2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season 36 Brief
The 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the club's 36th season as a franchise in the NFL. The team competed in the NFC South. Both of their preseason home games, and seven of their regular season home games were played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. One regular season home game, on October 23, was played at Wembley Stadium in London as part of the NFL International Series
The 2011 season was Raheem Morris's third year as head coach. The team had not made the playoffs since 2007. The team attempted to build upon their success from 2010, when despite having a 10–6 record, they failed to make the playoffs. By week 12, however, they had already lost their seventh game of the season, preventing them from matching their 2010 record. The Bucs were eliminated from playoff contention in week 14, and finished the season with a 4–12 record. Raheem Morris was fired on January 2, 2012, one day after the season finale.
The Buccaneers' defense was among the worst in the league in 2011. Tampa Bay allowed the most points in the league (494), the most yards per play (tied at 6.3), most yards per pass attempt (tied at 7.6), the most rushing yards (2,497) and the most rushing touchdowns (26). They also allowed the second most yards per attempt (5.0), the second most rushing first downs (135), the third most total yards (6,311) and fourth most total first downs (356) of all teams in 2011.
General summary
After a 10–6 campaign in 2010, Tampa Bay had high hopes for 2011. With the youngest head coach, and the youngest roster, in terms of average age, in the league, and with anxious optimism, head coach Raheem Morris nicknamed the team "youngry."
A close loss to Detroit on opening day was followed by a three-game winning streak and a fairly strong 4–2 start with wins against division opponents Atlanta and New Orleans. Tampa Bay was in a tie for first place in the NFC South in mid-October. However, self-inflicted troubles started affecting the season, leading to a ten-game losing streak to finish the season. Turnovers, penalties, and poor defense began taking its toll. Quarterback Josh Freeman's threw 22 interceptions (second-worst in the league), more than triple his total from 2010. The once dominating Tampa Bay defense ranked 30th in the league in total yards.
Schedule Notes
The Buccaneers' regular season schedule was announced April 19. Tampa Bay played Chicago at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on October 23 as part of the NFL International Series, with Tampa Bay serving as the host team.
The team's Ring of Honor induction ceremony took place during the December 4 game against Carolina. The team honored Jimmie Giles at halftime, and wore their orange throwback uniforms.
| PRESEASON | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Saturday Aug. 10 |
|
@ Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MS |
PS - wk 1
1-0 |
Won 25-0 |
| Monday Aug. 17 |
|
New England Patriots Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
PS - wk 2
1-1 |
Lost 14-31 |
| Saturday Aug. 24 |
 |
Miami Dolphins Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
PS - wk 3
2-1 |
Won 17-13 |
| Thursday Aug. 29 |
|
@ Washington Redskins FedEx Field, Landover, MA |
PS - wk 4
2-2 |
Lost 24-29 |
2011 Season ResultsRecord: 4-12, 2-4 (4th in NFC South) |
||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Sunday Sep. 9 |
|
Detroit Lions Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 1
0-1 |
Lost 20-27 |
| Sunday Sep. 16 |
|
@ Minnesota Vikings
Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, MN |
RS - wk 2
1-1 |
Won 24-20 |
| Sunday Sep. 23 |
|
Atlanta Falcons
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 3
2-1 |
Won 16-13 |
| Sunday Sep. 30 |
|
Indianapolis Colts
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 4
3-1 |
Won 24-17 |
| Thursday Oct. 25 |
|
@ San Francisco 49ers
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA |
RS - wk 8
3-2 |
Lost 3-48 |
| Sunday Oct. 14 |
|
New Orleans Saints
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 6
4-2 |
Won 26-20 |
| Sunday Oct. 21 |
|
***UK*** Chicago Bears Wembley Stadium, London, Endland |
RS - wk 7
4-3 |
Lost 18-24 |
| Sunday Oct. 7 |
BYE | RS - wk 8
4-3 |
||
| Sunday Nov. 4 |
|
@ New Orleans Saints
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA |
RS - wk 9
4-4 |
Lost 16-27 |
| Sunday Nov. 11 |
|
Houston Texans
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 10
4-5 |
Lost 9-37 |
| Sunday Nov. 18 |
|
@ Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI |
RS - wk 11
4-6 |
Lost 26-35 |
| Sunday Nov. 25 |
|
@ Tennessee Titans
LP Field, Nashville, TN |
RS - wk 12
4-7 |
Lost 17-23 |
| Sunday Dec. 2 |
|
Carolina Panthers
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 13
4-8 |
Lost 19-38 |
| Sunday Dec. 9 |
|
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL |
RS - wk 14
4-9 |
Lost 14-41 |
| Sunday Dec. 16 |
|
Dallas Cowboys
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 15
4-10 |
Lost 15-31 |
| Sunday Dec. 23 |
|
@ Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
RS - wk 16
4-11 |
Lost 16-48 |
| Sunday Dec. 30 |
|
@ Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome, New Atlanta, GA |
RS - wk 17
4-12 |
Lost 24-45 |
| PLAYOFFS | ||||
| Date | Opponent | NFC/Superbowl | Outcome | |
| Season Ended |
|
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
None
None |
00-00 |
