2011 Dallas Cowboys season explained

Team:Dallas Cowboys
Year:2011
Record:8–8
Division Place:3rd NFC East
Coach:Jason Garrett
General Manager:Jerry Jones
Owner:Jerry Jones
Stadium:Cowboys Stadium
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers:DT Jay Ratliff
LB DeMarcus Ware
Ap All-Pros:DeMarcus Ware (1st team)
Uniform:File:Cowboys uniforms12.png
Shortnavlink:Cowboys seasons

The Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL), the third playing their home games at Cowboys Stadium and the first full season under head coach Jason Garrett. The team improved on their 6–10 record from 2010, but missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season due to their week 17 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.[1]

2011 draft class

See main article: 2011 NFL draft.

2011 Dallas Cowboys Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 9
2 40North Carolina
3 71Oklahoma
4 110David ArkinMissouri State
5 143Buffalo
6 176East Carolina
7 220 Georgia
7 Wisconsin
Notes The Cowboys forfeited its original seventh-round selection after selecting defensive tackle Josh Brent in the 2010 Supplemental Draft.

Schedule

Preseason

The Cowboys' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame siteNFL.com
recap
1August 11Denver BroncosW 24–231–0Cowboys StadiumRecap
2August 21San Diego ChargersL 7–201–1Cowboys StadiumRecap
3August 27at Minnesota VikingsW 23–172–1Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap
4September 1at Miami DolphinsL 3–172–2Sun Life StadiumRecap

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame siteNFL.com
recap
1September 11at New York JetsL 24–270–1MetLife StadiumRecap
2September 18 at San Francisco 49ersW 27–24 1–1Candlestick ParkRecap
3September 26Washington RedskinsW 18–162–1Cowboys StadiumRecap
4October 2Detroit LionsL 30–342–2Cowboys StadiumRecap
5Bye
6October 16at New England PatriotsL 16–202–3Gillette StadiumRecap
7October 23St. Louis RamsW 34–73–3Cowboys StadiumRecap
8October 30at Philadelphia EaglesL 7–343–4Lincoln Financial FieldRecap
9November 6Seattle SeahawksW 23–134–4Cowboys StadiumRecap
10November 13Buffalo BillsW 44–75–4Cowboys StadiumRecap
11November 20at Washington RedskinsW 27–24 6–4FedExFieldRecap
12November 24Miami DolphinsW 20–19 7–4Cowboys StadiumRecap
13December 4at Arizona CardinalsL 13–19 7–5University of Phoenix StadiumRecap
14December 11New York GiantsL 34–377–6Cowboys StadiumRecap
15December 17at Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 31–158–6Raymond James StadiumRecap
16December 24Philadelphia EaglesL 7–208–7Cowboys StadiumRecap
17January 1at New York GiantsL 14–318–8MetLife StadiumRecap

Game summaries

Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions

With their second loss to the Lions at home in five years, the Cowboys fell to 2–2.

Week 6: at New England Patriots

The Cowboys' blue uniforms returned after a 1-year hiatus, and they blew a 3-point fourth quarter lead, and lost to the 2011 AFC champion New England Patriots.

Week 7: vs. St. Louis Rams

This game is notable for DeMarco Murray, in his first NFL start, setting the Cowboys single game rushing record.

Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins

Thanksgiving Day game

Coming off their thrilling overtime road win over the Redskins, the Cowboys went home, donned their throwback uniforms, and played a Week 12 interconference duel with the Miami Dolphins in the annual Thanksgiving game. Dallas trailed early in the first quarter with Dolphins kicker Shayne Graham getting a 26-yard field goal, yet the Cowboys would answer in the second quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker Dan Bailey, followed by quarterback Tony Romo finding wide receiver Laurent Robinson on a 5-yard touchdown pass. Miami would close out the half with Graham making a 28-yard field goal.

The Dolphins retook the lead in the third quarter with Graham booting a 27-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Matt Moore completing a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Afterwards, Dallas regained the lead in the fourth quarter with Romo connecting with Robinson again on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Miami struck back with Graham making a 23-yard field goal, but Bailey rescued the Cowboys by nailing the winning 28-yard field goal.

With the win, Dallas improved to 7–4.

Bailey (2/2 on field goal, including game-winning 28-yarder) and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (1 assist and a fumble recovery) were named CBS' All-Iron Award winners.

Week 13: at Arizona Cardinals

With seconds left in regulation with the score at 13-13, Jason Garrett called a time out before Dan Bailey was set to kick a 49-yard field goal that would have ended the game (commonly referred to as "icing the kicker"); Bailey ended up missing the field goal and the Cowboys lost the game in overtime.[3] [4]

Week 17: at New York Giants

With the loss, the Cowboys finished at 8–8 and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

Standings

Rosters

Final roster

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Giants Defeat Cowboys to Take Final Playoff . The New York Times . January 2, 2012.
  2. Web site: 2011 NFL Draft Pick Transactions. ProSportsTransactions.com.
  3. Web site: VIDEO: Jason Garrett Iced His Own Kicker. 4 December 2011.
  4. Web site: Garrett's decision to ice his own kicker numbs the brain. NFL.com.