STL – Brandon Gibson : 3 Rec, 50 Yds Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams started the season 0–1.
Week 2: at New York Giants
Game information
First quarter
STL Josh Brown 21-yard FG (9–84, 3:19) (STL 3-0)
NYG Nicks 3-yard pass from Manning (Tynes kick) (5–38, 2:17) (NYG 7-3)
STL Brown 25-yard FG (10–67, 2:26) (NYG 7-6) Second quarter
NYG Boley 65-yard fumble return (Tynes kick) (NYG 14-6)
NYG Hixon 22-yard pass from Manning (Tynes kick) (8–86, 2:37) (NYG 21-6) Third quarter
STL Brown 27-yard FG (8–60, 3:11) (NYG 21-9)
NYG Jacobs 9-yard run (Tynes kick) (10–81, 5:30) (NYG 28-9)
STL Alexander 19-yard pass from Bradford (Brown kick) (13–72, 5:01) (NYG 28-16)
Top passers
STL – Sam Bradford – 22/46, 331 YDS, TD
NYG – Eli Manning – 18/29, 200 YDS, 2 TD, INT Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–2.
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens Week Three: Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Ravens 21
6
3 7 37
Rams
0
0
7 0 7
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
BAL – Torrey Smith 74 yd. pass from Joe Flacco (Billy Cundiff kick), Ravens 7–0
BAL – Torrey Smith 41 yd. pass from Joe Flacco (Billy Cundiff kick), Ravens 14–0
BAL – Torrey Smith 18 yd. pass from Joe Flacco (Billy Cundiff kick), Ravens 21–0 Second quarter
BAL – Billy Cundiff 21 yd. Field Goal, Ravens 24–0
BAL – Billy Cundiff 31 yd. Field Goal, Ravens 27–0 Third quarter
BAL – Billy Cundiff 38 yd. Field Goal, Ravens 30–0
STL – Brandon Gibson 34 yd. pass from Sam Bradford (Josh Brown kick), Ravens 30–7 Fourth quarter
BAL – Haloti Ngata 28 yd. fumble return, Ravens 37–7
Top passers
BAL – Joe Flacco – 27/48, 389 yards, 3 touchdowns
STL – Sam Bradford – 16/32, 166 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception Top rushers
BAL – Ray Rice – 9 carries, 81 yards
STL – Carnell Williams – 18 carries, 75 yards Top receivers
BAL – Anquan Bolden – 7 receptions, 74 yards
STL – Brandon Gibson – 5 receptions, 55 yards, 1 touchdown Top tacklers
BAL – Ray Lewis – 10 tackles
STL – Bradley Fletcher – 6 tackles
With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–3.
Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins Week Four: Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Redskins 7
7
3 0 17
Rams
0
0
0 10 10
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Date : October 2Game time : 12:00 pm. CDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 56,113Referee : Walt Coleman TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers & Tim Ryan
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams went into their bye week at 0–4.
Week 6: at Green Bay Packers Week Six: St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams
0
3
0 0 3
Packers 3
21
0 0 24
at Lambeau Field , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : October 16Game time : 12:00 pm. CDTGame weather : 57 °F (14 °C) (Partly Cloudy)Game attendance : 70,604Referee : Ed Hochuli TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Coming off of their bye week in week 5, the Rams traveled to Lambeau Field to take on the undefeated Packers. The loss dropped the team to 0–5.
Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams dropped to 0–6.
Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints Week Eight: New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
0
0
7 14 21
Rams 0
17
7 7 31
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Date : October 30Game time : 12:00 pm. CDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 57,179Referee : Walt Anderson TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
STL – Josh Brown 38-yard field goal. Rams 3–0. Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 5:41.
STL – Steven Jackson 3-yard run (Josh Brown kick). Rams 10–0. Drive: 2 plays, 15 yards, 0:26.
STL – Brandon Lloyd 8-yard pass from A. J. Feeley (Josh Brown kick). Rams 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 0:41. Third quarter
STL – Steven Jackson 3-yard run (Josh Brown kick). Rams 24–0. Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 5:44.
NO – Jonathan Vilma fumble recovery in the end zone (John Kasay kick). Saints 7–24. Fourth quarter
NO – Pierre Thomas 3-yard run (J. Kasay kick). Saints 14–24. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4:45.
STL – Darian Stewart 27-yard interception return (Josh Brown kick). Rams 31–14.
NO – Lance Moore 8-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick). Saints 21–31. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 2:45.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
This home game for the team also had a celebration of the St. Louis Cardinals showing off the World Series trophy. The Rams would then go on to win this game and improve to 1–6.
Week 9: at Arizona Cardinals
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
The game featured the Rams' scoring the four points in the third quarter as they got two safeties on consecutive drives. This was first time in NFL history that a team had recorded four points in a quarter.
With the loss, the Rams fell to 1–7 and last place in the NFC West.[ 8]
Week 10: at Cleveland Browns
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the close win, the Rams improved to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. Seattle Seahawks Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 0
10
7 7 24
Rams
7
0
0 0 7
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Date : November 20Game time : 3:05 pm. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 56,400Referee : Carl Cheffers TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Marshawn Lynch 3-yard run (Steven Hauschka kick), 5:58 (SEA 17–7) Fourth quarter
SEA – Justin Forsett 22-yard run (Steven Hauschka kick), 4:21 (SEA 24–7)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Team – SEA – 126 – 163 – 289 – 2
STL – 143 – 42 – 185 – 3
With the loss, the Rams dropped to 2–8.
Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals 3
0
17 3 23
Rams
7
3
0 10 20
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams dropped to 2–9 securing them their 5th straight losing season.
Week 13: at San Francisco 49ers Week Thirteen: St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams
0
0
0 0 0
49ers 3
6
10 7 26
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Date : December 4Game time : 3:15 pm. CST/1:15 p.m. PST Game weather : 53 °F (12 °C) (Sunny)Game attendance : 69,732Referee : Pete Morelli TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SF – David Akers 19-yard field goal, 49ers 6–0.
SF – David Akers 28-yard field goal, 49ers 9–0. Third quarter
SF – Michael Crabtree 52-yard pass from Alex Smith (David Akers kick), 49ers 16–0.
SF – David Akers 34-yard field goal, 49ers 19–0. Fourth quarter
SF – Kyle Williams 56-yard pass from Alex Smith (David Akers kick), 49ers 26–0.
Top passers
STL – A.J. Feeley – 12/22, 156 yards, 1 interception
SF – Alex Smith – 17/23, 274 yards, 2 touchdown Top rushers
STL – Steven Jackson – 10 carries, 19 yards
SF – Frank Gore – 21 carries, 73 yards Top receivers
STL – Brandon Gibson – 4 catches, 42 yards
SF – Michael Crabtree – 4 catches, 96 yards, 1 touchdown Top tacklers
STL – Craig Dehl – 11 tackles, 2 assists
SF – NaVarro Bowman – 6 tackles
With the loss, the Rams fell to 2–10.
Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks Week Fourteen: St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams
0
3
3 7 13
Seahawks 10
0
10 10 30
at CenturyLink Field , Seattle, Washington
Date : December 12Game time : 7:30 pm. CST/5:30 pm. PSTGame weather : 40 °F (4 °C) (Clear)Game attendance : 66,577Referee : Bill Leavy TV announcers (ESPN) : Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden and Rachel Nichols
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
STL – Josh Brown 46-yard field goal, 11:04 (SEA 10–3) Third quarter
SEA – Steven Hauschka 23-yard field goal, 12:03 (SEA 13–3)
STL – Josh Brown 29-yard field goal, 1:49 (SEA 13–6)
SEA – Doug Baldwin 29-yard pass from Tarvaris Jackson (Steven Hauschka kick), 0:06 (SEA 20–6) Fourth quarter
SEA – Steven Hauschka 28-yard field goal, 8:27 (SEA 23–6)
STL – Steven Jackson 1-yard run (Josh Brown kick), 4:39 (SEA 23–13)
SEA – Marshawn Lynch 16-yard run (Steven Hauschka kick), 2:57 (SEA 30–13)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Team – STL – 167 – 114 – 281 – 1
SEA – 214 – 145 – 359 – 1
With the loss, the Rams fell to 2–11 and were swept by the Seahawks for the first time since 2009.
Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals Week Fifteen: Cincinnati Bengals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bengals 3
0
10 7 20
Rams
0
6
0 7 13
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Date : December 18Game time : 12:00 pm. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 56,431Referee : Jerome Boger TV announcers (CBS) : Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams fell to 2–12.
Week 16: at Pittsburgh Steelers Week Sixteen: St. Louis Rams at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams
0
0
0 0 0
Steelers 3
7
3 14 27
at Heinz Field , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date : December 24Game time : 1:00 pm. EST/12:00 pm. CSTGame weather : 36 °F (2 °C) (Cloudy)Game attendance : 60,081Referee : Clete Blakeman TV announcers (Fox) : Dick Stockton & John Lynch
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Steelers 10–0 – John Clay 10 Yard Run (Shaun Suisham Kick) (6:50) Third quarter
Steelers 13–0 – Shaun Suisham 49 Yard Field Goal (9:19) Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
This game became the Steelers' 2nd shutout win of the season as the Rams dropped to 2–13.
Week 17: vs. San Francisco 49ers Week Seventeen: San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers 7
13
7 7 34
Rams
7
0
3 17 27
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Date : January 1Game time : 12:00 pm. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 55,990Referee : Jeff Triplette TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers , Tim Ryan , & Jaime Maggio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Rams finished the season at 2–14 tied with the Colts for the league's worst record.
Standings
Notes and references
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2012, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For. ^ Pro-Football-Reference: In a single season, in 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points Differential ^ Football Outsiders: Final 2011 DVOA Ratings ^ Football Outsiders Almanac 2012 (ISBN 978-1-4782-0152-6), p.216-217: "In 2011, St. Louis became the first person in [Football Outsiders' history] (1991–2011) to go from the easiest schedule one season to the hardest schedule the next."
^ "Shurmur Named Head Coach of Cleveland Browns" . therams.com. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2011 .^ "Rams Name McDaniels Offensive Coordinator" . therams.com. January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ "NFL cancels Bears-Rams Hall of Fame Game" . Chicago Bears. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2011 .^ King, Peter (November 7, 2011). "Super deja vu for Manning, Giants in clutch win over Patriots" . Sports Illustrated . Monday Morning QB. p. 3. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2011 .
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