# 2011 Tennessee Titans season

The 2011 season was the Tennessee Titans' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 52nd overall and their 15th in the state of Tennessee. It was also their first season under head coach Mike Munchak, replacing longtime head coach Jeff Fisher, who resigned on January 27 after 17 seasons. The team improved on their 6–10 record from 2010 and finished tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the last playoff spot, but lost the tiebreaker due to their 24–17 loss to the Bengals in Week 9, missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

## Offseason
### 2011 draft class

| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 8 | Jake Locker | QB | Washington |
| 2 | 39 | Akeem Ayers | LB | UCLA |
| 3 | 77 | Jurrell Casey | DT | USC |
| 4 | 109 | Colin McCarthy | LB | Miami (FL) |
| 5 | 142 | Karl Klug | DE | Iowa |
| 6 | 175 | Byron Stingily | T | Louisville |
| 7 | 212 | Zach Clayton | DT | Auburn |

## Preseason
### Schedule

The Titans' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
| 1 | August 13 | Minnesota Vikings | W 14–3 | 1–0 | LP Field | Recap |
| 2 | August 20 | at St. Louis Rams | L 16–17 | 1–1 | Edward Jones Dome | Recap |
| 3 | August 27 | Chicago Bears | W 14–13 | 2–1 | LP Field | Recap |
| 4 | September 1 | at New Orleans Saints | W 32–9 | 3–1 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
| 1 | September 11 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 14–16 | 0–1 | EverBank Field | Recap |
| 2 | September 18 | Baltimore Ravens | W 26–13 | 1–1 | LP Field | Recap |
| 3 | September 25 | Denver Broncos | W 17–14 | 2–1 | LP Field | Recap |
| 4 | October 2 | at Cleveland Browns | W 31–13 | 3–1 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | October 9 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 17–38 | 3–2 | Heinz Field | Recap |
| 6 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 7 | October 23 | Houston Texans | L 7–41 | 3–3 | LP Field | Recap |
| 8 | October 30 | Indianapolis Colts | W 27–10 | 4–3 | LP Field | Recap |
| 9 | November 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 17–24 | 4–4 | LP Field | Recap |
| 10 | November 13 | at Carolina Panthers | W 30–3 | 5–4 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 20 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 17–23 | 5–5 | Georgia Dome | Recap |
| 12 | November 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 23–17 | 6–5 | LP Field | Recap |
| 13 | December 4 | at Buffalo Bills | W 23–17 | 7–5 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | Recap |
| 14 | December 11 | New Orleans Saints | L 17–22 | 7–6 | LP Field | Recap |
| 15 | December 18 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 13–27 | 7–7 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 24 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 23–17 | 8–7 | LP Field | Recap |
| 17 | January 1 | at Houston Texans | W 23–22 | 9–7 | Reliant Stadium | Recap |

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Jaguars | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
* Date: September 11
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 90° F (Rain Clouds)
* Game attendance: 61,619
* Referee: Mike Carey
* TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN – Matt Hasselbeck – 21/34, 263 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
JAC – Luke McCown – 17/24, 175 yards
Top rushers
TEN – Chris Johnson – 9 rushes, 24 yards
JAC – Maurice Jones-Drew – 24 rushes, 97 yards, 1 TD
Top receivers
TEN – Kenny Britt – 5 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD
JAC – Mike Thomas – 8 receptions, 55 yards
Top tacklers
TEN – Barrett Ruud – 8 tackles, 6 assists
JAC – Dawan Landry – 6 tackles, 2 assists :

#### Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ravens | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Titans | 0 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: September 18
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Clete Blakeman
* TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
BAL – Joe Flacco
TEN – Matt Hasselbeck
Top rushers
BAL – Ray Rice
TEN – Chris Johnson
Top receivers
BAL – Ray Rice
TEN – Kenny Britt
Top tacklers
BAL – Lardarius Webb
TEN – Dave Ball :

#### Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Titans | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: September 25
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: John Parry
* TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
DEN –
TEN –
Top rushers
DEN –
TEN –
Top receivers
DEN –
TEN –
Top tacklers
DEN –
TEN – :

#### Week 4: at Cleveland Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 7 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
| Browns | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Date: October 2
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C) (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 66,240
* Referee: Pete Morelli
* TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN –
CLE –
Top rushers
TEN –
CLE –
Top receivers
TEN –
CLE –
Top tacklers
TEN –
CLE – :

#### Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Steelers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Date: October 9
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 63,875
* Referee: Walt Anderson
* TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN – Matt Hasselbeck – 29/49, 262 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
PIT – Ben Roethlisberger – 24/34, 228 Yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Top rushers
TEN – Chris Johnson – 14 Rushes, 51 Yards, 1 TD
PIT – Jonathan Dwyer – 11 Rushes, 107 Yards
Top receivers
TEN – Nate Washington – 5 Receptions, 69 Yards
PIT – Mike Wallace – 6 Receptions, 82 Yards, 1 TD
Top tacklers
TEN – Jason McCourty – 8 tackles, 6 assists
PIT – James Farrior – 9 tackles, 4 assists :
Coming off their road win over the Browns, the Titans flew to Heinz Field for a Week 5 intraconference duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tennessee threw the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 29-yard field goal from kicker Rob Bironas, but the Steelers answered with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completing an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller. Pittsburgh added onto their lead in the second with Roethlisberger completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hines Ward and a 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback David Johnson.
The Steelers continued their dominating performance in the third quarter with Roethlisberger completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ward. The Titans would respond with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Chris Johnson, yet Pittsburgh came right back in the fourth quarter with kicker Shaun Suisham getting a 19-yard field goal. Tennessee tried to rally as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck found wide receiver Damian Williams on a 19-yard touchdown pass, but the Steelers closed out the game with Roethlisberger completing a 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace.
With the loss, the Titans fell to 3–2.

#### Week 7: vs. Houston Texans

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texans | 3 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
| Titans | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: October 23
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Terry McAulay
* TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
HOU – Matt Schaub
TEN – Matt Hasselbeck
Top rushers
HOU – Arian Foster
TEN – Javon Ringer
Top receivers
HOU – Arian Foster
TEN – Chris Johnson
Top tacklers
HOU – Brian Cushing
TEN – Jason McCourty :

#### Week 8: vs. Indianapolis Colts

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Titans | 3 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: October 30
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Jerome Boger
* TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
IND – Curtis Painter 26/49 250 yards, 2 INT
TEN – Matt Hasselbeck 23/33 224 yards, 1 TD
Top rushers
IND – Curtis Painter 7 carries, 79 yards
TEN – Javon Ringer 14 carries, 60 yards
Top receivers
IND – Pierre Garcon 7 catches, 66 yards
TEN – Nate Washington 4 catches, 34 yards, 1 TD
Top tacklers
IND – Pat Angerer —10 tackles
TEN – Jason McCourty and Cortland Finnegan —7 tackles :

#### Week 9: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Titans | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: November 6
* Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Jeff Triplette
* TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert & Rich Gannon
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
CIN –
TEN –
Top rushers
CIN –
TEN –
Top receivers
CIN –
TEN –
Top tacklers
CIN –
TEN – :

#### Week 10: at Carolina Panthers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 14 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: November 13
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 72,409
* Referee: Walt Coleman
* TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan & Solomon Wilcots
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN –
CAR –
Top rushers
TEN –
CAR –
Top receivers
TEN –
CAR –
Top tacklers
TEN –
CAR – :

#### Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Falcons | 7 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 23 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
* Date: November 20
* Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST/3:15 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
* Game attendance: 68,164
* Referee: John Parry
* TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN –
ATL –
Top rushers
TEN –
ATL –
Top receivers
TEN –
ATL –
Top tacklers
TEN –
ATL – :

#### Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buccaneers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Titans | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: November 27
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C) (Rain)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Bill Leavy
* TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TB – Josh Freeman – 18/33, 199 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
TEN – Matt Hasselbeck – 19/34, 160 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions
Top rushers
TB – LeGarrette Blount – 20 rushes, 103 yards
TEN – Chris Johnson – 23 rushes, 190 yards
Top receivers
TB – Mike Williams – 6 receptions, 84 yards, 1 touchdown
TEN – Lavelle Hawkins – 5 receptions, 51 yards
Top tacklers
TB – Ronde Barber – 6 tackles, 1 assist
TEN – Colin McCarthy – 7 tackles, 3 assists :

#### Week 13: at Buffalo Bills

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Bills | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: December 4
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 56,463
* Referee: Alberto Riveron
* TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN –
BUF –
Top rushers
TEN –
BUF –
Top receivers
TEN –
BUF –
Top tacklers
TEN –
BUF – :

#### Week 14: vs. New Orleans Saints

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 22 |
| Titans | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: December 11
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Mike Carey
* TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, & Pam Oliver
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
NO –
TEN –
Top rushers
NO –
TEN –
Top receivers
NO –
TEN –
Top tacklers
NO –
TEN – :

#### Week 15: at Indianapolis Colts

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Colts | 3 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 27 |
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: December 18
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
* Game attendance: 64,271
* Referee: Pete Morelli
* TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN –
IND –
Top rushers
TEN –
IND –
Top receivers
TEN –
IND –
Top tacklers
TEN –
IND – :

#### Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Titans | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: December 24
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Gene Steratore
* TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
JAC –
TEN –
Top rushers
JAC –
TEN –
Top receivers
JAC –
TEN –
Top tacklers
JAC –
TEN – :
With the win the Titans improved to 8–7. In order to secure a playoff spot the Tennessee Titans need a win at Houston in Week 17, combined with a Bengals loss, a Broncos win, and Raiders win. If either Cincinnati wins against Baltimore or Denver loses against Kansas City, the Titans will be eliminated from postseason contention.

#### Week 17: at Houston Texans

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Titans | 0 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| Texans | 7 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 22 |
at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
* Date: January 1
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 71,512
* Referee: Ron Winter
* TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee & Steve Tasker
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEN –
HOU –
Top rushers
TEN –
HOU –
Top receivers
TEN –
HOU –
Top tacklers
TEN –
HOU – :
With the win, the Titans finished the season 9–7 and would secure their first winning season since 2008. However, they were eliminated from postseason contention due to the Denver Broncos losing against the Kansas City Chiefs 7–3.

### Standings

AFC South :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ Houston Texans | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 381 | 278 | L3 |
| Tennessee Titans | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 325 | 317 | W2 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 3–3 | 4–8 | 243 | 329 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 2–4 | 2–10 | 243 | 430 | L1 |