2011 Minnesota Vikings season

The 2011 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), and the first full season under head coach Leslie Frazier, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final six games of the 2010 season. The team failed to improve on their 6–10 record from 2010, going 2–6 before their bye week, before being eliminated from playoff contention in week 12 with a 2–9 record. The team also suffered its first six-game losing streak since the 1984 season.

The team started the season with a new starting quarterback, Donovan McNabb, who had enjoyed great success with the Eagles but had a subpar year with the Redskins in 2010. McNabb played respectably, having a passer rating of 82.9 and only turning the ball over twice, but his 1–5 record as starter led to him being benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder in Week 6, and McNabb was later waived on December 1, 2011. Despite a poor year for the team as a whole, Jared Allen set a franchise record for most sacks in a season with 22. The team led the league in sacks with 50, but also tied a team record for fewest interceptions caught in a season with only eight.

Players Additions

 * Michael Jenkins-signed from the Atlanta Falcons.
 * Scott Kooistra-signed from the Baltimore Ravens.
 * Donovan McNabb-signed from the Washington Redskins.

Players lost

 * Ryan Cook-signed with the Miami Dolphins.
 * Ray Edwards-signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
 * Brett Favre-Announced to retire.
 * Heath Farwell-signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
 * Tarvaris Jackson-signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
 * Jimmy Kennedy-signed with the New York Giants.
 * Ben Leber-signed with the St. Louis Rams.
 * Bryant McKinnie-signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
 * Sidney Rice-signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
 * Lito Sheppard-signed with the Oakland Raiders.
 * Frank Walker-signed with the Tennessee Titans.
 * Madieu Williams-signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
 * Pat Williams-Announced to retire.

Draft
After finishing with a 6–10 record in the 2010 season, the Vikings were allocated the 12th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.




 * undefined The Vikings traded their third-round selection (74th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for New England's 2012 seventh-round selection (223rd overall) and WR Randy Moss.
 * undefined The Vikings traded the fifth-round selection they acquired from the New York Giants (150th overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Cleveland's sixth-round selection and the sixth-round selection they acquired from the Denver Broncos (168th and 170th overall).
 * undefined The Vikings traded RB Darius Reynaud and QB Sage Rosenfels to the New York Giants in exchange for the Giants' fifth-round selection (150th overall) and a conditional 2012 seventh-round selection (which was not exercised).
 * undefined The Vikings were awarded two compensatory picks for the loss of free agents Artis Hicks and Chester Taylor.

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

Schedule

 * LEGEND:
 * Team names in bold indicate Vikings' home games.

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
After being swept by the Packers, the Vikings dropped to 2–7.

Team leaders

 * *Led the league and a new Vikings single-season record.