2011 Kansas City Chiefs season

2011 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head coach Todd Haley (fired on December 12, 5–8 record)
Romeo Crennel (Interim; 2–1 record)
General manager Scott Pioli
Home field Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record 7–9
Division Place 4th AFC West
Playoff finish did not qualify
Pro Bowlers Tamba Hali, LB

Derrick Johnson, LB

Timeline
Previous season Next season
2010 2012

The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League, the 52nd overall and the third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Todd Haley and Scott Pioli. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 10–6 record in 2010.

On July 25, the NFLPA and the NFL owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The Chiefs training camp began on July 29 in St. Joseph, MO. The Chiefs played their first preseason game on August 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On September 11, the Chiefs opened their regular season against the Buffalo Bills.

Despite entering the season with high expectations, even with their tough schedule, they did not earn their first win until Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings and finished the first quarter of the season with a disappointing 1–3 record. After starting the season 5–8, head coach Todd Haley was fired after a 37–10 loss the New York Jets and replaced by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.[1]

Offseason

Coaching changes

Kansas City Chiefs Coaching Changes[2]
Position Coach 2010 Position 2011 Position
OC Bill Muir Kansas City Chiefs OLC Kansas City Chiefs OC/OLC
OC Charlie Weis Kansas City Chiefs OC Florida Gators OC
QBC Jim Zorn Baltimore Ravens QBC Kansas City Chiefs QBC

Free Agency

Kansas City Chiefs Free Agency[2]
Position Player Status* 2010 Team 2011 Team
LB Charlie Anderson UFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD
RB Jackie Battle RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
WR Steve Breaston UFA Arizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs
CB Brandon Carr RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
FB Tim Castille UFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD
WR Keary Colbert UFA N/A Kansas City Chiefs
WR Terrance Copper UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
TE Brad Cottam RFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD
FB Mike Cox RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
QB Brodie Croyle UFA Kansas City Chiefs Arizona Cardinals
WR Kevin Curtis UFA Kansas City Chiefs Tennessee Titans
CB Travis Daniels UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
DT Ron Edwards UFA Kansas City Chiefs Carolina Panthers
OT Jared Gaither UFA Baltimore Ravens Kansas City Chiefs
DE Wallace Gilberry RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
DT Kelly Gregg UFA Baltimore Ravens Kansas City Chiefs
LB Cory Greenwood EFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
LB Tamba Hali UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
S Reshard Langford EFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
CB Maurice Leggett RFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD
FB Le'Ron McClain UFA Baltimore Ravens Kansas City Chiefs
S Jon McGraw UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
OT Steve Maneri RFA New England Patriots Kansas City Chiefs
LB Corey Mays UFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD
C Rudy Niswanger UFA Kansas City Chiefs Detroit Lions
OT Ryan O'Callaghan UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
S Sabby Piscitelli UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Cleveland Browns Kansas City Chiefs
TE Leonard Pope UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
OT Barry Richardson RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
LB Brandon Siler UFA San Diego Chargers Kansas City Chiefs
DE Shaun Smith UFA Kansas City Chiefs Tennessee Titans
LB Mike Vrabel UFA Kansas City Chiefs Retired
C Casey Wiegmann UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
*RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, Franchise: Franchise tag

2011 draft board

Round Selection Player Position College
1 [a] 26 [b] Jonathan Baldwin Wide Receiver Pittsburgh
2 55 Rodney Hudson Center Florida State
3 70 [a] Justin Houston Linebacker Georgia
3 86 Allen Bailey Defensive End Miami (FL)
4 118 Jalil Brown Cornerback Colorado
5 135 [c] Ricky Stanzi Quarterback Iowa
5 140 [d] Gabe Miller Linebacker Oregon State
6 [c] 199 [e] Jerrell Powe Nose Tackle Mississippi
7 223 Shane Bannon Runningback Yale
^[a] The Chiefs traded their original first-round selection (#21) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the first-round selection (#27) which the Browns had previously acquired from Atlanta, and Cleveland's third-round selection (#70 overall).
^[b] The Baltimore Ravens originally held the 26th pick, but they did not submit their pick in the allotted ten minutes which allowed Kansas City to pick ahead of them.
^[c] The Chiefs traded their original sixth-round selection (#187 overall) and DT Alex Magee to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the fifth-round selection which the Buccaneers had previously acquired from Denver.
^[d] The Chiefs swapped fifth-round selections with the Detroit Lions (the Chiefs originally held the #154 overall selection), after the Lions were found guilty of tampering with Chiefs' players.
^[e] Compensatory selection.

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Kickoff (CDT) Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.com
recap
Final score Team record
1 August 12 7:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 0–25 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Fox Recap
2 August 19 6:30 p.m. at Baltimore Ravens L 13–31 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium KCTV Recap
3 August 26 7:00 p.m. St. Louis Rams L 10–14 0–3 Arrowhead Stadium KCTV Recap
4 September 1 7:00 p.m. at Green Bay Packers L 19–20 0–4 Lambeau Field KCTV Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Kickoff (CT) Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.com
recap
Final score Team record
1 September 11 12:00 p.m. Buffalo Bills L 7–41 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium CBS Recap
2 September 18 12:00 p.m. at Detroit Lions L 3–48 0–2 Ford Field CBS Recap
3 September 25 3:05 p.m. at San Diego Chargers L 17–20 0–3 Qualcomm Stadium CBS Recap
4 October 2 12:00 p.m. Minnesota Vikings W 22–17 1–3 Arrowhead Stadium Fox Recap
5 October 9 12:00 p.m. at Indianapolis Colts W 28–24 2–3 Lucas Oil Stadium CBS Recap
6 Bye
7 October 23 3:05 p.m. at Oakland Raiders W 28–0 3–3 O.co Coliseum CBS Recap
8 October 31 7:30 p.m. San Diego Chargers W 23–20 (OT) 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium ESPN Recap
9 November 6 12:00 p.m. Miami Dolphins L 3–31 4–4 Arrowhead Stadium CBS Recap
10 November 13 12:00 p.m. Denver Broncos L 10–17 4–5 Arrowhead Stadium CBS Recap
11 November 21 7:30 p.m. at New England Patriots L 3–34 4–6 Gillette Stadium ESPN Recap
12 November 27 7:20 p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–13 4–7 Arrowhead Stadium NBC Recap
13 December 4 12:00 p.m. at Chicago Bears W 10–3 5–7 Soldier Field CBS Recap
14 December 11 12:00 p.m. at New York Jets L 10–37 5–8 MetLife Stadium CBS Recap
15 December 18 12:00 p.m. Green Bay Packers W 19–14 6–8 Arrowhead Stadium Fox Recap
16 December 24 12:00 p.m. Oakland Raiders L 13–16 (OT) 6–9 Arrowhead Stadium CBS Recap
17 January 1 3:15 p.m. at Denver Broncos W 7–3 7–9 Sports Authority Field at Mile High CBS Recap

Final standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
y (4) Denver Broncos 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 309 390 L3
San Diego Chargers 8 8 0 .500 3–3 7–5 406 377 W1
Oakland Raiders 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 333 395 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 7 9 0 .438 3–3 4–8 212 338 W1

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week One: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Bills 14 6 14 7 41
Chiefs 0 7 0 0 7

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

Week Two: Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 3 0 0 0 3
Lions 7 13 7 21 48

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • DET - Tony Scheffler 36 yard pass from Matt Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), Lions 14–3, Drive: 2 plays, 45 yards, 0:28.
  • DET - Jason Hanson 51 yard field goal, Lions 17–3, Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 3:24.
  • DET - Jason Hanson 28 yard field goal, Lions 20–3, Drive: 5 plays, 29 yards, 0:24
Third quarter
  • DET - Calvin Johnson 1 yard pass from Matt Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), Lions 27–3, Drive: 10 plays, 84 yards, 4:53.
Fourth quarter
  • DET - Jahvid Best 9 yard pass from Matt Stafford, Lions 34–3, Drive: 5 plays, 23 yards, 1:11.
  • DET - Jahvid Best 1 yard run (Jason Hanson kick), Lions 41–3, Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:37.
  • DET - Keiland Williams 1 yard run (Jason Hanson kick), Lions 48–3, Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 3:40.
Top passers
  • KC - Matt Cassel - 15/22, 133 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
  • DET - Matthew Stafford - 23/39, 294 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
Top rushers
  • KC - Dexter McCluster - 8 carries, 51 yards
  • DET - Jahvid Best - 16 carries, 57 yards, 1 touchdown
Top receivers
  • KC - Dwayne Bowe - 5 receptions, 101 yards
  • DET - Nate Burleson - 7 receptions, 93 yards
Top tacklers
  • KC - Jon McGraw - 5 tackles, 5 assists
  • DET - Justin Durant - 8 tackles, 3 assists

Week 3: at San Diego Chargers

Week Three: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 0 0 7 10 17
Chargers 0 10 7 3 20

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 67° F (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 62,236
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information
First quarter

No Scoring

Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
  • KC - Ryan Succop 33 Yd Field Goal Chargers 17-10
  • KC - Nick Novak 41 Yd Field Goal Chargers 20-10
  • KC - Leonard Pope 1 Yd Pass From Matt Cassel (Ryan Succop Kick) Chargers 20-17
Top passers
  • KC – Matt Cassel 17/24 176 yards 2 TD's 1 INT
  • SD – Phillip Rivers 24/38 266 yards 0 TD's 2 INT
Top rushers
  • KC – Dexter McCluster 9 carries 45 yards
  • SD – Ryan Mathews 21 carries 98 yards 2 TD's
Top receivers
  • KC – Dwayne Bowe 4 receptions 67 yards
  • SD – Vincent Jackson 5 receptions 63 yards
Top tacklers
  • KC – Jovan Belcher 8 tackles 2 assist
  • SD – Donald Butler 8 tackles 0 assist

Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week Four: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 7 0 3 7 17
Chiefs 3 6 6 7 22

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • KC - Ryan Succop 24 Yd Field Goal Vikings 7-6
  • KC - Ryan Succop 51 Yd Field Goal Chiefs 9-7
Third quarter
  • MIN - Ryan Longwell 33 Yd Field Goal Vikings 10-9
  • KC - Ryan Succop 54 Yd Field Goal Chiefs 12-10
  • KC - Ryan Succop 22 Yd Field Goal Chiefs 15-10
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • MIN – Donovan McNabb 18/30 202 yards 2 TD's 1 INT
  • KC – Matt Cassel 18/29 260 yards 1 TD's 0 INT
Top rushers
  • MIN – Adrian Peterson 23 carries 80 yards
  • KC – Thomas Jones 11 carries 37 yards
Top receivers
  • MIN – Visanthe Shiancoe 6 receptions 58 yards
  • KC – Dwayne Bowe 5 receptions 107 yards 1 TD
Top tacklers
  • MIN – Husain Abudallah 5 tackles 1 assist
  • KC – Tamba Hali 6 tackles 1 assist

Week 5: at Indianapolis Colts

Week Five: Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 0 14 7 7 28
Colts 7 17 0 0 24

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: October 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 72° F, Sunny (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 65,088
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • KC – Matt Cassel – 21/29, 257 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
  • IND – Curtis Painter – 15/27, 277 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • KC – Dwayne Bowe – 7 receptions, 128 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • IND – Pierre Garçon – 5 receptions, 125 yards, 2 touchdowns
Top tacklers

Week 7: at Oakland Raiders

Week Seven: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 14 0 7 7 28
Raiders 0 0 0 0 0

at O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 79° F, Sunny
  • Game attendance: 57,361
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 8: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week Eight: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 OT Total
Chargers 0 3 9 8 0 20
Chiefs 10 3 0 7 3 23

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week Nine: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins 7 7 14 3 31
Chiefs 3 0 0 0 3

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 62° F, Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 72,263
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • MIA –
  • KC –
Top rushers
  • MIA –
  • KC –
Top receivers
  • MIA –
  • KC –
Top tacklers
  • MIA –
  • KC –

Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

Week Ten: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Broncos 7 3 0 7 17
Chiefs 0 0 7 3 10

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • DEN –
  • KC –
Top rushers
  • DEN –
  • KC –
Top receivers
  • DEN –
  • KC –
Top tacklers
  • DEN –
  • KC –

Week 11: at New England Patriots

Week Eleven: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 3 0 0 0 3
Patriots 0 10 17 7 34

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • KC –
  • NE –
Top rushers
  • KC –
  • NE –
Top receivers
  • KC –
  • NE –
Top tacklers
  • KC –
  • NE –

Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Twelve: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 13 0 0 13
Chiefs 3 3 0 3 9

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • PIT - Shaun Suisham 21 Yd Field Goal Tied 3-3
  • PIT - Weslye Saunders 2 Yd Pass From Ben Roethlisberger (Shaun Suisham Kick) Steelers 10-3
  • KC - Ryan Succop 49 Yd Field Goal Steelers 10-6
  • PIT - Shaun Suisham 49 Yd Field Goal Steelers 13-6
Third quarter

No Scoring

Fourth quarter
  • KC - Ryan Succop 40 Yd Field Goal Steelers 13-9
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Hoping to snap a three-game losing streak, the Chiefs went home for a Week 12 Sunday night duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kansas City delivered the game's first punch in the opening quarter with a 41-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Succop. The Steelers would answer in the second quarter with kicker Shaun Suisham getting a 21-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Weslye Saunders. The Chiefs would reply with a 49-yard field goal from Succop, but Pittsburgh would close out the half with Suisham booting a 49-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Kansas City began to chip away at their deficit in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Succop. However, the Steelers' defense held on to preserve the win.

With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 4-7.

Week 13: at Chicago Bears

Week Thirteen: Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 0 7 3 0 10
Bears 0 3 0 0 3

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 46° F, Cloudy, wind gusts to 26 mph, temps to mid 40's
  • Game attendance: 61,973
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • KC –
  • CHI –
Top rushers
  • KC –
  • CHI –
Top receivers
  • KC –
  • CHI –
Top tacklers
  • KC –
  • CHI –

Week 14: at New York Jets

Week Fourteen: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 3 0 0 7 10
Jets 7 21 7 2 37

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 37° F, Sunny
  • Game attendance: 79,088
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • KC –
  • NYJ –
Top rushers
  • KC –
  • NYJ –
Top receivers
  • KC –
  • NYJ –
Top tacklers
  • KC –
  • NYJ –

Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week Fifteen: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Packers 0 0 7 7 14
Chiefs 6 0 3 10 19

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

In one of the biggest upsets of the year, the Chiefs beat the heavily favored Green Bay Packers, ending their hopes of a perfect season, and held Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to worse game, statistically, of the season holding him to 235 yards 48.6 completion percentage and his only game of the season without multiple passing touchdowns.

Week 16: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week Sixteen: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 3 4 OT Total
Raiders 3 0 7 3 3 16
Chiefs 3 0 3 7 0 13

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 38° F, Sunny
  • Game attendance: 70,803
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • OAK –
  • KC –
Top rushers
  • OAK –
  • KC –
Top receivers
  • OAK –
  • KC –
Top tacklers
  • OAK –
  • KC –

Week 17: at Denver Broncos

Week Seventeen: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 7 0 0 0 7
Broncos 0 0 3 0 3

at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: January 1
  • Game time: 3:15 p.m. CST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 35° F, Sunny
  • Game attendance: 76,005
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz & Phil Simms
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Staff

Kansas City Chiefs 2011 staff
Front Office

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

 

Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches

Strength and Conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Mike Clark
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Brent Salazar

Final roster

2011 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Reserve Lists

Practice Squad

Rookies in italics
53 Active, 8 Inactive, 8 Practice Squad

Notes and references

AFC East North South West East North South West NFC
Buffalo Baltimore Houston Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta Arizona
Miami Cincinnati Indianapolis Kansas City NY Giants Detroit Carolina St. Louis
New England Cleveland Jacksonville Oakland Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans San Francisco
NY Jets Pittsburgh Tennessee San Diego Washington Minnesota Tampa Bay Seattle
2011 NFL lockout2011 NFL DraftNFL playoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XLVI