The 2011 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 79th in the National Football League (NFL), their 12th under general manager Kevin Colbert and their fifth under head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers hoped to return to the Super Bowl and defend their AFC Championship title from 2010, but suffered a 29–23 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Steelers played all of their home games at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Steelers' defense allowed the fewest points, passing yards, and total yards in the 2011 NFL season.
Offseason
Players added Pos. Player 2010 TeamWR Jerricho Cotchery New York Jets
Players lost Pos. Player 2011 TeamT Flozell Adams DE Nick Eason Arizona CardinalsWR Antwaan Randle El TE Matt Spaeth Chicago Bears
2011 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Ty Boyle Defensive end North Dakota Niles Brinkley Cornerback Wisconsin Corbin Bryant Defensive end Northwestern Vaughn Charlton Tight end/Fullback Temple Miguel Chavis Tight end Clemson John Clay Running back Wisconsin Anthony Gray Nose tackle Southern Miss Brett Greenwood Safety Iowa Eric Greenwood Wide receiver Idaho Mario Harvey Linebacker Marshall Terrence McCrae Wide receiver Ohio Colin Miller Center Central Michigan Adam Mims Wide receiver Furman Armand Robinson Wide receiver Miami (OH) Weslye Saunders Tight end South Carolina Trevis Turner Tackle Abilene Christian
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 at Washington Redskins L 7–16 0–1 FedExField Recap Recap 2 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–14 1–1 Heinz Field Recap Recap 3 Atlanta Falcons W 34–16 2–1 Heinz Field Recap Recap 4 at Carolina Panthers W 33–17 3–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 11 at Baltimore Ravens L 7–35 0–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap Recap 2 September 18 Seattle Seahawks W 24–0 1–1 Heinz Field Recap Recap 3 September 25 at Indianapolis Colts W 23–20 2–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap Recap 4 October 2 at Houston Texans L 10–17 2–2 Reliant Stadium Recap Recap 5 October 9 Tennessee Titans W 38–17 3–2 Heinz Field Recap Recap 6 October 16 Jacksonville Jaguars W 17–13 4–2 Heinz Field Recap Recap 7 October 23 at Arizona Cardinals W 32–20 5–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap Recap 8 October 30 New England Patriots W 25–17 6–2 Heinz Field Recap Recap 9 November 6 Baltimore Ravens L 20–23 6–3 Heinz Field Recap Recap 10 November 13 at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–17 7–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap Recap 11 Bye 12 November 27 at Kansas City Chiefs W 13–9 8–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap Recap 13 December 4 Cincinnati Bengals W 35–7 9–3 Heinz Field Recap Recap 14 Cleveland Browns W 14–3 10–3 Heinz Field Recap Recap 15 at San Francisco 49ers L 3–20 10–4 Candlestick Park Recap Recap 16 St. Louis Rams W 27–0 11–4 Heinz Field Recap Recap 17 January 1 at Cleveland Browns W 13–9 12–4 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap Recap
Standings
Game summaries Week 1: at Baltimore Ravens
The Steelers opened up their regular season on the road against their old AFC North division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens scored quickly on their first drive, when only three plays into the game, Baltimore wide receiver Anquan Boldin caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco. The Ravens scored again on the ensuing drive when running back Ray Rice ran in a 1-yard touchdown, putting Baltimore on top 14–0 early in the first quarter. The Steelers battled back on the next drive, driving down to the Ravens 11-yard line. Pittsburgh scored on a third-and-goal play when wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens responded by scoring again, this time on an 11-yard pass from Flacco to Rice. At halftime the Ravens led 21–7, just like in the 2010 playoffs. But unlike that game, the Ravens did not let up their dominance in the second half. On Pittsburgh's first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata stripped Roethlisberger of the football and recovered it at the Steelers 18-yard line. The Ravens scored yet again when tight end Ed Dickson caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco. A two-point conversion by punter/holder Sam Koch put the Ravens on top 29–7. The Ravens never looked back, and put up two more Billy Cundiff field goals to close out the game 35–7. The Steelers finished with 7 turnovers in the game. The loss marked the Steelers first opening day loss in 8 years, and left Pittsburgh at the bottom of the division with an 0–1 record.
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Hoping to rebound from their Week 1 divisional loss to the Ravens, the Steelers played their home-opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field. After a failed 4th and goal run on their first drive, Pittsburgh delivered the game's first punch with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Rashard Mendenhall. This score on their second drive gave them the early lead. The Steelers added onto their lead in the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown run from running back Isaac Redman, followed by a 20-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham. Pittsburgh's offense made one last score in the third quarter with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finding wide receiver Mike Wallace on a 2-yard touchdown pass. From there, the defense prevented any scoring attempt from Seattle's offense.
With the shutout win, the Steelers improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at Indianapolis Colts
Coming off their shutout home win over the Seahawks, the Steelers flew to Lucas Oil Stadium for a primetime game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night (Pittsburgh's first primetime game of the year). Pittsburgh scored first in the first quarter with a 48-yard field goal by kicker Shaun Suisham, followed by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finding wide receiver Mike Wallace on an 81-yard touchdown pass. The Colts answered in the second quarter with kicker Adam Vinatieri getting a 21-yard field goal, followed by defensive end Jamaal Anderson returning a Roethlisberger fumble caused by Dwight Freeney 47 yards for a touchdown. Vinatieri got another 25-yard field goal before the end of the half. After a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers regained the lead in the fourth quarter with a 44-yard field goal from Suisham, followed by safety Troy Polamalu returning a fumble forced by James Harrison 16 yards for a touchdown. However, Indianapolis replied with running back Joseph Addai getting a 6-yard touchdown run. Pittsburgh prevailed, however, with Shuisham hitting a game-winning 38-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at Houston Texans
Coming off their Sunday night win over the Colts, the Steelers flew to Reliant Stadium in Houston for a duel with the Houston Texans. Pittsburgh trailed late in the first quarter when Texans quarterback Matt Schaub completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Owen Daniels. Houston would add onto their lead in the second quarter with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 25-yard field goal.
The Steelers finally answered in the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Rashard Mendenhall. Pittsburgh would tie the game in the fourth quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham, but the Texans retook the lead when running back Arian Foster got a 42-yard touchdown run. The Steelers were unable to rally, and Big Ben was intercepted on the Steelers' final drive.
With the loss, the Steelers fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Tennessee Titans
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Texans, the Steelers went home for a Week 5 intraconference duel with the Tennessee Titans. Pittsburgh trailed early in the first quarter as Titans kicker Rob Bironas got a 29-yard field goal, yet the Steelers answered with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finding tight end Heath Miller on an 8-yard touchdown pass. Pittsburgh would add onto their lead in the second quarter with Roethlisberger hooking up with wide receiver Hines Ward and fullback David Johnson on a 7-yard and a 1-yard touchdown pass.
The Steelers continued their dominating day in the third quarter with Roethlisberger connecting with Ward again on a 5-yard touchdown pass. Tennessee responded with running back Chris Johnson getting a 1-yard touchdown run. Afterwards, the Steelers would pull away in the fourth quarter with a 19-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham. The Titans tried to rally with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Damian Williams, yet Pittsburgh closed out the game with Roethlisberger finding wide receiver Mike Wallace on a 40-yard touchdown pass.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 3–2.
Week 6: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming off their home win over the Titans, the Steelers closed out their intraconference schedule at home in a Week 6 duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pittsburgh delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run from running back Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers would add onto their lead in the second quarter with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finding wide receiver Mike Wallace on a 28-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 21-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham. The Jaguars would close out the half with kicker Josh Scobee making a 46-yard field goal.
Jacksonville crept closer in the third quarter with quarterback Blaine Gabbert completing an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Hill. The Jaguars tried to rally in the fourth quarter with Scobee getting a 45-yard field goal, yet Pittsburgh's defense held on to preserve the victory.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 4–2.
Week 7: at Arizona Cardinals
Coming off their win over the Jaguars, the Steelers flew to the University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 7 interconference duel with the Arizona Cardinals, in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII. Pittsburgh delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found tight end Heath Miller on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers would add onto their lead in the second quarter with Roethlisberger hooking up with wide receiver Mike Wallace on a 95-yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals would answer with running back Alfonso Smith getting a 1-yard touchdown run. Pittsburgh would close out the half with a 41-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham.
Arizona began the third quarter with quarterback Kevin Kolb completing a 73-yard touchdown pass to running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, yet the Steelers responded with Roethlisberger connecting to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on a 4-yard touchdown pass, along with Kolb getting called for intentional grounding in his endzone, resulting in a safety. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers continued to pull away with a 42-yard and a 39-yard field goal from Suisham. The Cardinals tried to rally with Kolb completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Early Doucet (with a failed two-point conversion), yet Pittsburgh held on to preserve the victory.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 5–2.
Week 8: vs. New England Patriots
Coming off their road win over the Cardinals, the Steelers went home for a Week 8 duel with the New England Patriots. Pittsburgh delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found running back Mewelde Moore on a 5-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers would add onto their lead in the second quarter with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham. The Patriots answered with quarterback Tom Brady completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deion Branch, yet Pittsburgh struck back with Roethlisberger connecting with wide receiver Antonio Brown on a 7-yard touchdown pass. New England would close out the half with kicker Stephen Gostkowski got a 46-yard field goal.