2011 Baltimore Ravens season

The 2011 Baltimore Ravens season will be the 16th in the National Football League (NFL) and city of Baltimore, Maryland, and the 14th to host home games at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens will seek to act upon their 12–4 record from 2010 (their tied-second most winningest season) and win the American Football Conference's North division title for the third time in franchise history. By earning a playoff berth in 2010, the Ravens set a franchise record by going to the postseason for three consecutive seasons; Baltimore will aim to add a fourth to the feat. For John Harbaugh, this will be his fourth season as the head coach for the franchise; he has compiled an overall record of 32–16 in regular season and 4–3 in postseason. The Ravens will hope to avenge their 2011 divisional round playoff loss against the Steelers in week 1 of the season. This season also marks the first time the Ravens play a Thanksgiving game, which will be against head coach John Harbaugh's brother Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Signings and Re-signings
On July 26, 2011 it was announced that the Ravens had agreed to terms on re-signing G/T Marshal Yanda to a 5 year contract. However the Ravens could not officially sign him until July 29, 2011.

On July 30, 2011 the Ravens resigned CB Chris Carr.

On July 31, 2011 the Ravens signed former Texans FB Vonta Leach.

On August 8, 2011 the Ravens signed former Dolphins RB Ricky Williams.

Later on during the pre season, the Ravens added Left tackle Bryant McKinnie from the Minnesota Vikings, Wide Receiver Lee Evans from the Buffalo Bills, and Offensive Center Andre Gurode from the Dallas Cowboys.

Departures and Releases
On July 26, 2011, the Ravens announced that they would release 4 former/current starters, TE Todd Heap, WR Derrick Mason, NT Kelly Gregg, and HB Willis McGahee. The Ravens also said they hope to bring back Heap, Mason, and Gregg at reduced salaries.

Signings by Team:
 * WR Donte Stallworth, G/C Chris Chester and CB Josh Wilson signed with the Washington Redskins.
 * NT Kelly Gregg, FB Le'Ron McClain and LT Jared Gaither signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
 * HB Willis McGahee signed with the Denver Broncos.
 * SS Dawan Landry signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
 * TE Todd Heap signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
 * WR Derrick Mason signed with the New York Jets.

2011 NFL Draft

 * undefined The Ravens traded its original fifth-round selection (#157 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for CB Josh Wilson.
 * undefined Compensatory selection.
 * undefined The Ravens acquired this sixth-round selection from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for its original seventh-round selection (#228 overall) and WR Mark Clayton.
 * undefined The Ravens acquired this seventh-round selection in a trade that sent DE Antwan Barnes to the Philadelphia Eagles.
 * undefined The Ravens held the #26 overall pick, but allowed their 10 minute window to expire before making their selection. Before the Ravens made their pick, the Kansas City Chiefs holding the following selection picked WR Jonathan Baldwin, making the Ravens selection #27 overall.
 * undefined The Ravens traded the 90th overall pick and a sixth round selection (191st overall) to the Eagles who picked CB Curtis Marsh and Guard Jason Kelce for the 85th overall pick (Jah Reid)

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

Schedule

 * Bold indicates division games.
 * Yellow indicates that the game time is subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.

Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
With the win not only did the Ravens improve to 1-0, but they handed the Steelers their first opening day loss since 2002.

Week 3: at St. Louis Rams
Coming off a week 2 loss, the Ravens were determined to bounce back and fight hard. On their second offensive play from scrimmage, Flacco threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith. It was the first catch of Smith's career and the longest pass of Flacco's career. Before the first quarter was up, Flacco would throw two more touchdown passes to Smith for 41 and 18 yards respectively, marking the 12th time in NFL history that any receiver caught three touchdown passes in a single quarter, and the first time ever for a rookie. The Ravens would later add 16 more points on three Billy Cundiff field goals and a fumble forced by Ray Lewis and recovered by Haloti Ngata and then run into the end zone (Cundiff also missed two 51-yard field goals). This marked the first touchdown in Ngata's career. Offensively, the Ravens gained 553 yards in the entire game, a franchise record. The only score for the Rams came in the third quarter, when quarterback Sam Bradford threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson.

Week 4: vs. New York Jets
Coming off their dominating road win over the Rams, the Ravens went home, donned their alternate uniforms, and played a Week 4 Sunday night duel with the New York Jets. Baltimore delivered the game's opening punch with safety Ed Reed forcing a sack-fumble from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, allowing linebacker Jameel McClain to recover the fumble and go 6 yards for a touchdown. New York would respond with running back Joe McKnight returning a kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, the Ravens regained the lead with a 38-yard field goal from kicker Billy Cundiff, followed by a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Ray Rice. Baltimore added onto their lead in the second quarter with another 38-yard field goal from Cundiff, followed by defensive end Haloti Ngata forcing a fumble from Sanchez, allowing linebacker Jarret Johnson to return the fumble 26 yards for a touchdown. The Jets responded with linebacker David Harris returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, followed by kicker Nick Folk booting a 40-yard field goal. The Ravens struck back in the third quarter with cornerback Lardarius Webb returning an interception 73 yards for a touchdown. From there, Baltimore's defense prevented any comeback attempt from New York.

With the win, the Ravens went into their bye week at 3-1.

Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Thanksgiving Classic

Coming off their divisional home win over the Bengals, head coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens stayed at home for a Week 12 interconference duel with the San Francisco 49ers and their head coach (John's brother) Jim Harbaugh, on Thanksgiving.

Baltimore delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 39-yard field goal from kicker Billy Cundiff, but the 49ers answered witk kicker David Akers getting a 45-yard field goal. The Ravens regained the lead in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal from Cundiff.

San Francisco began the third quarter with Akers nailing a 52-yard field goal, yet Baltimore regained the lead in the fourth quarter with quarterback Joe Flacco finding tight end Dennis Pitta on an 8-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 39-yard field goal from Cundiff. Afterwards, the defense would hold to prevent any comeback attempt from the 49ers.

With the win, the Ravens improved to 8-3.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs (3 tackles, 3 sacks, & 1 forced fumble) was named NFL Network's Puddin' Pie Award winner.

Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals

 * undefined Gametime subject to change due to flexible scheduling.